Page 85 of Bride of Vengeance

"Has that criminal brainwashed you into thinking that?"

"Please, Daniel. Trust me. If you're really my partner and you know me, trust me. When this is all over, you'll know the whole truth. I'll tell you everything. Just stay away tomorrow."

"I can't do that."

"Then you'll die." I take the phone from her. "Rodriguez? This is Mikhail."

"You son of a bitch—"

"Shut up and listen. Tomorrow is a trap, but not the kind you think. If you show up, if you interfere, Harrison will kill you without hesitation."

"Harrison's a decorated—"

"Harrison's a trafficker who's sold thirty-nine witnesses who were under supposed protection of the FBI. Mostly women, and the true number is still uncertain. We have evidence ofeverything. He's working with Pavel Volkov. And if you get in his way, he'll put a bullet in your head and blame it on me."

"You're lying."

"Check the files yourself. Start with Anya Kozlov, my sister, twenty-three years ago. Follow the money, the witness relocations that went wrong, the pattern of disappearances. And if after that you still think I'd work with my sister's murderer, then you're not nearly as smart as Mariana says you are."

"Why would I believe anything you say?"

"Because despite your feelings for Mariana, you're a good agent. And good agents follow evidence."

I hand the phone back to Mariana.

"Daniel, please. Just look into it. Be careful, they are watching you. And whatever you do, stay away tomorrow."

"Mariana—"

She hangs up before he can finish.

"He won't listen," I say.

"No. He won't." She looks exhausted. "He's going to show up tomorrow and ruin everything."

"Or provide an unexpected distraction."

"Mikhail—"

"I won't let him die. Even though he's in love with my wife."

"He's not—"

I give her a look.

"Okay, maybe he has feelings. But that's not his fault."

"No, it's not. You're very easy to love."

My phone buzzes again. This time it's Alexei. "We have a problem."

"Another one?"

"Surveillance shows Pavel's men moving into position around the warehouse. At least twenty."

"Twenty? That's excessive for a meeting."

"It's not for a meeting. He's planning to hit us with everything."