She parked the SUV beside Richard’s. Adrian pulled in beside her. “I have to go. Your son’s coming.” She hit End. “Send him the photos, Mom, then delete the conversation and put your phone under the mat.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Nate slammed his palms against the table when the line went dead. He was going to kill Adrian Ivanov with his bare hands, slowly and painfully.
“Ellie has a gun, and she knows how to use it,” Chase said, clearly trying to reassure him. Except his best friend looked as worried about the situation as Nate.
“They’ll take it from her as soon as she gets out of the car.”
“Right. Of course they will. But Ellie has her superpower. She can read their minds. That’s something they won’t expect, and she can use it to her advantage. She’s also smart and resourceful.” Chase smiled, nodding at the door. “And she has us for backup.”
An agent walked into the conference room, waving a warrant. “Saddle up, boys and girls. It’s time to ride.”
Everyone grabbed their gear that they had waiting for precisely this moment and headed for the door. Nate’s boss blocked him.
“Where do you think you’re going, Black? You’re riding the desk. You can coordinate with your team over their comms.”
“Boss, I have to go. They’ve got the woman who broke the case for us, Ellie MacLeod, and her mother.”
“Did we not just have this conversation yesterday morning?”
“Yes, but this isn’t about Brodie or the case. If Ellie wasn’t there, and in danger, I’d gladly stay out of it.” And he realized that was the absolute truth. He no longer needed to avenge Brodie’s death or gain the absolution he’d believed it would grant him. But he’d move mountains to get to Ellie, and right now, his boss was the mountain. “Please, I can’t sit here knowing she’s in danger. I’m in love with her.”
His boss smiled. “Then what are you waiting for? But Black,” he called as Nate ran from the room, “do me a favor and don’t kill anyone. The paperwork’s a bitch.”
* * *
Adrian took Ellie’s gun as soon as she stepped from the SUV. “Do you always go armed to a social call, Ms. MacLeod?”
“Do you always blackmail a woman to get what you want, Mr. Ivanov?”
He blinked and then his eyes narrowed. “Miranda, I’m surprised you shared your dirty little secret with your daughter.” Adrian tsked, but Ellie didn’t think he was as cool as he pretended to be. His jaw was clenched, and his face had reddened.
Ellie prayed that Dimitri wouldn’t take long to act on her warning.
“It’s funny how it’s always the woman’s dirty little secret, isn’t it, Mom?” She smiled at Adrian. “It takes two to make a baby. Didn’t they teach you that in school?”
“You have a smart mouth. How would you like me to teach—”
“Miranda darling, I wasn’t expecting you.” Dimitri rushed out of the mansion and past his son, taking Ellie’s mother in his arms. He kissed her forehead and then murmured something in her ear before tucking her against his side, wrapping a protective arm around her. He smiled at Ellie. “Finally we meet, Elliana. May I call you Elliana?”
“Ellie is fine. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Ivanov,” she said, taking his proffered hand.
“Good. I am glad you don’t hold my love for your mother against me.”
“Papa, show some respect for me and Mama. You had an affair with this woman. Do you think it’s fair that you rub it in my face?”
“Remember who you are talking to. Watch your mouth.” Dimitri’s eyes narrowed on the gun. “What’s this? Put that away. I apologize for my son. He has no manners.”
Careful, Dimitri, don’t push too hard, Ellie thought.
“It’s her gun. You’re lucky I took it from her,” Adrian told his father. “She could have shot you. How easily you forget what she did to Richard.” He nodded at her mother. “She makes you weak. You let her manipulate you, Papa.”
Richard came out of the mansion. “What’s going—” He broke off, a relieved smile creasing his face when he spotted Ellie. He walked to Adrian and clapped him on the back. “Thank you. I knew I could count on you. Both of you.” He moved to her mother. “Miranda—”
“Don’t come near me,” her mother said. “And you will not go near my daughter. Either of my daughters ever again.”
Richard’s mouth dropped open.
“Miranda darling, what is this about?” Dimitri asked.
Ellie didn’t understand why he was pretending that he didn’t know Bri was in hospital or that Richard was responsible for her being there, but she had to trust that he had a good reason for keeping it to himself. Just like he was keeping his knowledge of Bri’s parentage to himself.
Her mother searched his face, probably wondering the same thing. “He’s been abusing Brianna. She’s in the hospital because of him.”
“No, that’s not true!” Richard whirled on Ellie. “This is your fault. You’ve been spreading your sick, vicious lies about me again.”
“Come, we’ll go into the house and discuss this calmly.” Dimitri reached for Ellie’s hand, drawing her toward him. He tucked her under his other arm.
Ellie wondered if this was why he hadn’t said anything. He could better control the situation from inside his home.
Richard and Adrian stayed where they were, talking, low enough that they couldn’t be heard.
“I’m sorry, Dimitri. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Brianna and that Adrian was blackmailing me,” her mother whispered. “I was afraid.”
“We don’t have time to discuss this now, but I am also sorry. Sorry that my ex-wife and my son terrorized you and that you didn’t trust me to protect you. But I will protect you now, both of you. Your friend, Mr. Black, were you able to reach him?” he asked Ellie.
“Yes,” she said, praying she wasn’t making a mistake by sharing that with Dimitri. “He’s on his way.”
“How long before he arrives?” Dimitri asked.
“Twenty minutes.” Nate had said thirty, but at least ten minutes had passed.
Dimitri nodded as he ushered them into a living room at the back of the house. “Good. So we must keep both my son and Richard here until they arrive. I want this over today.” He looked around the room. “Please sit.” He gestured at a large sectional by the window. “Sit at the far end, Ellie. From there, you should be able to see when Mr. Black arrives. You will signal me when he is here. Like so.” He rubbed his right eyebrow. “If my back is to you, say your mother’s name.”
Ellie nodded and leaned to her left. She couldn’t see all the way to the front door, but she could see a good part of the hallway leading to the back of the house.
Dimitri hurried to the bar in the corner, glancing to his left as he pressed a button. A drawer slid open, and he removed a gun. He slid it into the back of his waistband. He looked up as he smoothed his jacket over the gun, noting what must have been the surprise in Ellie’s and her mother’s eyes.