***
Ryan slid a card on a lockbeside a solid painted metal door. Then he placed his hand on thescanner above the card lock. The red light changed to green. Hetook her arm, opened the door, and her led into a room that had oneway glass. There were half a dozen people in there, all men. Ryantook her arm and led her over to the viewing window without sayinga word to any of them. She could see her father sitting at a steeltopped table and Ned, sitting across the table from him. One of herfather’s wrists was handcuffed to a metal loop welded to the table.He looked angry and unimpressed. Another man, in a dark navy suit,white shirt and matching tie stood in the corner with his handsclasped together. He was a big man, and right then she knew he wasarmed.
Her father’s hair was indisarray, his suit was dirty and torn in places. It would have madehim angry. He was big on appearances. He had a bruise over hisright temple.
“You’re sure?” heasked.
She nodded.
Ryan tapped on theglass.
Ned stood up and went tothe adjoining door, opening it. When he saw Ryan and Kat he steppedaside.
“I’m right here if you needme,” Ryan reassured.
“I’ll only be amoment.”
Peter was surprised to seehis daughter step through the door. “Katya?”
“Father.” She walked in andtook the seat Ned occupied a moment ago.
“What are you doing here?”He glanced at the man in the corner, then at Ned who shut thedoor.
“Mr. Casey brought mehere.”
“That fucking traitor!” Hespat pulling on his cuffed wrist.
She remained calmcompletely unmoved at his burst of temper. She was used toit.
“You betrayed me too,didn’t you?”
“No. I wanted to see youbrought down, because of the people you’ve hurt, but I didn’tbetray you. I didn’t know anything. However, I certainly didn’tstand in the way when I found out why Mr. Casey wasthere.”
“You lying bitch! Look atme! Look what you’ve done!”
“I’ve done nothing to you.But if you want to get into it. I’ve been beaten, held at gunpoint, sold by my sister, and lusted after by your most trustedman. Did you know Anna was still alive, that she’d planned all ofthis and told Ivan that he could have me in exchange forinformation? This was all because of who you are. Do you honestlythink I’d support your run for governor after I found out you wereresponsible for my pain. I would have shot you myself.”
He stilled and his facefell.
“That’s what you createdpapa. A house of monsters. Is it true you killed mymother?”
He leaned back in his chairand glared at her.
“You don’t need to sayanything. I can see it in your expression.”
“She was a cheating whore!”He leaned forward. “Just like you.”
“This is the last time youwill see me.” She stood up. “I hate you, but I won’t let that runmy life because you will be rotting in a little cell while I livemy life out from under you, and I will live! You can’t take thataway from me. I will have children and they will never know yourname. So I’m going to forgive you because this is the last time Iwill even think about you.”
“You—“ he stood up abruptly“—selfish bitch!”
The man in the cornerintervened and shoved him back in his chair. “Keep your ass gluedto the chair Mr. Nickolov or I’ll bolt your feet to theground.”
“Goodbye,” she said softlyand turned around just as Ned opened the door. She walked by himtowards Ryan while her father’s screams of rage followed her. Nedshut the door to cut them off.
She stopped in front ofRyan and looked up at him. “What now?”
He stared back down at her.“What now? Anything you want. You’re free.”
EPILOGUE
Katya stood in the largefoyer of her father’s house and looked around. It was empty. Shesold everything including the house.
It had been four weeksafter her father’s so called accidental death. Only she andwhomever Ryan worked for knew the truth, that he was locked up in acell for the rest of his life. Shortly after, several governmentofficials started resigning their jobs. There were publicizedscandals which made her wonder if they even happened, and some justsilently faded away. She didn’t realize how deep her father’sconnections went. She knew she did a good thing, but promisedherself this was the end of her relationship with him. She nolonger had a father.
The house had sold within aweek of putting it on the market and it was cleaned out within afew days. She didn’t want anything that reminded her of this life.She was starting her last year in college next week and wasdetermined to follow through with her plan.
“Hey?”
She turned around at thedeep sound of Ryan’s voice. She didn’t expect him because he saidhe had some business to take care of. In fact she hadn’t seen himin over three weeks, but they talked every day. It was painful, buthe said it was necessary, that he had some loose ends to tie up.She grinned from ear to ear and ran to him. He gathered her in hisarms and kissed her hard lifting her off her feet. His tonguedelved in her mouth and she could feel that familiar reaction deepin her pelvis. Oh God, she missed him so much!
In fact, it was as if aneternity had passed since she’d last seen him. They never reallytalked about the future either and although she was feeling quiteinsecure about them, she kept the faith that he still had strongfeelings for her. He did tell her he loved her and she had torecall that this man was notforward with his feelings at all.
He released her and allowedher feet to touch the floor again. “I’ve missed you somethingfierce. How’re you doing?”
She gave him a small smile.“I’ll be okay. Better now that you’re here.”
“I had to go see Georgy’swidow and kids. Then I took a leave of absence from myjob.”
“Is that what you were upto?”
He nodded. “Georgy’s lifeinsurance gave her a decent living, but I wanted trust funds forthe
