Chapter Thirty-seven: He Would
"Michael Vaughn," Irina said, smiling through red painted lips. "How I've missed you."
Michael clenched the arms of his chair, gritting his teeth. "You'll forgive me if I can't say the same about you."
"No, of course not," Irina cooed. "You've had a business to run and children to raise, when would you have had time to miss me?"
Michael forced himself not to speak, gripping the arms of his chair harder.
"Of course, Michael," She lowered her voice on the two syllables of his name, almost seductively, he thought. "You'll forgive me if I didn't find it quite as easy to get along without you and my daughter, having an Organization to put back together and all."
"And after a decade, you still haven't succeeded," Michael said, lifting his eyes to meet hers. "You're working for fucking Arvin Sloane."
Irina merely smirked in response. "With, not for," she corrected. "A subtle distinction, but an important one, I'm sure you'll agree."
"Look, I'd like you to tell me why I'm here." Irina smirked once more in response to his outburst. "And how Sydney and I can get our daughter back."
Irina laughed.
"What's so funny?" Michael demanded.
Irina's laughter stopped abruptly. "That you think you're getting your daughter back."
Michael's eyes flashed. "If I'm not, then why am I here?"
Irina leaned back in her chair, a serene smile playing about her lips. "To come back to work, of course."
Now it was Michael's turn to laugh. "You must be joking."
"I rarely joke, Mr. Vaughn," Irina responded. "You'll work for me, and you'll convince your children to do the same."
"The hell I will," Michael returned.
"Well, that surprises me, Mr. Vaughn." Irina leaned forward, resting her elbows on the coffee table. "I would think you'd be more concerned with your children's safety than that."
"You would never hurt Emily," Michael said in what he hoped was a confident tone. "You need her to fulfill your precious prophecy."
"Well, of course that's true," Irina said with a sigh. She smiled at Michael. "Jack's more expendable to me."
Michael felt his heart leap into his throat. No. She wouldn't dare…would she?
"You never thought it would come to this, did you?" Irina taunted. "You were willing to face me again after a decade for the sake of your little angel, but you never dreamed you'd have to go to even further lengths to save your problem child, did you?"
"That is not fair," Michael said, green eyes flashing.
"Perhaps not," Irina agreed. "In fact, I'm hoping not. I'm hoping you'll do whatever it takes to keep your son safe, including sell your soul to the devil herself."
And Michael lowered his eyes. Because he knew that he would.