Page 93 of The Devil's Deceit

A day and a half after setting off for Greece, Dad’s jet lands late on Monday afternoon in torrential rain and winds that buffet the plane as it slows, then stops. I glance over at my father. Deep lines score his forehead, and the dark circles beneath his eyes make him look older than his sixty-two years. I shift my gaze to Xan. He looks tired too, but there’s an almost unhinged glint in his eye.

To get so close to catching up with my rapist uncle only to miss him by a few hours has hit all of us hard, but Xan most of all. He’d wound himself up to finally getting his hands on his biological father and ending him, and I imagine once he gets home and falls into Imogen’s arms, he’s going to crash hard.

The search continues, and the net is closing in. It’s only a matter of time before we get our hands on George. No one can run or hide forever, not with the resources afforded to us by The Consortium. It’s clear now that he’s been using small islands to hide out in for a few days or weeks at a time. Those without CCTV or, in many cases, internet connectivity.Now we have evidence of that, we can narrow the search. I’m confident that, next time, he won’t get away.

Dad’s phone buzzes. He slides it from his pocket, then sighs heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes for a second.

“What’s up, Dad?”

He puts his phone away. “A deal I’ve been working on for months needs my attention. Oscar has asked me to call into his office to sign some papers before I head home.”

Oscar is Dad’s lawyer. He’s worked with our family for years. If he says it’s urgent, then it is. “Does it have to be you?” I won’t lie, I’m worried. I’d rather he went straight home and got some sleep.

“I suppose not.”

“Then, it’s settled. I’ll go.”

“No,” Xan cuts in. “I’m second in command. I’ll do it.”

I shake my head. I’m as anxious to get home to Grace as he is to see Imogen and baby Sasha, but I’m as worried about Xan as I am about Dad. “I’ve got this. Go and see Imogen, kiss your son, and put him to bed.”

A momentary flash of relief steals over his face. “If you’re sure.”

“Positive. It won’t take me long.” I message my driver and tell him to come and pick me up. “I’ll wait here for Dawson and Marshall. You guys go.”

Dad rests a hand on my shoulder. “Thank you, son.”

I nod. “Go home. Get some rest. I’ll update you tomorrow.”

I wait for them to leave, then call Grace. Just hearing her voice soothes me, and I wasn’t aware until now I needed soothing.

“Hey, have you landed?”

“Yeah. I have an errand to run for Dad, so I’ll be a little delayed. Wait up for me?”

“Of course.” She pauses. “How are you all doing?”

“I’m okay. Dad and Xan… not so much. They were sure we had him. To have him slip through our fingers is gutting.”

“No one can run forever.”

I smile. “I had that exact thought a few minutes ago.”

“Christian?”

“Yeah?”

“When you get home, I need to talk to you about something.”

“Sounds serious.”

“Kind of.”

“Want to talk to me now? I’m waiting for Dawson to bring the car to the airfield.”

“It’ll wait. I’d rather do it face to face.”

“Should I be worried?” I laugh, but when Grace doesn’t, hell yeah, I’m worried.