So don’t want it too much. Don’t expect it to be true.
It was safer like that.
* * *
Tanner came back fifteen minutes later and handed her his phone. “She’s going to call you right away. She’s fine. She gave Nash an argument, but she finally went with them without having to be persuaded. I told them I’d prefer to have it that way.”
“You mean they didn’t have to knock her out?” she asked sarcastically.
He nodded. “She was much more reasonable than you. She didn’t go on the attack. I had to protect myself, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did. I was going to kill you if I could.”
“I thought that was where you were headed.”
“I still will if you’re lying and they hurt Maria.”
“I’m not lying.” He sat down across from her. “Why do you call your mother by her first name?”
“My father didn’t like it when she got pregnant. Then she compounded the sin by having a girl. I learned when I was very young that it was better for both of us not to remind him of that terrible mistake. I’ve always called my mother Maria and my father Anton.”
“What a son of a bitch,” he said softly.
“Yes, but we learned how to survive him.” She was gazing impatiently down at the phone. “When is she supposed to—” The phone rang and she pressed it to answer. “Maria? Are you all right?”
“A little bewildered and suspicious, but that’s all. I’ve been so worried about you for these past days. And then these men showed up and told me something about Kaskov and that you weren’t hurt and would stay that way as long as I went along with them. Are you okay?”
“Yes, I haven’t been hurt. Are they treating you well?”
“Insistent,” Maria said. “But very polite. What’s this all about? What does Kaskov have to do with it?”
“I have no idea about Kaskov. We hardly saw anything of him except those times he’d stop by and you’d have me play for him. He wouldn’t speak more than a few words to either of us and then he’d be gone again. I don’t know why he’d interfere like this. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. Maybe it was just a random impulse. Anyway, I’ll take it.”
“Interfere? You’re not being clear, Lara.”
Her mother was right. Nothing was clear at this moment. It was all guesswork. “Kaskov did something that might change everything for us. I can’t promise, but there’s a chance.” She looked at Tanner. “We’re leaving Russia. We’re not coming back. You’re going to be safe.”
Maria was silent. “Thank God. But you’re the one who has to be safe. Volkov was getting…I’ve been afraid for the last month. But you know Volkov isn’t going to let you go.”
“He won’t have a choice. Once I’m free, I’m going to stay free. If Tanner gets us out of Russia, I’ll find a safe place for you and then just disappear.”
“Tanner?”
Lara looked Tanner in the eye and said defiantly, “Kaskov’s errand boy. But Kaskov wouldn’t have sent him if he hadn’t thought he could manage to get us out. You know how afraid everyone is of Kaskov, and they don’t screw up. We’ll trust Tanner unless he proves that we can’t.”
“It’s really true?” Maria whispered. “It’s not a trick?”
“Not as far as I know.” But Lara was afraid to tell her anything more than that. They had both been disappointed before. “If it’s a trick, it wasn’t one of Volkov’s. Tanner killed one of Volkov’s men. That’s good enough for me to take this chance. I just don’t know why Kaskov would interfere.”
“I might be able to guess. I’d watch his face when you were playing. At times there was something…” She paused and then said quietly, “It’s too good to be true, you know. I’m afraid to believe it.”
“Believe it,” Lara said. “All I need is an opportunity, I’ll take it from there.” She added quickly, “Do what this Nash tells you to do until we meet in Stockholm. After that we’ll talk and make decisions for ourselves. Okay?”
“It will have to be,” Maria said. “I’m just having a little trouble with remembering about decisions. I haven’t had the opportunity to do that for a long time. Take care, Lara.” She ended the call.
“Content?” Tanner asked as he took his phone.
“No, I want you to call that Nash back and make sure he treats her very carefully. She didn’t really know what was happening. It worried her.”
“I don’t have to call him back. He had his instructions and I’m sure she told you she was treated very courteously. She’ll have no complaints when she meets you in Stockholm.” He smiled. “We don’t generally harass mothers or children. And a bit of worry wouldn’t have been a criminal offense.”
“It depends on the person. Maria is tough, but you don’t know what my mother has gone through in her life. It might have brought back memories I don’t want her to have to ever think about again.”
“I can’t be responsible for memories,” he said. “Not hers, not yours. You’ll have to handle those yourselves. I can only guarantee that I’ll inflict as little insult or pain as possible.” His lips lifted in a lopsided smile. “Which you weren’t being too careful to do yourself. ‘Errand boy’? Neither word accurately describes me.”
“It served its purpose.” She shrugged. “Though I admit I don’t like that you’ve been in control of my life since the moment I saw you in that forest. It makes me feel…I don’t like it.”
“So you decided to sting me.”
“I’m sure it didn’t bother you.”
“No, it amused me. Still, quite a change from that moment when you were tearing up with gratitude.”
“I didn’t tear up. I don’t cry. I meant what I said, but it’s all mixed up because I’m afraid that you’ve been lying to me.” She lifted her chin. “And I won’t forgive you if you are. I’ll find a way to punish you.”
“I’m sure you could,” he murmured. “But it’s wise of you to wait until you’re sure, so that you won’t have to exert unnecessary energy if you’re wrong.” His gaze was raking her face. “You look very tired. You were out there in the forest for three nights?”
“I’m not tired.” She kept her back very straight in the seat as she added sarcastically, “How could I be, when you so kindly saw that I was unconscious for the past few hours?”
“I’d bet that you were fighting exhaustion before you took that little nap. I doubt if it did you any good.” He tilted his head. “But you’re not going to admit it, and you’ll resent it if I suggest you stop worrying and relax. You’d probably suspect my wicked motives and be all the more on edge.” He got to his feet. “You never did get that coffee I promised you. I imagine you’ll accept, because the caffeine will keep you alert enough to detect any of my foul plans.” He smiled. “So I’ll make certain that the coffee is very black and strong, and I’ll send it back with Mallory to avoid you having to contend with me for a while.” He was moving down the aisle toward the cockpit. “You’ll have a lot in common with Mallory. He spends a good deal of his time giving me a hard time, too…”