“I haven’t taken a DNA test. While we can be certain of who my mother is and know Reuben is my brother—of whom I have vague but fond memories—any resemblance to him comes from our mother. I have no reason to think Conrad Hanson isn’t my biological father.”

They’d done the math, and it was possible. Conrad could have been in Germany around the time Kira had been conceived, but even she had acknowledged that was likely to be nothing more than wishful thinking.

Rand figured it was more likely Anna’s relationship with Conrad started once the Kuliks began spending months of each year in Malta, as it was here that Anna would have had more freedom than she did in East Germany. Perhaps she even realized she could get her lover’s help in escaping her husband. The risk to her would have been too great from behind the Iron Curtain.

He turned to Kira and nodded for them to step aside. He lowered his voice, but not so much that they couldn’t be overheard. “I know you wanted to visit the megalithic site today, but that call was from my agent. Late last night, my editor sent comments on the draft I turned in a few weeks ago, and it’s a problem. Bad enough for my agent to call me before dawn in New York. I need to read through the editorial letter and come up with a response.”

Kira’s expression was the picture of crestfallen. “But we’re on vacation.”

“Technically, it’s a research trip for me, and being self-employed, I can’t afford to put off my publisher just because I’m out of town. If they don’t accept the draft—and that’s what this is—they don’t have to pay the second half of my advance.” He glanced toward the ten-thousand-euro sculpture he’d made a show of wanting. “Until I get this resolved, extravagant purchases are on hold.”

While draft rejection was a realistic scenario, he wasn’t at risk of that today. He was only a hundred pages into his next book and given his day job, the contract for book three didn’t have a set due date yet. But it was a lie urgent enough for him to need to work today and curb spending.

“We should return the boat, then. We could get a hotel for a fraction of the cost.”

He shook his head. “I’ll be okay. I can fix it. My editor will come around. My laptop has the file, and I have links to all my research materials, but I’ll need better Wi-Fi than my cell can offer. My call kept cutting out. Coverage is worse here than it was on Malta, and I’m going to need to Zoom with my agent. Probably have to screen share.”

“I can get us a hotel room with Wi-Fi,” Kira suggested. She wrinkled her nose. “We really should return the boat.”

He leaned his forehead against hers. His voice remained just above a whisper. “It won’t change a thing. Because we chartered at the last minute, there’s no cancellation window. Two-night minimum, paid up front.”

She sighed. “I guess we can get a cheap hotel since we won’t be sleeping there. Or maybe go to a coffee shop with free internet?”

“I can’t Zoom and talk about my book with my super-secret pen name in a coffeeshop. Even if no one knows who I am, it would be rude to the other customers.”

She turned to Juliette, who, along with Laskin, had clearly overheard most, if not all, of their conversation. “Juliette, can you recommend an inexpensive hotel with good Wi-Fi in Victoria? Rand needs to work, and we don’t have Wi-Fi on our boat.”

“Surely you can still join us for lunch at Grigory’s villa so you can see your mother’s painting?”

“Another time, maybe,” Rand said. “I’m afraid this is urgent.”

Kira gave a properly heartbroken look.

“Kira could join us while you work,” Laskin said.

“No,” Kira said. “Two nights ago, the man who claimed to be my step-cousin assaulted me when I was alone. I escaped, but as far as I know, he’s still at large. Add to that, I think Reuben paid Cousin Andre to come after me. I’m just not comfortable going anywhere without Rand. Not even your villa.”

Plan A was fully in motion. They had a plan B, but this had a far better chance of success.

Grigory cocked his head. Rand knew the man had an arrangement with Reuben and suspected it involved her being at his villa today. How important was it to Grigory to follow through with their agreement?

They were about to find out.

Chapter Forty-Six

Thirty minutes later, they were back on the boat. Grigory had called a driver to pick them up in front of the gallery and take them to the boat so Rand could grab his laptop and papers. While they gathered their things, the driver waited in the marina parking lot, ready to take them to Grigory’s estate.

Last evening, Kira had laughed upon discovering the plastic document folder she’d noticed after his hotel room had been flooded turned out to be actual notes and printouts of research materials for his work-in-progress—or WIP, as Rand called it. He really did have the perfect cover.

Today, they would use it for all it was worth.

He’d made all the necessary arrangements before they went to bed last night, including arranging for a Zoom meeting with his “agent,” who was being played by Valkyrie Victoria Graves. Vicki had jumped at the chance to play agent because she was an avid thriller reader and had read both of Reece Foresman’s books. She’d seen the dedication a month ago and had immediately known Rand was Reece, but didn’t out him, not even to her bosses, who were his close friends. But most important, she knew the world Rand had built and could talk about it with ease.

Last night, Rand had reached out to a thriller author friend who understood the seriousness of the situation, but not what the situation was and got the man to write a suitably dire editorial letter to give Rand and Vicki something to work with.

Because Reece Foresman’s agent was a matter of public record, Freya ensured that the fake agent’s IP address would ping the right location even though Vicki was in FMV’s offices in Virginia and not Manhattan, where his real agent lived and worked.

After learning that Rand was secretly an author, Freya admitted to being disgruntled at not having discovered his secret on her own. He’d grinned and said, “Frey, you were the person I kept in mind as I set up my secret identity. I knew if I could hide it from you, I was bulletproof.”

Kira figured that mollified Freya’s ego a bit. On the flip side, Freya admitted Vicki had earned even more of her respect for keeping the secret.

Kira took a deep breath before sliding back into the backseat of one of Grigory’s many vehicles. A strange calmness settled over her. For the first time since she’d boarded her flight, she knew what she was walking into ahead of time.

She didn’t know what they would find out, but this wasn’t about her or her secret history. This was about two Russian oligarchs seeking power and revenge. The drive to Laskin’s estate took another thirty minutes, and at last, it was go time.

Laskin’s villa was modern—likely built in the last decade—complete with an infinity pool and architecture that was more Beverly Hills mansion than Maltese villa.

Inside, Juliette greeted them as mistress of the manor, and Kira wondered if that was generally true. She had her own apartment in Victoria and maintained her own finances, but did she live with Grigory most of the time?

Would she stand by her man if she learned what he’d done and was trying to do?

Did she know already?

Rand agreed to join them for lunch prepared by Grigory’s chef before escaping into the office he’d use to go through his edit letter with his agent on Zoom.

He was appropriately itchy to get to work and declined the sangria cocktail he was offered. Kira figured she had to drink, at least a little, to maintain her role. The maid filled all glasses from the same pitcher, so at least she knew she wasn’t being drugged.

Rand’s gaze lingered on the young woman as she poured, and Kira wondered if she was Nadia. She’d checked in during the brief time they’d returned to the boat, and Collins still hadn’t been able to reach the girl.

The meal was a delicious paella to go with the sangria, and any other time, Kira would be in heaven eating authentic food prepared by a talented chef. Instead, she was as anxious as Rand to get to work. She had a job that was almost as important as his.

The same young woman served the food. She beamed at Rand when he smiled at her and Kira felt a rush of irritation even knowing he was playing a role.

Himbo indeed.

The girl topped off Kira’s barely touched sangria and bumped the glass, causing the red liquid to splash onto Kira’s brand-new white sundress. She let out a soft gasp and a very real pained “No!”

The girl smirked before her face transformed into an alarmed expression. “I’m so sorry, ma’am!”

Kira grimaced as she blotted at the stain that covered her right breast with her cloth napkin. “Where can I find a bathroom so I can rinse this out?”

“Nadia, take Dr. Hanson to get cleaned up.” The instruction came from Grigory.

At least she had confirmation of the girl’s name. But why had the young woman ruined Kira’s dress on purpose? No way had she imagined that smirk. Plus, her drink hadn’t needed topping off.

The girl bowed her head and said, “Follow me.”