A smile curved Mika's lips. She woke feeling blissful then realized she was in bed alone. Raizo sat at the desk, laptop open and cell phone inches from his hand. He was staring at the blackened screen, at nothing with such concentration that it worried Mika. Retrieving her robe, she went to stand next to him. When he didn't react, Mika slide onto his lap. Instantly, his dark chocolate eyes focused as he returned from wherever his mind had wandered. He flashed her a soft smile and placed a kiss on her lips.
"Morning"
"What's wrong?"
He remained quiet for a few minutes his smile fading. "Maslow called."
"When?" Mika felt her stomach clench.
"Calm, Mika. He has not arrived in Hong Kong yet," he soothed while stroking her back. "He was still a few hours out when he called."
"Then what's wrong?" she sighed with relief.
"Ryan has discovered an order went out. All Ozuno survivors are to be transported to a compound outside of Osaka."
"What!" Mika fumed. "Why would they do that? That's exactly what Ryan didn't want, for them to be one giant target. It would be perfect for …"
Her mouth hung open then clamped shut as a long list of unanswered questions became painfully clear. How had the clans learned of her investigation in the first place? How had the pressure from those other government agencies come down on Ryan so quickly when only Europol files had been accessed? How had whomever set her apartment on fire and killed those agents known she'd returned to Berlin? Only someone very high up in Europol could have managed all of those things.
"So … it's a setup … like the safe house in Berlin," Mika said finally able to speak. It made her sick to think someone in her organization had been helping the clans and killing children and their own people in the process.
"That is what Maslow believes and I agree. He is attempting to trace the order. One of his men called to report the change of orders and …" Raizo paused a strange expression crossing his face. His gaze drifted to the laptop then back to Mika before he finally spoke.
"The agent also told Maslow one of the Ozuno women has been asking for me."
Mika took in his placid gaze knowing deep beneath stormed violent currents. She wiggled her fingers into his clenched fist. Raizo relaxed allowing her to intertwine their fingers. With her other hand she brushed her finger over the touchpad bringing the laptop's screen to life.
It was a photo from the case file of one of the two older female Ozuno. The sixty-ish looking woman had a noble air to her. Her shoulder length raven hair was sprinkled with a few stripes of silver at her temples. She bore a series of scars around her eyes, down her cheek, and along her neck. Mika scrolled down to read the list of other scars and healed injuries identified during her examination by the med staff. Unconsciously, Mika's fingers tightened around Raizo's as she read between the lines. The woman held her chin high despite the evidence she'd suffered years of abuse.
"Do you know her?"
"No, but she is …familiar somehow." His voice ended with a distant tone and she turned to him.
"From when you were younger?" Mika asked quietly watching him closely. Raizo had never mentioned anything about his past. He scrolled back up to the photo then slowly nodded.
"Where is she?"
"Maslow said she was assigned to a safe house outside of Bangkok along with five children. The agent that called it in is one of Maslow's trainee's. He is hiding the orders from the other agents on site."
"When do we leave? 'We' are leaving?" Mika asked tensing for his reply. Raizo sighed heavily meeting her eyes.
"It would be safer…"
"No," she said cutting him off and crossing her arms tightly over her chest like a petulant child. She knew it and didn't give a shit. She was going.
"Mika…" he hissed his frustration.
"No, Raizo, I'm going with you. Unless you plan to have Mikhail and Valentina lock me in a closet, I'll be swimming the Aegean as soon as you take off." Unconsciously Mika's chin jutted forward ready for the battle of wills. Gritting his teeth, Raizo shook his head in exasperation but she kept on.
"Do I need to recite the many times when one of us would have died without the other. I know you said there would be times when you'd have to leave me but this isn't it. You'll need me."
They stared at each other for a long moment before Raizo's espresso colored eyes softened. His hand slid up her back to cup her neck, fingers massaging while his thumb stroked the column of her throat.
"I already need you."
"You do?" Mika felt her heart fill and expand impossibly. He drew her closer skimming his lips over hers before taking her mouth until they slowly pulled apart. Wrapping his arms around her waist, Raizo buried his face in the crook of her neck. His warm breath tickling the hair along the nape of her neck as he inhaled deeply.
"Yes, I do."
"I need you, too," she whispered back. They weren't the classic three words every girl wants to hear, but for Raizo they meant the same if not more. They sat quietly watching the sun rise enjoying the feel of each other. Mika wondered if they would have another moment like this again.
"Mikhail, you're being unreasonable. We could already have the information we need. All we have to do is ask," came Guy's raised voice. Raizo and Mika were descending into the passageway leading to Mikhail's lab. At the sound of voices, Raizo placed a finger to his lips.
"The answer is still NO," Mikhail barked.
"I'm sure we would have the last piece to the puzzle. Surely he must remember something. We cross reference that with what you and Ms. Coretti have learned from the wire transfers and we're that much closer."
"I refuse to ask that child to go rooting around in his brain for the needle in the haystack you want"
"You know very well it is a perfectly harmless procedure," Guy replied his voice thick with indignation.
"So is my cane until I beat you over the head with it," Mikhail bellowed.
"That is enough," Valentina's voice left silence ringing in its wake. "I do not want the subject brought up again, to either of them."
They descended the stone steps and the scene came into full view. Valentina stood between Guy and Mikhail her arms extended out like a ref at a prize fight. Guy was clutching a notebook to his chest and backing away while Mikhail held his cane like a cudgel. Valentina was the first to notice their entrance.
"Good morning Raizo, Mika. Help yourself to breakfast," the older woman said hurriedly motioning to a cart laden with food.
"Morning, did you sleep well?" Mikhail asked changing his grip on the cane and hobbling over to his chair. Guy grunted in greeting and returned to the worktable.
"Yes, thank you," Mika replied leaving Raizo to make herself a plate. He continued scrutinizing the two men when Ivan and Alexi descended the stairs.
"Morning," they grumbled in unison before joining Mika at the food cart.
"Maslow called back last night," Raizo announced. All attention focused on him as he retold his conversation with Ryan earlier this morning.
"Bangkok, uh?" Alexi asked swallowing a mouthful of eggs.
"How soon can we leave?" Raizo asked looking down at the plate Valentina set before him. He met Mika's laughing smile as he started eating.
"After last night we assumed you would be leaving soon. I made a few calls already. Plane will be ready in an hour. For Bangkok, I'll need to make more arrangements."
"We'll take care of Mika while your gone," Mikhail offered smiling over at her. Pushing away her empty plate, she was about to interject when Raizo spoke.
"Mika is going with me."
Silence rent the air, forks stopped midway to open mouths, and jaws froze mid-chew for several minutes as all turned from Raizo to Mika and back again. It was almost comical.
"We're coming too," Ivan added tossing his fork down.
Raizo's brow winged up in surprise.
"That way one of us can keep an eye on Mika and the other can keep an eye on you." Alexi finished nodding to him. Razio seemed flabbergasted unable to speak finally a grin curled his lip. The conversation around the table quickly turned to logistics and equipment needed for the trip. Mika looked over to see Valentina eyeing her intently. She stood motioning Mika to join.
"Come. Let the boys handle the planning. I'll help get you packed," she said taking Mika's arm and guiding her onto the elevator. As the cab ascended, she caught Raizo's eyes as he looked up. A bright smile beamed up at her sending warmth settling in the her belly before he disappeared from view. She turned back to her companion to find Valentina smiling broadly.
"What," Mika asked defensively.
"Nothing," Valentina said slyly. "I'm just pleased you and Raizo are getting along so well."
Mika sat on the bed in one of the Titus home's many spare rooms folding a pile of clothes while Valentina rooted around in the depths of a closet. Mika paused looking at a few of the photos lining the bedroom walls. It seemed the Titus children and grand-children spanned every racial barrier identifiable by the eye.
"Here they are," Valentina exclaimed triumphant. She emerged from the closet with two compact metal suitcases. She opened one on the bed and began opening all of its compartments.
"Are all these your children?" Mika asked nodding to the photos.
"Yes, some by blood, by birth, by life but all are mine. Family is what you make it, Daughter. Never forget."
"Valentina, what was that about between Mikhail and Guy?"
"Just a difference of opinion as usual. Mikhail is being overly protective as usual. Worse than a momma bear, that one. Guy is just being an insensitive ass as usual."
Valentina caught Mika's skeptical look and sighed as she began loading the suitcase.
"Guy made the mistake of suggesting that hypnotizing Raizo and questioning him about his childhood would reveal clues about the other clans."
"He won't say anything to Raizo. Will he?"
"Not unless he wants to wear Mikhail's cane as a hat," Valentina snorted
The image of Raizo's face as he stared at the photo of the Ozuno woman not but an hour ago surfaced in her mind. His mask no longer worked on her completely. Raizo had seen the woman before. Mika had peeked behind the façade enough times to see more than he realized. Confusion, anger, and pain had shone through for just an instant.
"Good," Mika added harshly. Valentina's hands stilled in her folding as she turned to Mika with a questioning look.
"I mean …Guy has a point. It could provide more info but …"
She sat giving Mika's hand a comforting squeeze. "But what if he learns something he is not ready to remember," Valentina finished with a sad smile. "Which is exactly why Mikhail and I would never ask such a thing of him."
"Do you know anything about Raizo's past?"
"I know when Demetri … was killed, they returned with Raizo. He was badly injured and I was the one who cared for him. It was a miracle the child was still breathing. He suffered fever dreams. Listening to him was enough for me to understand."
"Understand what?"
"I was a nurse for twenty years, Mika. I know an abused child when I see one. The scars on his body were proof enough. When I heard his pleading and screams in his sleep, I knew that boy had suffered beyond anything I could even imagine."
Two hours later, Raizo followed Ivan and Alexi into the courtyard lugging their gear. Mika trailed behind them with two metal cases and a pack slung over one shoulder. Mikhail limped into the courtyard with Valentina on his arm. The matriarch pulled Mika into a fierce hug.
"Take care of one another, all of you," she said looking up at her sons and Raizo. She placed a kissed to Mika's brow before passing her to Mikhail who pulled her into a hug. She took each of her sons in turn, hugging them tightly then sending them on to their father. Raizo approached the matriarch and somehow his customary bow did not seem like enough. Not enough for all they had given him, he thought and his eyes automatically rose to the stone steps that led up to where the little house sat.
"It will be here waiting for you." He looked back to see Valentina smiling at him warmly. She approached him slowly wrapping him in her arms. Unfamiliar with motherly affection, he stiffened but slowly relaxed in her embrace. She tightened her hold swaying slightly as she patted his back.
"You bring them home," she cooed. As before, she passed him to Mikhail who wrapped in a bear hug before quickly releasing him. He took his wife's arm and returned to the house.