She reached up to stroke his fingers and he realized she did need comfort. Talking about her birth father was difficult after all she'd been through. She had to have mixed feelings. He took her hand, his thumb sliding gently over her inner wrist in a slow caress. I'll get your tea and be right back, baby.
She nodded, and he slipped away. Her gaze collided with Jonas's.
"The man moves like a cat. Your fiance. How long have you two known each other?"
"Max? It's been about two years, on and off. He travels a lot, so we mainly corresponded at first." Airiana delivered their cover story like a pro. Her tone even held the ring of truth.
"And he's related to the children? They're from Italy."
She nodded and lowered her voice as if the children might overhear. "It was such a tragedy. Their parents and a sister were killed in a car accident. They have no other relatives, so of course Max and I will take them in. Neither of us expected a ready-made family, but we're both happy to have them."
"I see." Jonas's tone indicated he thought she was feeding him a line of bull, but the paperwork Lev and Stefan had created was impeccable. Max Walberg was the only living relative of the four children.
"Why did your father decide to kidnap you?" Jonas changed tactics. "Why not pick up the phone and call you?"
"I asked him that very same question," Airiana said. "He claimed he wanted to get to know me, but I pointed out that kidnapping me wasn't a very good beginning."
Maxim handed Airiana a cup of tea and sank into the chair beside her. "Solovyov believed a man by the name of Evan Shackler-Gratsos had sent his men to kidnap her. He's a billionaire. He inherited everything from his brother, but prior to that he was the head of a worldwide motorcycle gang. He's suspected of murder, drug and human trafficking as well as arms dealing."
"How would you know all that?" Jonas asked.
"I worked, until a few days ago, for the government, and we were tracking Shackler-Gratsos." He was careful not to say which government. "We were tipped off by a man deep in his organization that he was planning to grab Airiana, so we were already rushing to protect her. Her father's men got to her before Shackler-Gratsos."
Airiana gave a delicate little shiver. "It was very disconcerting to know that my own father had arranged to have me kidnapped. And amazing to have Max be the one to come to my rescue."
"How handy that you knew each other ahead of time," Jonas said, without managing to sound sarcastic. He flicked a glance at Airiana, who calmly took a sip of tea and regarded him with a small smile.
"Isn't it though? I was lucky that he recognized my name and immediately found me. I think if Theodotus had managed to get me to Russia, I would never have gotten home."
"Where did Max find you?" Jonas prompted.
"I was on a yacht just off the coast of Mexico. My birth father told me his idea was to take the yacht to Colombia, using the time for us to get to know each other, and there would be a private plane waiting to take us to Russia."
"What happened to your face? And your feet," Jonas added with a little frown.
Maxim liked him better for that frown. Clearly the sheriff was not a man who liked seeing bruises on a woman.
"There was a Russian aboard, a man named Gorya. I think he was the steward. I had already cut my feet on a glass Theodotus threw--he was a little angry with me--and I went out on the deck to get away from him. Gorya and I got into an altercation and he punched me." She consolidated the attacks, one from Gorya and the other from Sorbacov's assassins.
"He didn't just punch her," Maxim added. "She has bruises all over where he kicked her as well."
"Why would he do that?" Damon asked, looking shocked. "He dared to touch the daughter of Theodotus Solovyov? That could get him imprisoned."
"Or killed," Jonas added, looking at Maxim.
"I was very uncooperative."
Jonas frowned. "I don't understand. Did they expect you would want to go to Russia after being kidnapped?"
Airiana sighed and put her teacup down. "They wanted me to do something for them. They expected me to do it. If I didn't cooperate, my father indicated, although he didn't say it outright, I would be forced."
"And this Gorya was their enforcer?"
Airiana shrugged, unwilling to lie outright. Misleading using the truth is one thing, but I've never been good at lying.
You're doing great, honey. And you aren't lying. That's exactly what your father expected from you.
Airiana pressed her thumb into the center of her palm as if her palm itched. Jonas's gaze immediately followed that small, subtle motion. Maxim couldn't help but admire the man. He was good at his job. More, Maxim was certain his sheriff's job wasn't where he'd gotten his training.
"Why had you suddenly contacted me, Damon? We lived in the same town for a long while, yet you never came near me." Airiana suddenly went on the attack. "Did you expect me to believe that on the very day I was kidnapped by Theodotus Solovyov for his government it was just a coincidence that you made an appointment to see me?"
"What I have to talk to you about is of vital importance," Damon said, "but it is also classified and I can't discuss it with anyone else present."
"That's really too bad. I have no interest in anything classified or anything my fiance can't hear. Are there any other questions you need answered, Jonas? The children will be waking up soon."
Maxim could have told her Benito was already awake and listening to every word.
"You're putting me in an awkward position," Damon said.
"I know. I'm sorry, but I can't help you."
"Can't? Or won't?"
Airiana let her breath. "I don't know. Is the threat real?"
Damon shoved his hand through his hair. "I can say, in the abstract, that yes, it is. I could use your help."
Before Airiana could reply, Maxim put his hand over hers, to stop her. "If she agreed to try to help you, would your government help in any way possible with her protection? Give us license to do the things necessary here at her home to protect her family? You know as well as I do, that if she does this thing, she'll be a target."
I'm already a target.
So why not get what we need with the government's approval. If we give them a list and they agree to everything, you'll know just how valuable you really are to them.
Airiana couldn't breathe with the rush of adrenaline pouring through her veins. To work again. To talk to people who could brainstorm with her. The thought was just as intoxicating as it was frightening. She could get caught up in that life all over again and neglect the people she loved.
"I have Max. And the children. They need me."
"We can reduce your work hours, and a good part of it can be done from your home once it is secure," Damon said. "I'm certain you'll have every cooperation to make you and your family safe."
Airiana bit her lip. She glanced at Maxim. "I have to think about it, Damon. I was being honest with you when I told you I didn't know if I could help you. It's been a long time since I've done any work."
"On paper maybe, but in your head . . ." Damon trailed off.
"If I do this, Max has to come with me as my bodyguard."
"No." Not from Damon, but from Jonas. "He can't."
Damon shook his head. "Jonas, anything is doable. We'll make it work. She's too important to my work to close any doors."
"I don't care what his paperwork says, Damon. I don't care if the investigators pronounce him American of the year. He's Russian and his loyalties are to Russia."
"I have no ties to Russia," Maxim stated. "Every bridge is burned. I brought Airiana home. My loyalties are to her."
Jonas jumped to his feet and paced across the floor. "I can trust your word because I know who you are, but not for my country's security. Airiana, you have to understand, no one, not even you, can take that chance."
"I am Max Walberg, a citizen of the United States. We're going to be married as soon as possible and this will be my home. I'm becoming a father to
four children and hope to have many more of my own, but above all, I will see to Airiana's protection."
"That's the deal, Jonas," Airiana said. "Apparently my father is a famous Russian physicist. If you question Max's loyalty, you're going to have to question mine."
Jonas swore and turned away from them to stare out the window. "Do you have any idea how complicated this situation is becoming? The Drakes are all returning. With them will come Elle and Jackson. Now this. I feel like I'm walking through a damn minefield."
"He's going to make another try for her, Harrington," Maxim said softly, watching the man. His hand was never far from his weapon and the sheriff knew it, but it hadn't stopped him from expressing his frustration.
"Who? Her father?" Jonas spun around.
Maxim shook his head slowly. "The Russians might try again for her, but somehow I don't think they will. No, Shackler-Gratsos. He won't come himself. He'll send mercenaries. He's angry. Shackler-Gratsos doesn't like to be thwarted by mere mortals. He feels entitled to anything he wants. And he wants Airiana."
Damon sucked in his breath sharply. "It's him. He's got to be the one behind . . ." He trailed off.
"That's what Theodotus thought as well. The Russians were threatened." Maxim wasn't employed by either government anymore and not bound to silence. He wanted Damon, at least, to take the threat to Airiana's safety very seriously.
"What makes Airiana so important to all these people?" Jonas asked. "To you, Damon?"
"My brain," Airiana answered, a shade sarcastically. "The girl's got a brain."
Jonas stopped his pacing abruptly in front of her chair. "Have I ever given you the impression that I think less of you because you're a woman? Or that I think women aren't as intelligent as men?"
Airiana shook her head, looking slightly ashamed. "No, of course not, Jonas."
Jonas shot Damon a hard look. "It isn't you I'm upset with, Airiana. It's the situation. I came here to take a report on a kidnapping and my brother-in-law asked to come along. It didn't occur to me that he had any motive other than concern for your well-being. I don't like being used. Airiana has clearly been through hell, Damon, and now you're insisting she do whatever it is she does for you. What makes you any different than Shackler-Gratsos or her birth father, who, by the way, should be thoroughly ashamed of himself."
Damon sat back in his chair. "I guess I think of us as the good guys."
"So does every other country. I'm a patriot, but I don't like bullying or threatening women for any reason. Shouldn't she be protected whether or not she does whatever it is you want her to do?"
"Of course. If the situation wasn't so dire . . ." He broke off, and shook his head.
"Is it?" Airiana took a breath and let it out. What if Evan has already developed a weapon? But then he really wouldn't need me, would he? But if he has it . . .
If he has, could you counter it?
She shrugged. Maybe.
You explain to Wilder and Harrison that I already know what this is about while I take care of our child who has big ears.
Airiana nodded and waited until Maxim excused himself and left to go down the hall. "Theodotus talked in front of Max. He already knows everything."
The breath hissed out between Jonas's teeth. "Great. The Russian knows. The Greek knows. I'm the only one in the dark, and I'm the one who has to sort all this out."
"He wouldn't do that," Damon said.
"He would if he expected Max to be killed--which he did. That's the reason for my cut feet and Gorya punching and kicking me. When I realized they were going to kill Max after he rescued me from Evan's men, I tried creating a diversion so he could get away."
"So Evan's men actually were the ones to kidnap you," Jonas said, sinking once more into his chair.
"The Russians believe he or his brother kidnapped a physicist, a man by the name of Dennet Laurent, and gave him what little they had of a project I'd started when I was a child. My mother fed the information to Theodotus. He was working on it as well, using my work as a platform."
"So that's how they got their hands on it," Damon said. "We suspected your mother of selling the information, but there was no real evidence of it."
"She gave it freely to my father. She was proud of her daughter, not betraying her country. Theodotus had a wife who had many lovers, and one of them worked for Shackler-Gratsos. He was able to use her to get the work Theodotus was doing and they turned that over to Laurent, or at least that's who Theodotus suspects Shackler-Gratsos had taken prisoner."
"Certainly Dennet Laurent is one of the few who could have figured the weapon out," Damon agreed. "Everyone wondered what had happened to him. He disappeared without a trace."
"It wasn't a weapon. It was never supposed to be a weapon," Airiana said. "It was a useful tool to help countries get food. To help farmers with their crops. To stop global warming."
"You're talking about controlling the weather," Jonas said. "That's what this entire thing is about."
Airiana nodded, ignoring Damon's groan of frustration. "I found patterns I could use to predict hurricanes and droughts. Even tornados. I envisioned expanding the results in order to go into each area where the weather affected what was happening on the ground, long droughts for instance, and being able to make it rain."
"Haven't they already tried that?"
"I'm not talking about seeding clouds, Jonas. What if I could actually change the weather patterns and make it rain naturally. Remove one component so the hurricane won't make it to land. Stop two cells from forming a tornado. Think about all the good that could be done," Airiana said. "But no, instead of helping starving children, each person who has seen the projections immediately thought of it in the context of a weapon."
"That's not entirely true," Damon contradicted. "I was using your platform with the idea of the same thing--until we got the threat. We didn't know which terrorist had the capability of changing the weather, and everyone was scrambling around trying to find a countermeasure. The request is nearly impossible to meet and we're running out of time."
"Except," Maxim said, walking back into the room, "the fact that Evan tried to acquire Airiana, which means he may have run into the same glitch Theodotus and you did, Wilder." When Damon raised an eyebrow, Maxim shrugged. "It isn't that difficult to figure out that your work wasn't completed. You wouldn't be here if you'd been able to complete the project."
Jonas shot Maxim an amused glance. "He's got a point, Damon."
"Clearly Theodotus couldn't finish it either," Maxim added. "I can't imagine that Laurent could when the two of you couldn't do it."
"We can't take that chance," Damon said. "A weapon like that in the hands of a madman could virtually wipe out countries. He could be trying to get Airiana because he doesn't want her working for anyone else."
"He would have killed her," Maxim said. "He needs her. Shackler-Gratsos kills anyone who gets in his way. He never has to get his own hands dirty, and there's never evidence to connect him. He may have owned that ship filled with guns, drugs and women and children he knew would be murdered, but he's far away and will show outrage that such a thing occurred on one of his vessels. He can manufacture evidence against the captain and make himself look like a victim."
"You know a lot about him."
"I knew a lot about his brother. Less about him. He wasn't raised with his brother. The mother took Evan and fled to the United States, hiding from his father. His father was a billionaire with a far reach. There were all kinds of rumors about him but no one could ever prove anything. He was a cruel man and being his son couldn't have been easy, especially after the mother left," Maxim said.
"Now you're talking about his brother, the one killed off the coast here," Jonas said.
"There was some speculation that Stavros had his own mother killed when he found her. He'd grown as cruel as his father and he'd never forgiven her for leaving him behind with the father. He took whatever illegal activities his father had started to an entirely new l
evel. When he died, Evan inherited everything."
"You certainly know a lot about these men," Jonas said.
"I told you, we've been after them for some time. Their human trafficking ring is probably the largest worldwide. Evan's mother came here with him and she met and fell in love with a man in a motorcycle gang."
"They call them clubs," Jonas said.
Maxim showed his teeth. "They can call themselves anything they want. In the end, it's all the same. Evan didn't grow up with the privileges his brother had, but the genetics held true. He thrived in the biker world of drugs and arms dealing, eventually rising to the top to lead them."
"So now this man controls a major biker gang that has chapters all over the world, as well as his brother's business," Jonas said. "He's the one all of you believe has this weather weapon?"
Maxim nodded. "He'll be sending his men after Airiana. Anyone trying to stop him will be killed. That's what he does. That's who he is. Inheriting the money only made him more powerful."
Jonas looked to Airiana. "What do you think? What do you want to do?"
Maxim was surprised at Jonas's reaction. Everyone else had tried to force Airiana through different means to do what they wanted; Jonas was asking her what she wanted. His opinion of the man rose.
Airiana moistened her lips. She glanced at Maxim.
What is it, baby?
All the theories they have to date, using hot spots, isn't going to do much good. It sounds good, but it won't work. Unfortunately, I don't think I can make my project work for anyone else. I didn't realize I could manipulate air and shift warm spots into areas where it's needed.
You aren't telling me what's wrong.
I don't want to do anything that would hurt you. Of course I want to see if I can make it work, but not if it would make you unhappy.
Why would that make me unhappy? He'd never had anyone worried about whether or not he'd be happy or sad. It was a new experience and one he wasn't altogether comfortable with.
I'd want to work for the U.S., and you love your country as much as I love mine. I can't guarantee if I did find a way to make it work, that it wouldn't be used as a weapon.
I'll always love Russia, honey, but this is my home and this will be my country. I can never go back. In fact right now, Sorbacov is dispatching hit men to find and kill me. You do whatever it is that will make you happy.