Megan shook off Dimitri’s hand and walked to the window. The snow had stopped entirely. Outside was a world of beauty and peace. Nothing like the state inside her head, where thoughts raced and jostled for position.
“You can’t be serious about sending my sister into a situation like that?” Matt demanded of Lake. “She doesn’t have a freaking clue about guys like Rudi. She has no training, no skill. It would be like leading a lamb to the slaughter.”
“She can take care of herself,” Dimitri said. “And she’ll have backup.”
“I’ll go,” Joe said. “This is our mess and Grunt needs to stay here.”
Grunt grunted.
“You’ve run situations like this before,” Lake said to Callum, who nodded.
“We need more men,” Callum said.
“I can set up a team,” Lake told him.
“Is anybody listening to me?” Matt demanded. “She isn’t going. Sort this out another way. And while we’re at it, Dimitri is staying here to testify. Nobody is going anywhere.”
Grunt’s hand came down heavily on Matt’s shoulder. “Rudi won’t stop. He’ll keep coming until Claire is taken or dead.”
“I agree we need to stop him, but not with Megan. One sister isn’t more important than the other,” Matt said through clenched teeth.
“Hear, hear,” Claire shouted. “My sister isn’t going to Romania.”
“Yes,” Megan said evenly, and everyone in the room gave her their full attention. “Yes, I am.”
There was a moment of stunned silence before everyone started shouting at once. Megan’s eyes found Dimitri. He was silent, staring at her, and he looked almost proud. He nodded his thanks to her and Megan inclined her head in acceptance. A strange sort of exhilaration swept through her body. For years she’d been looking for her calling. The career that suited her. She had a strange feeling it had just found her.
She straightened her shoulders and smiled at the group.
She was going to be a gun for hire.
And she was going to kick ass.
30
* Rainne and Alastair *
On the morning that should have been Lake’s wedding, Rainne found the only member of her family who ever gave a damn about her in the war room, making plans. Okay, so it was the kitchen, but from the look on Lake’s face he was definitely scheming about something. Rainne stepped straight up to her brother and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“How you feeling?” Lake said as he pulled her to him.
“Good, I’m good. Love you, big brother.”
He smiled down at her, squeezing her tight. Those smiles were new. Thanks to Kirsty, Lake let himself show emotion a whole lot more than he ever did when they were growing up. Although there was twelve years between them and her memories of Lake were those of a child, she remembered him as a wary man. Always watching, assessing and analysing.
It wasn’t surprising considering their parents had made it clear from early on exactly how much they disapproved of Lake—all because he had a different ideology. Their rejection of h
im had taught Rainne at an early age that if she wanted them to accept her, she needed to do as she was told.
“You’re thinking hard, Rainbow. What’s up?” Lake patted her back as she clung to him.
This was new too. He never used to be good at showing or accepting affection. Rainne had a lot to thank Kirsty for.
“I’m so pleased you found Kirsty,” she said.
“So am I.” She could hear the laughter in his voice. “Now, do you want to tell me what you’re after?”
She grinned against his chest. “Can’t I just give my big brother a hug?”