Page 104 of Unexpected Redemption

“Fine.” She rolls her pretty eyes. “So we have Nikolai Lenkov as King Minos and Katia as his wife. Then we have Yuri as Daedalus, someone at Redleg as Theseus, and Yev as Icarus.So who’s the King’s daughter? Shouldn’t someone be helping Redleg like Ariadne helped Theseus?”

Mia scratches a name beside Ariadne. “What if it’s not a daughter but a son?”

When she backs away, I read the name out loud. “Savin.”

Before I catalog the numerous questions peppering my mind, Mia throws her palms out. “Listen. I know what you’re thinking—Savin isn’t Lenkov’s son. However, he’s been in the bratva since he was a boy. What if he’s Lenkov’s figurative child? And he’s turned on him, just like Ariadne turned on King Minos.”

Klein screws his face to one side. “That would make Katia a figurative daughter to him. So he’s sleeping with his daughter? Eww.”

“Agreed. Gross.” Mia nods, finally lowering her hands. “But this isn’t about what Lenkov thinks, remember? It’s only how Yuri sees it. He’s the one telling the story.”

A low rumble comes from Klein, barely escaping his tightly sealed lips. Either he doesn’t agree, or he’s got indigestion.

Lettie raises her hand. “Can I ask a dumb question?”

Mia puts her fists on her hips and looks at Klein. “Why do people raise their hands when I’m talking? Do I give off teacher vibes?”

“Sexy teacher vibes,” he answers with a roll of his brows.

Lettie and I catch eyes, grins decorating our faces.

Mia grins at Lettie. “Ask your question, child.”

“First, I’m claiming the role of the teacher’s pet. Write that on the board.” She snort-laughs at her joke but barely takes a breath before making her actual point. “Second, why do we care who everyone is? How does that help us stop Lenkov? Shouldn’t we be focusing on the email from inside the doll?”

“If anyone is the teacher’s pet, it’s me. That aside, it’s an excellent question. One we’ve already talked to death.” Klein rolls out his shoulders. “We need to figure out the meaninghidden in Yuri’s story. He doesn’t do shit like this for the fun of it.”

Lettie sighs out some frustration, echoing my thoughts exactly.

Klein adds, “Essentially, we’re assuming that once we figure out the Mythology tie-in, we’ll know how to find the next clue or locate the information to take Lenkov down.”

She doesn’t buy it. “You also said he’s usually not this cryptic with his stories. Perhaps he’s just messing with you this time. If Yev was his info source, he has nothing now that he’s gone. And you said Yuri was full of pride, so maybe he spun this tale to make it seem like he knows something. Yet this time, he really doesn’t know bullshit from apple butter.”

Klein gestures at Lettie. “Another bull reference.” He fights back his laugh.

Mia brings us back to Lettie’s point. “Don’t forget that the email address inside the doll was written in Greek. It’s got to be connected. All the more reason to figure out the cast.”

Lettie hits me with those gorgeous eyes, the color of the sea. “You’ve been quiet for a spell. What do you think, babe?”

“I think you make a solid point. It’s starting to feel like a wild goose chase.” I drag my eyes off the holder of my heart and face my team. “Let’s solve some concrete shit and put the mythology crap to the side. Let it sit in timeout.”

“You’re biased,” Mia snarks, putting the cap on the marker and grinning.

I hold out my hands. “I’m not agreeing with her simply because she’s the most breathtaking woman on the planet,” I tease. “I’m agreeing because I’m itching to find out more about that email address.” I lean over to give Lettie a quick peck. “And also because she’s carrying my caterpillar.”

Lettie’s cheeks flash deep crimson.

Mia clicks her tongue. “Biased as fuck. However,” she pauses for dramatic effect. “I agree. We all have other shit to research.”

Chapter 22

I am Icarus

LETTIE

MaybeI’mIcarus.

I flew too close to the sun.

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