Jonas frowned. “The rumors are true. Willow Church.”
“She’s become very important to me.” I snatched my keys, needing time alone. The drive would do me some good. I wasn’t here to debate with Jonas, no matter the extensive help he was providing.
He grabbed my arm just as I walked past. “Be careful, Aleksei. I’ve lived a long time because I was very careful. She sought you out for a reason.”
“Yeah, one of her brother’s design.”
“What if that’s not the case? What if she’s working with Peter, her role to get close to you?”
“Don’t go there, Jonas. I appreciate and value your counsel, but you will not question my decisions.” Yet, the thought had crossed my mind. “What the hell do you think you know? If you do, I suggest you tell me now or keep it to yourself.”
“What I know, Aleksei, is that I was able to find Peter’s birth certificate. He was born in Murmansk, coming here with his parents not long after your family. What I can’t find is anything on Willow, although I presume she was born in this country.”
“That’s because she was adopted. From what I can tell, Peter also used that against her. She’s not working with him, Jonas. She hates him.” I jerked my arm away, heading for the stairs. I found her reading to Dimitri, even though his eyes were already closed.
She placed a finger over her mouth and walked out into the hallway. “He’s already asleep. I don’t think he heard three words of the teddy bear story.”
“I have to go out, an opportunity to see my father.”
“Are you sure that’s wise? You’re taking Maksim at least. Right?”
“I’ll be fine. I doubt anything is going to happen until all the pieces are in place.” And I suspected there was a lot more to this ruse.
“Just be careful. I’ll watch over Dimitri.”
“Here is the same burner phone. Don’t make a call unless it’s an emergency. Don’t answer unless you see my programmed number on the screen but if I call, I need you to answer. We can’t afford any missteps. Do you understand me?”
“Of course.” She took the phone, cradling it against her chest before shoving it into her pocket. “Now, I’m afraid.”
“Don’t worry. You’re safe here.”
I started to walk away then swept her into my arms, running my fingers through her hair as I captured her mouth. She moaned into the kiss and every part of me wanted nothing more than to ravage her body. I would as soon as I returned.
As I broke the kiss, I still held her close. “I’ll be back in less than two hours.”
“I’ll be waiting up.”
I backed away, sprinting down the stairs.
“Where you going, boss?” Maksim asked. “I’m coming with you.”
“Not necessary.”
“No, I’m coming with you. That’s what your father would have wanted.” Maksim followed me outside, pointing to two of the others to take his place at the front of the house. “We can’t be too careful.”
The man was right.
“You’ll have to leave everything here, Mr. Petrov, including your watch and belt.” While the deputy spoke the words blandly, I could tell he was watching to see if I still was wearing a gun. As if I hadn’t been checked already, the metal detectors installed over a year before.
“I doubt my father is going to try and kill himself,” I muttered as I presented my Rolex.
“You never can tell.”
While it was only a little after ten, the area appeared abandoned, as if planned. I’d been forced to wait for almost an hour and I was hot under the collar, fuming at the obvious plan to make me sit and wait. Someone was worried about my temper.
They should be.
I understood this meeting wasn’t considered client/attorney privilege, so both my father and I would have to be very careful what we said. The detectives would be listening. I handed him my belt, studying the layout of the floor. If someone wanted to assassinate my father, they had ample opportunity, at least as far as I was concerned. I would insist that he be moved until Jonas sorted out bail.
“Come with me, Mr. Petrov.”
Another officer led me down the hallway to the last room. The two armed guards standing outside were an indication of just how dangerous they believed my father to be.
After unlocking the door, I was basically shoved inside, the sound of steel hitting steel reverberating. This particular precinct had seen better days.
My father appeared even more haggard than he had only a couple of days before, the two-day stubble something I never saw. He sat, a defeated look on his face, the orange jumpsuit ill-fitting.
“How you holding up, Father?” I yanked the second chair out from the table, already spying the two cameras in the room.
He followed my gaze, nodding in recognition before leaning forward. “Fine. Jonas will work on bail.”
“So he says. You’ve talked with Mother?”
He exhaled, shrugging his shoulders. “She’s very upset but holding up. I told her not to come back here.”
“A good idea. You wanted to see me.”
“You know I didn’t do the thing.”