Page 48 of Sigma

“It is not so simple.” A pause. “But, if he is listening, it is the truth. You would trade yourself for your daughter, would you not?”

“In a fucking heartbeat.”

“Well then. Keep a sharp lookout. I will be to you soon.”

Waiting is impossibly difficult. Every pedestrian I see is a possible assassin. My heart is in my throat and my hands are shaking and I keep seeing the first two men die, the backs of their heads exploding in a pink mist. I keep hearing Rin’s voice, asking for me.

She’s twenty. Not a child. She’s always been precocious, always fiercely independent, but the more responsibility Valentine gave her, the more of an adult it made her. She lives at home with us, still, but only out of convenience.

Yet, in that moment, she just wanted to hear her mom’s voice.

It makes the fury inside me boil over again.

The phone, resting on my thigh, rings—the sudden, jarring trill of it shocks me so badly I jump and gasp. The number is not saved as a contact, but I know who it is.

Shaking like a leaf, I answer. “Hello, Apollo Karahalios.”

Silence. “Where is Kai?”

“In the trunk.”

“I see.” He sounds disappointed more than anything. “And my men?”

“Dead.”

“Anselm did not obey his orders, then.”

I laugh. “Oh no, he did. He has the money and he’s nearly to the drop coordinates you provided.”

“I am afraid I do not follow, Mrs. Roth.”

“You’ve stolen my daughter from me, Apollo. Did you think I was going to take that lying down?”

“What I thought was that you valued your daughter’s life.” He pauses. “So you’re sayingyoukilled them?”

“Yes.” I measure my next words carefully. “It’s me you want, Apollo. If you hurt my daughter, it’s only going to be worse for you. And if you kill her, you’ll have no leverage over me at all.”

“And you think this gives you power over me?”

“What is it you want, Apollo?”

“You, alone, in Madrid, two days from now.”

“And my daughter?”

“Madrid. Two days.”

“Lay one finger on Rin, Apollo…and your life is forfeit. It already is. But if you hurt her, I’ll make sure your death is slow and painful.”

A laugh of surprise. “I believe I underestimated you, Mrs. Roth.”

“Clearly.”

A pause. No way am I hanging up first.

“And, Mrs. Roth?”

“Hmm?”