safer for both of you. But the situation has changed. I have to step in.”
“Insist all you please. You’ve no right to—”
“I’m Frankie’s father. That gives me a hell of a lot of rights.”
The words struck her like a slap in the face. “You don’t know that. And I’ll swear in any court that you’re not her father.”
“DNA, Grace. The magic of DNA.” His gaze narrowed on her face. “And the timing is right. I don’t think you’d be capable of taking another lover and conceiving in the short time between the time you left me and the time she was born.”
“You’re
not
taking her away from me.”
“That’s not my intention.” He paused. “Look, I promise that I won’t try to take her away. I won’t even tell her that I’m her father. I only want to make sure you’re both safe.”
“Go to hell.” She turned on her heel and opened the front door. “We don’t need you. We have Robert and the CIA to protect us.”
“And they’ll protect you as long as you’re useful. But you’re soon going to prove an encumbrance.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve broken my deal with them.” He made an impatient gesture. “Look, the important thing is that Marvot’s turned his dogs loose. He’s put a five-million-dollar bounty on your head. And a three-million-dollar bounty on Frankie.”
“What?” she whispered.
“Dead or alive on Frankie. He prefers you alive because you could prove valuable, but he doesn’t care about Frankie.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “No.”
“Yes. You know he’s been looking for you since the raid. But when I came back on the scene and became a threat, he decided to pull out all the stops. He put the word out a month ago, and every bounty hunter and cheap hood in Europe and the U.S. is scrambling to find you. Kersoff must have paid off someone at the CIA and hit the jackpot. Donavan got word through one of his contacts that Kersoff had gotten lucky and was on his way to you.” His lips tightened. “I decided it was time to check out Tallanville.”
“Three million dollars on Frankie.” The horror of it was overpowering. “A little girl . . .”
“You know that wouldn’t make a difference to Marvot. You haven’t been away from the action that long.”
“Long enough.” She shuddered. “Why?”
“I stole something away from him that he valued. He knew it was only the opening foray and wanted to punish me. You know Marvot. He believes in a clean sweep. The Mafia has nothing on him.”
“Frankie . . .”
“I know it sucks. I didn’t know he’d find you or her,” he said roughly. “The Company was supposed to be protecting you. They screwed up.”
“And it’s not your fault,” she said sarcastically.
“I didn’t say that. I take the full blame. I’m just giving you my reasons for thinking it wouldn’t affect you. I was wrong and I have to correct it.”
“Tell that to Charlie. Correct that, Kilmer.”
“I can’t.” He paused. “But I can keep you both alive if you’ll let me.” He held her gaze. “And you know I’m your best bet, Grace. You may believe I’m a son of a bitch, but nobody’s better than me at what I do.”
She shook her head and opened the door.
“Don’t be scared if you run into Dillon inside,” Kilmer said.
She froze. “Dillon?”
“You’ve never met Cam Dillon, but he’s very efficient. I had him put a photo of ‘the Pair’ in Blockman’s truck while I hurried on here.”
“Why? How melodramatic. Wouldn’t it have been simpler to just have Dillon talk to him?”
“No, there wasn’t time and I knew Blockman would contact North when his truck was broken into. Orders from headquarters are quicker than long, drawn-out explanations. Anyway, Dillon’s been watching this place since last night, and when I saw you take off in this direction, I told him to start packing for you.”
“What?”
“You don’t have much time and you won’t want to spare the time from Frankie. I told
“Insist all you please. You’ve no right to—”
“I’m Frankie’s father. That gives me a hell of a lot of rights.”
The words struck her like a slap in the face. “You don’t know that. And I’ll swear in any court that you’re not her father.”
“DNA, Grace. The magic of DNA.” His gaze narrowed on her face. “And the timing is right. I don’t think you’d be capable of taking another lover and conceiving in the short time between the time you left me and the time she was born.”
“You’re
not
taking her away from me.”
“That’s not my intention.” He paused. “Look, I promise that I won’t try to take her away. I won’t even tell her that I’m her father. I only want to make sure you’re both safe.”
“Go to hell.” She turned on her heel and opened the front door. “We don’t need you. We have Robert and the CIA to protect us.”
“And they’ll protect you as long as you’re useful. But you’re soon going to prove an encumbrance.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve broken my deal with them.” He made an impatient gesture. “Look, the important thing is that Marvot’s turned his dogs loose. He’s put a five-million-dollar bounty on your head. And a three-million-dollar bounty on Frankie.”
“What?” she whispered.
“Dead or alive on Frankie. He prefers you alive because you could prove valuable, but he doesn’t care about Frankie.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “No.”
“Yes. You know he’s been looking for you since the raid. But when I came back on the scene and became a threat, he decided to pull out all the stops. He put the word out a month ago, and every bounty hunter and cheap hood in Europe and the U.S. is scrambling to find you. Kersoff must have paid off someone at the CIA and hit the jackpot. Donavan got word through one of his contacts that Kersoff had gotten lucky and was on his way to you.” His lips tightened. “I decided it was time to check out Tallanville.”
“Three million dollars on Frankie.” The horror of it was overpowering. “A little girl . . .”
“You know that wouldn’t make a difference to Marvot. You haven’t been away from the action that long.”
“Long enough.” She shuddered. “Why?”
“I stole something away from him that he valued. He knew it was only the opening foray and wanted to punish me. You know Marvot. He believes in a clean sweep. The Mafia has nothing on him.”
“Frankie . . .”
“I know it sucks. I didn’t know he’d find you or her,” he said roughly. “The Company was supposed to be protecting you. They screwed up.”
“And it’s not your fault,” she said sarcastically.
“I didn’t say that. I take the full blame. I’m just giving you my reasons for thinking it wouldn’t affect you. I was wrong and I have to correct it.”
“Tell that to Charlie. Correct that, Kilmer.”
“I can’t.” He paused. “But I can keep you both alive if you’ll let me.” He held her gaze. “And you know I’m your best bet, Grace. You may believe I’m a son of a bitch, but nobody’s better than me at what I do.”
She shook her head and opened the door.
“Don’t be scared if you run into Dillon inside,” Kilmer said.
She froze. “Dillon?”
“You’ve never met Cam Dillon, but he’s very efficient. I had him put a photo of ‘the Pair’ in Blockman’s truck while I hurried on here.”
“Why? How melodramatic. Wouldn’t it have been simpler to just have Dillon talk to him?”
“No, there wasn’t time and I knew Blockman would contact North when his truck was broken into. Orders from headquarters are quicker than long, drawn-out explanations. Anyway, Dillon’s been watching this place since last night, and when I saw you take off in this direction, I told him to start packing for you.”
“What?”
“You don’t have much time and you won’t want to spare the time from Frankie. I told
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