Page 99 of Sigma

I take the phone from Valentine. “Us for Rin.” I swallow hard. “Better yet—mefor Rin. I’m the one who killed Gina, anyway. Take me. You can do what you want with me. Just let my daughter go. She’s got nothing to do with this.”

“Mama, no!” Rin’s voice, distant, as if he’d walked away from her. “You don’t understand!”

“I think not, Kyrie Roth. Both of you. Walk down the road you’re on. My men will not disturb you as long as your hands remain visible at all times. When you come to the castle, you will be approached by my second, Tomás. He will bring you in, at which time I will see that Corinna is delivered to your men.”

“Do you think we’re that stupid, Apollo?” Valentine snarls. “Try again, and do better, or I’ll rethink my attempt to solve this without killing anyone.”

“Oh, please do.” He sighs. “Very well. I will meet you with her out front.”

Sasha’s eyes widen at this—he’s playing directly into our plan.

“Apollo, don’t.” This is Rin, again distant, but pleading. “Just end it. There’s nothing to be accomplished. Not anymore.”

The way she says his name. My spine crawls.

“Can I talk to my daughter, please?” I ask.

“It’s Mommy Dearest,” I hear him say as he hands the phone off.

“Mom?” Rin’s voice, surprisingly firm. “I’m okay. I promise.”

“What’s going on, Rin?” I swallow hard. “Something is going on. I know it.”

“It’s not what you think,” she whispers.

“What isn’t?”

“Any of this! It’s not what you think.”

“Enough.” Apollo’s voice abruptly cuts through. “The trade—we are agreed?”

Valentine and I exchange looks. I nod.

Valentine takes the phone back. “We are.”

“Very good. We’ll all meet soon, then, won’t we?”

Click.

Valentine looks to Sasha. “Give Harris the signal.”

Sasha speaks into a two-way radio set to a private channel. “Alpha Kilo, execute.”

“Alpha Kilo execute, confirm.” Harris’s voice.

Sasha’s jaw is grinding as he hooks the radio back on his vest. “The others will be moving in now that we’ve given the signal. The moment he’s down, we’ll get Rin to safety.”

“No matter what happens to us,” I tell him. “You get her to safety.” I stare hard at him. “No matter what. Promise me.”

“I swear it on my life.”

Valentine nods, then takes my hand. “Ready?”

I let out a breath, squeeze his hand. “Let’s go get our daughter back.”

20

It’s All About Choices