Page 72 of Be My Vengeance

Alex

“Alabama.”

“Heart of Dixie,” Owen answered.

“Delaware.”

“The First State.” He was good.

“Oh, I got one. Mississippi.”

“The Magnolia State.”

“What are you two doing?” Penn entered the kitchen, where Owen and I were sitting at the breakfast bar.

I held up flash cards. “Quizzing him on license plate slogans.”

Penn pulled a face. “For what class?”

“No class.” Owen shrugged.

“Wait. You’re just studying these to know them?” Owen nodded at me. “Why?”

“I just wanna know.”

“Owen, finish getting ready. Aunt Rita is going to make sure you and Olivia get off to school today.”

“Okay.” He hopped off the stool and went to do what he was told.

Once he was out of earshot, I faced Penn. “Any news?”

“It was quiet last night. Scouts are still looking. Vladimir is really good at hiding, but he won’t be able to evade forever.”

I hummed. “I’m not buying it.”

“What?”

“Vladimir hiding. It doesn’t add up with everything we know about him so far.”

Penn leaned against the counter and sipped his coffee. “How so?”

“In broad daylight he had Danny grabbed. Then he had the balls to have him dumped outside your house. He’s sending messages to us.”

“What do you suggest?” Gideon walked in, and Penn handed him a mug. “Thanks.”

“I think he’s right in front of us. While our focus is on all those places the van went, maybe he isn’t at any of them. I feel like your scouts would have found him by now. They’re exceptional at their jobs.”

I could tell Gideon was considering my words. “Where do you think we haven’t looked yet?”

“When Maksim first arrived, Danny and I followed him to the Colburn Hotel.”

“Very fancy,” Penn noted.

“Exactly. And high profile. Celebrities and politicians have been known to stay there, so there’s paparazzi around pretty much all the time. Either hotel staff or the press have seen him, even if they don’t know exactly who he is.”

“Let me make a call to the Colburn. I know the manager there. Let me see what he has to say.” Gideon went to leave, but I stopped him.

“I’d like to go to the hospital.”