Page 51 of Look for Me

It was the truth.

Corinne had kept nothing for herself.

Nonetheless, they were not technically Flavian’s diamonds. Somehow stolen in one way or another, the diamonds made their way to Flavian’s account. His job was to convert them into money and send them to Oscar for distribution to buyers.

Nikos’s eyes went to Dahlia, still playing. “Get me the diamonds, and Dahlia will be safe.”

Corinne’s eyes flared. “Let me speak with Flavian. If anyone could get us to Oscar, it’s him.”

“Us? You saidus.” Nikos looked at Dahlia, still playing in her toy kitchen. “I’ve always wanted a family.”

Dahlia showed him a tiny little frying pan. Nikos pretended to eat out of it.

“No, no.” Dahlia laughed. “Use a spoon!”

Nikos laughed.

Corinne cringed.

My poor little girl has no idea what was going on.

Nikos waved to a security guard. “Take her away.”

“To see Flavian?” Corinne asked.

Nikos laughed. “No, of course not. Am I stupid? If I let you two meet, you’d plot against me, as you two have done for years.”

“Years? I saw you for the first time only three years ago.”

“Semantics.” Nikos waved his arms. He left the sofa, kicked off his loafers, and joined Dahlia on the floor. “We can stay here as long as you want. But let’s not take all day, shall we? I might change my mind about Dahlia.”

It took all the willpower Corinne had not to lunge forward and push Nikos away from her daughter.

Help me. I want to kill him.

But she didn’t. The guard escorted her out of the room.

As she was leaving, she heard Nikos’s words. “Send Oscar my greetings!”

Chapter Twenty-Three

The weather turned. A squall was spotted out at sea. Then the thunderstorm came. Nikos called off the excursion to Cuba, saying that he wasn’t going to risk his yacht in such weather.

Corinne asked again, and this time Nikos said she could see Flavian for ten minutes.

Miss Executioner came to get Corinne from her room. They walked one floor down. Corinne didn’t freak out in the darkest hallway she had ever been in. She knew every step forward would perhaps lead to freedom.

When they reached one of the metal doors, Miss Executioner waved her magic key card. The door unlocked.

“Five minutes conjugal visit,” Miss Executioner said.

“We’re not married, and Nikos said ten.”

Miss Executioner rolled her eyes. Corinne knew than that she wouldn’t go against Nikos.

The door opened, and Corinne saw a man lying prone on the floor. He lifted his head, and she recognized him.

Just like the photograph, Flavian’s face was black and blue. His clothes were torn and caked with blood.

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