She had done everything perfectly. Gained Adria’s trust, secured the account, but when he wanted to implement his own security team for their escort, she had balked.
The smug bitch had no issue helping him kill Loretta. But suddenly, being Adria’s business partner became more important to her than he was.
And that wouldn’t do.
“Anything yet?” his father asked, breaking the silence, as he walked into the room. Eyes searching the room and landing on Frances. A frown etching onto his face. His father no doubt critical on how he had handled things.
Regan said, “Not yet. I sent her the numbers just before midnight.”
It had been several hours; Adria had yet to respond, and Regan was becoming inpatient. His father made apulling motion, beckoning for the bids. Regan handed over the list.
He watched his father scan the names, knowing the person that would stick out.
Teo Polaris.
As soon as he saw his father’s eyebrow raise, Regan said, “I looked into him, no affiliations to speak of. But he does live near the Galician family.”
His father leveled him with a stony stare. “Were we aware they were involved?”
Regan swiveled in his chair. He wasn’t afraid of his father. He would need to be able to experience emotions for that, but he needed his father to hold up his end of the bargain, so he needed to be polite.
“No,wewere not,” he said.
“When they get here, work them for intel,” his father said.
Regan nodded.
Three dots appeared in France’s phone.
. . .
“She’s typing,” Regan said.
The two of them waited, Regan acutely aware of his father’s interest.
Alert Kate Johnson she is the winner. Arrange for transport first thing tomorrow.
Regan was momentarily caught off guard. Tilting his head to the side, he tried to make sense of the woman’s decision.
“What is it?” his father asked.
Regan tilted the phone. Upon seeing the text, his father mirrored his displeasure with a similar tight-lipped expression.
Kate was not the highest bidder. Regan was only able to think of one reason Adria would accept a lower offer for the boys.
He said, “If they have a personal relationship, Adria will notice their absence quicker.”
“It won’t matter. They will be untraceable by tomorrow afternoon,” his father said.
“Alive?” Regan asked, trying to tame the excitement in his voice.
His father stood over Frances. His boot pushing her hair away, revealing prominent bruising on her face and neck.
“Callen wants them dead,” he said, flatly.
Disappointment and anger flickered inside Regan, and he tried to remain calm. “But you promised I would have some time with them.”
That was part of the deal. Part of the reason he had agreed to stay with the gray-haired bag of bones.
One of his father’s men moved into the room and, addressing his father, said, “Jonathan...sir, Alessandro needs to speak with you.”
His father turned.
“Dad?” Regan prompted, not wanting his father to leave without an answer.
Jonathan stopped in the doorway.
“They’ll be alive. Try to keep them that way,” he said, leaving the room.
