Read Night and Day for Free Online Page B

His voice was suddenly savage, and he was across the room, his hands grasping her shoulders. “Why are you talking about showers and naps? Why did you come? What do you want to tell me?”
    His grip was hurting her, and she opened her mouth to tell him to let her go. Then, as she met his eyes, she closed it again. His jaw was locked and his eyes glittering. He was scared, she realized, terrified. She said gently, “It’s okay, Jock.”
    â€œNo, it’s not. Nothing is okay right now. Is she alive?”
    â€œAs far as we know.” His hands tightened again, and she said, “We think so. And, if you’ll stop trying to break my shoulders, I’ll tell you what I do know.”
    â€œTell me.” His hands fell away from her, and he stepped back. “So that I can get the hell out of here and find out for myself.”
    â€œJoe followed Natalie Castino to Liverpool, and he saw her leaving in a Russian jet. He’s checking, but he thinks it was sent by her father, Sergai Kaskov, and that she’s probably on her way to Moscow now.”
    â€œAnd Cara?”
    â€œJoe didn’t see her, but he assumed she was in the plane.”
    â€œAssumed?”
    â€œHe got there too late for anything else. They were going down the runway. What was he supposed to do? He couldn’t have stopped them.”
    â€œI would have stopped them.”
    And it was possible that with the depth of lethal skills Jock possessed, he might actually have been able to do it, Eve thought wearily. “And then you might have killed Cara along with everyone else on that plane. Is that what you want?”
    â€œI should have been there.”
    She was tired of it. “But you weren’t. Joe was there, and he used his best judgment. And it was damn good judgment. So don’t give me should-have-been, Jock. Just get a cup of tea and sit down and let me talk to you about how we’re going to deal with this.”
    He stood looking at her for a moment, then turned and crossed to the beverage machine. “You don’t know anything more?”
    â€œWhy? So that you can feel free to walk out of here?” She dropped down in a chair. “That’s not going to happen. I know you’re hurting, but so are the rest of us.”
    â€œNone of the rest of you caused Cara to be on that hill where Salazar’s man took her.” He sat down across from her. “Aye, I’m hurting and angry, but I also have to make it right. So I’d say I have slightly more invested in getting her back.”
    â€œNo, you don’t. I don’t consider guilt weighs in any heavier than love.” She leaned back in her chair. “But I’m not going to argue with you about it. I’m just going to tell you that Joe has called Burbank at Scotland Yard and asked him to touch base with any contacts in Moscow and verify that Cara actually arrived there safely. Burbank turned it over to a Dima Palik, who he claims is very knowledgeable. We should know what the situation is soon.”
    â€œAnd then?”
    â€œWe determine what the safest way would be to get Cara away from Moscow … and Natalie Castino.”
    â€œI’ll determine that.”
    â€œNo, you won’t. I know you’re accustomed to going solo, Jock. That’s not going to happen there.” She took a sip of tea. “Sergai Kaskov is the head of one of the largest Mafia families in Moscow, and he’s supposed to love his daughter.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œSo if you go in and grab Cara away from her mother, he’s going to take it as a personal insult and will go after you with mega manpower and guns blazing.”
    He just looked at her.
    â€œAnd you may not be worried about yourself, but Cara could be caught in the cross fire. I won’t have that, Jock.”
    There was a flicker of expression. “Do you think I would?”
    â€œNo, but it could happen if you’re not