Blood Assassin (The Sentinels #2)(61)

The perfect size for a young girl to sprawl on while she was looking through her picture books or playing with her dolls.

His breath was jerked from his lungs with a pain so fierce it nearly drove him to his knees.

With a grim determination, he forced his feet to carry him toward the large desk that dominated the center of the room, perching on the corner. Only when he was able to regain his composure did he meet Kaede’s knowing gaze.

“How widespread is the damage?” He got straight to the heart of their current trouble, his voice cold.

The only way to get through this was to lock away his emotions.

Kaede grimaced. “Extensive enough to attract media attention.”

Bas narrowed his eyes, sensing that was just the tip of the iceberg.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

He turned around his phone to display the image of a smoldering pile of tangled metal.

“A small plane crashed just a few miles from town.”

“Shit.” He pressed the palm of his hand against his right eye. Stress was making him feel like someone was driving a railroad spike through his head. “That means government officials sniffing around.”

“They’re already arriving.”

Of course they were. The spike drove even deeper.

“What about Anna?”

“Already moved to a more isolated location.”

“She’s still in stasis?”

“Yes, but her powers—”

Bas sliced his hand through the air, silencing his companion’s protest.

“That can’t be helped for now.”

Kaede gave a reluctant nod. “I’ll tell Stella to keep her locked down as tight as she can.”

“Good.” Bas didn’t need to be reminded it was a risky solution. He was walking a tightrope with no net, but there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about it. Not unless he could track down the kidnapper. “I need you to do something for me.”

Kaede didn’t hesitate. “Anything.”

“I want you to make a list of any former colleague and their current location.”

“Okay.” The younger man didn’t try to hide his confusion. “That’s going to be a short list.”

Bas dropped his hand, giving a weary nod of his head. When high-bloods joined his organization it was with the understanding that the only way out was death. He had way too many secrets to risk having dozens of employees coming and going.

Besides, it was the one certain way to protect his people from the wrath of Valhalla.

No policy, however, was foolproof and there had been a few stragglers who’d been allowed to slip away.

“Then I’ll expect it by the end of the night,” he said.

Kaede was headed toward the door. “I always deliver.”

Bas waited for the door to close behind Kaede before he allowed his furious resentment to boil over.

Goddammit. Shoving away from the desk, he paced from one end of the office to the other.

This is what came from trying to play the good guy.

He should have sent Anna to the designated location without hesitation.

What did it matter to him if the kidnapper was some sort of terrorist nut job who intended to use Anna’s abilities to destroy whole civilizations? Or more likely, a greedy bastard who wanted to force cities or even governments to fork over millions of dollars to halt the electronic dead zones that Anna created.

As long as he had Molly back home, the rest of the world could go to hell.

Rounding the desk, he sat in the leather seat and clicked on his computer, opening his only connection to the kidnapper.

He tapped an impatient finger on the arm of his chair, smoothing his face into an expressionless mask.

Once again he was acutely aware of the risk he was taking by contacting the bastard who held his daughter, but he also understood that every time he had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the kidnapper, even when he was disguised, it offered him more clues to his identity.

Besides, it would be strange if he wasn’t concerned that Serra had been attacked and this risked attracting the attention of Valhalla. The kidnapper would instantly realize that he must be plotting behind his back.

Abruptly the monitor flickered and the shadowed form of the kidnapper appeared on the screen.

“Are you deliberately trying to piss me off?” the distorted voice demanded.

He leaned forward, pressing his hands flat on the desk. “The psychic was attacked tonight.”

The figure gave a faint shrug that Bas closely studied. Once Kaede had names to offer him it might trigger a memory.

“And?” the stranger prompted.

Bas allowed a portion of his seething frustration to tighten his features.

“And Valhalla will be sending Sentinels to investigate.”

“I warned you to get rid of her.”

“You also said I had four days.”

Another shrug. Always with the right shoulder. And his head tilted to the side without any disturbance in the shadows that would indicate long hair.

“She’s an unwelcome distraction from our game.”

Bas stilled, shock jolting through him at the offhand words. “You think this is a game?”

“Of course.” Even with the voice distorted, Bas could detect the mockery. “Two masters of strategy battling to the death. What could be more thrilling?”