Now that he thought about it, it had been a conversation loaded with firsts. The old man calling him his grandson, and that almost casual reference to Kaz’s power. The truth was that he did have power. The most important kind.
Financial power.
His fund, the decisions he made, influenced banks, markets, and people. Especially people who were heavily invested in all kinds of financial dealings…
Kaz caught his breath..
Was it possible…? Could he find what he needed if he dug deep enough? There were rumors, but…
He rushed to his desk. Turned on his computer, Googled Gregor Rostov, scribbled down some notes. Then he went to a site he’d used during the couple of years he’d worked for Zach at Shadow.
One long, deep breath.
Kaz typed in his user name. His password. It had been a long time…
The site opened.
Kaz pumped his fist in the air.
And set to work.
* * * *
The gray light of dawn was just touching the room by the time he’d finished.
He had one last thing to do before going upstairs to Katie.
Zach had left a message. A pair of first-class tickets waited for him at the Air Sardovia counter at Kennedy International Airport.
Right. Like he would take this journey with his Katie on a plane crowded with strangers.
He canceled the tickets. Then he phoned the private air service he always used and told them what he needed.
After that, all that remained was to pack.
And to make love to Katie for what he knew might be the one last time.
He went up the stairs and climbed into bed carefully, not wanting to wake her before he absolutely had to, but as soon as he started to draw her back against him, she turned in his arms.
“Sweetheart,” he whispered.
She smiled. But there were tears in her eyes. And fear. And something else.
Love.
His heart swelled.
She loved him. He was sure of it. God knew that he loved her. He wanted to tell her that, to hear her say the words to him, but what if his plan failed? To give them both such hope and then watch it all come to nothing…
And, sweet Jesus, it could fail. He was pinning everything on a half-cooked scheme.
“Katie,” he said fiercely, “it isn’t too late. Call your father. Tell him—”
She kissed him, and he tasted the salt of her tears.
“Whatever happens,” she said softly, “I will always have these days to remember.”
Kaz framed her face with his hands. “I’m not giving up,” he said. “I can’t tell you more than that, but… Will you trust me, sweetheart?”