Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
Bitter-cold wind blew through Vermilion County, Illinois, rippling the tall, dry grass in wavelike patterns and whipping open Kyle’s raid jacket.
It had taken him two days to get a search warrant from the same Chicago judge who’d declined his first application weeks ago.
The rock-solid financial link connecting Lebedev to the property hadn’t been enough by itself to convince the judge.
Nor had the fact that property would have been seized by the government a decade ago, had they known about it then.
Yuri’s admission to Victoria had tipped the evidentiary scale.
Victoria. Even while organizing the biggest federal search warrant ever served in this county, she was all he could think about.
When he’d left her at the airfield, the look of confusion on her face about killed him, but he hadn’t wanted to get her hopes up before confirming his plan would work.
As ordered, his brothers had kept an eye on her for him.
The hospital doctor had said Victoria and the baby were fine.
To his relief, she’d taken the week off from work, and either Jack or Deke had stopped in every day to check on her.
To make sure she was okay and to verify she hadn’t taken off.
No matter what happened next, he planned on being a father to their baby.
On that point, he wouldn’t negotiate. The rest would be up to her.
Police radio chatter interrupted his thoughts. Nearly twenty people were on site, including local field agents and supervisors, forensic teams, the divers, and the Vermilion County Sheriff himself.
Kyle waited while divers brought up the final victim, then aimed his phone at the row of seven black body bags, snapping multiple shots he would forward to AUSA Greg Washington.
Washington had already assured him that if the victims were indeed discovered at the bottom of the lake, he’d give Victoria full immunity.
He still couldn’t believe how close he’d come to losing her. Seeing her pale, shaking, with a trickle of blood and the beginnings of a bruise on her cheek, had rocked him more than an earthquake.
One way or the other, Yuri had known it was over.
The moment he’d started to raise the muzzle of his gun at Kyle, he’d unloaded most of his magazine into Yuri’s chest. Behind him, his brothers and the state troopers had done the same.
As he’d raced past the man’s unmoving body, he noted that, even in death, the bastard still gripped his gun—the same one he’d used to shoot Ivan Asimov, whose body had been discovered in the nearby woods.
Kyle took individual shots of the bodies. Positive IDs would take some time, but there was no real question as to who they were. He cued up Washington’s and Mike’s phone numbers in the text box and forwarded the photos. Now, the waiting began.
Two hours later, Kyle was still on site, cataloguing what the forensic teams could tell him about the bodies, when the call came in.
“I have good news,” Mike said. “The Southern District’s U.S. Attorney herself called me, and it’s official. There will be no charges filed against Victoria for her inadvertent role with the ledger, or for taking Yuri’s money and donating it.”
Kyle exhaled a long breath. “Thanks, Mike.” Unbeknownst to his boss, since the moment he’d stepped off the plane at O’Hare, he’d been working behind the scenes to make that happen.
“Finding those bodies convinced her to charge Lebedev with conspiracy,” Mike continued, “but it was you who convinced her Victoria was a victim.”
She had been a victim. He should have viewed her that way from the moment she’d admitted to being Yuri’s mysterious accountant.
“And the money?” Kyle asked. “Did they agree to my proposal?” The final part of the package he’d presented to AUSA Washington had included a restitution recommendation.
“They did.” Mike chuckled. “The charities she donated to will keep those funds, and the remainder will be added to the assets we’ll seize from Lebedev after his arrest. When his case is adjudicated, all that money will be shared with the families of the victims.”
“And Victoria’s statement about Yuri and Lebedev killing them?” Mike wasn’t aware that Kyle had threatened to quit the Bureau and refuse to testify himself if the U.S. Attorney’s Office used that information.
“They won’t use it. Reluctantly,” he added.
“I’m not sure what you said, but they agreed.
Your suggestion that he be charged with conspiracy, along with obstruction of justice for concealing the bodies on his property, seems to be enough for them.
That, and what Deke dug up showing Lebedev’s ownership of the property, exposes him to a minimum twenty-year sentence. ”
“Good.” He nodded to one of the forensic agents who waved him over.
AUSA Washington had been pissed when Kyle had threatened him, but he hadn’t cared because he’d meant every word. To keep Victoria out of prison, he’d bail on the investigation, the Bureau, everything.
The morning Lebedev had called to give him Yuri’s location, he’d implied Victoria would get a pass for keeping the ledger. Then, he hadn’t known Yuri had confessed to her and implicated him in the murders. If he’d known that, Kyle didn’t doubt Lebedev would have put a price on her head.
Kyle noted the time on his phone. “Mike, I gotta go.”
There was a Friday night red-eye out of O’Hare to Newark he could still make.
After landing, he’d have the most important question of the rest of his life to ask.
Victoria stared at her pale reflection in the mirror. Finally, she’d managed to keep down some of the soup Tracee had stocked her refrigerator with. The baby—he or she—wasn’t due for nearly eight months.
She rinsed out her mouth and wiped her face with a towel. Was this what it would be like for the entire first trimester? According to all the pregnancy articles she’d read in the last week, possibly.
When the intercom buzzed, she hung her head and groaned. It was fifty-fifty, whether it was Tracee with more soup or one of Kyle’s brothers. They’d all been annoyingly attentive over the last four days. Probably to make sure she didn’t leave town. Kyle hadn’t called once.
The intercom buzzed again, louder, if that were possible.
“I’m coming, I’m coming!”
She pressed the button and said in an unreceptive tone, “Yes.”
“It’s Kyle.”
She sucked in a quick breath. For once, that fluttering in her belly didn’t signal impending vomit. She pressed the button again. “What do you want?” Since he’d been MIA with no explanation, she was damn well entitled to ask that question.
“To come up. Let me in. We need to talk.”
“Now you want to talk?” Though he couldn’t see, she crossed her arms. “You could have just called.”
“What I have to say…what we need to discuss…can’t be done over the phone.”
“Right.” The baby. This had nothing to do with how he felt about her. The annoyed side of her wanted to tell him to get lost, but he’d only find a way inside, so she might as well get it over with.
She pressed the other button, then spent the next three minutes pacing the living room. When a light rap sounded on the other side of her door, she practically jumped. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and shoot.
His hair was askew, and his eyes looked tired. That didn’t stop the fluttering in her belly from intensifying. Even on a bad hair day, he could do that to her.
Without waiting for permission, he strode in and sat on the sofa.
“Well, come on in,” she said with a sarcastic edge, then closed the door.
“Sit with me. Please,” he added, when she didn’t rush to join him.
“Fine.” Her sofa wasn’t that big. It was more of a love seat, really, but she did her best to put as much space between them as possible. So she couldn’t smell his woodsy cologne. Or feel the intoxicating warmth rolling off his big body.
After a moment, he cleared his throat. “I owe you an apology.”
“Yeah,” was all she could think to say. “At the airfield, you said you’d never leave me.”
“I know, but—”
“But that’s exactly what you did.”
“I’m sorry, I—”
“And without a word as to where you were going, I might add.” She was on a roll and couldn’t stop.
Kyle had never treated her the way Yuri had, but in his own way, he’d hurt her nonetheless, and the days of letting herself be treated as an inconsequential speck—by anyone—were over.
“Are you done kicking my ass?” With a corner of his mouth lifted and his hair mussed, he reminded her of the day they’d gone swimming off the coast of Florida. He wore a rakish, carefree expression that had made her think of a handsome, swashbuckling pirate.
“For now,” she conceded, trying not to smile and fall under his spell. “Really, it depends on what you have to say next.” Like what they were going to do about the little life growing inside her.
“Then I’d better get talking.” He gave her a sheepish grin.
“I’m sorry for not understanding what you went through.
I get why you kept the money a secret, and I was an ass for treating you the way I did.
You were right. I lied to you about who I was back then, so I understand why you hesitated to confide in me.
You didn’t know me, and I never gave you the chance.
” He held her gaze an instant longer before continuing.
“I’m sorry for everything, but most of all, I’m sorry for not believing in you. ”
Hearing him say those words meant more than she could ever convey.
Slowly, she nodded. Maybe now was a good time to completely clear the air.
“And I’m sorry for not telling you about the ledger sooner.
I really did mean to. That money was tainted, and I was wrong for taking it.
You’re an FBI agent, and I should have understood the predicament I placed you in.
I wanted so badly to do something good with that money, to make up for whatever wrongs I knew it had come from. ”
“I wish you’d told me,” he said, adding quickly, “but we need to put that behind us.”
She wanted to believe the sincerity of his words, but had to ask, “Can we really do that? Can you really do that?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “I need to. I have to.”
Again, she had to accept this discussion was about the baby. Not her. “Will Nikki come after me for telling you what he and Yuri did?”
“No. Because you won’t be testifying against him.”
“Why not? If there’s any chance of getting immunity, I assume testifying will be part of the deal.”
“Not the deal I made for you.” He shook his head.
“We can show Lebedev bought that property, and he’s been paying taxes on it all this time.
That, plus your information, was enough to convince a judge to give us a warrant, but I didn’t have to put your statement in the affidavit.
We found the bodies in that lake. That’s where I’ve been all week.
I didn’t want to call you until I was certain the U.S.
Attorney would agree to give you immunity. Without testifying.”
She closed her eyes and blew out a breath. Thank God. The joy engulfing her was also surrounded by a profound sadness for the missing kidnapping victims’ families. At least now they could finally put their loved ones to rest properly.
“Lebedev is being charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder. For a conspiracy charge, we don’t need to prove the murders actually happened.
All we need is an overt act. The purchase of that land to conceal the bodies is the overt act.
He’ll do hard time for that.” Sliding closer, Kyle clasped her hand, squeezing it.
“I would never put you and our baby at risk by letting you testify against the Bratva.”
As much as she wanted to see more into his words—our baby—she couldn’t let herself head down that path.
Not yet. Not until she told him the rest. “You should know I gave a lot of what was left of the money to Father Sergei’s children’s program.
He used it to renovate an entire wing of the church and furnish it with computers, books, and other supplies. ”
For the first time since he walked in her door, he smiled. “I figured that.” He held her hand to his lips. “That’s one of a thousand reasons why I’m so in love with you.”
“What?” Her mouth fell open. Had she heard him correctly?
He laughed. “Don’t look so shocked. I fell in love with you ten years ago.
Four weeks ago, I fell in love with you all over again.
” He sobered, his expression turning serious, his voice gruff with emotion.
“Whatever you want, I’ll get it for you.
Whatever you need, I’ll take care of.” Tenderly, he cupped her cheek.
“I love you,” he whispered. “I’ve always loved you, and I love our baby. ”
The lump in her throat was so big Victoria could barely speak. After everything that had happened, happiness was finally at her doorstep.
She drew him down and linked her arms behind his neck. “We love you, too,” she whispered back, smiling through the unchecked tears streaming down her face.
“Life is too short and far too precious, and I’m never letting you go again,” he said hoarsely. “I don’t know what kind of a father I’ll make, but I promise you, he or she will never lack for love in the Gates family. Neither will you.” She held her breath. Was he about to— “Will you marry me?”
She nodded, slowly at first, then emphatically. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
When he leaned down to kiss her, his lips were warm and gentle, as if he worried she’d break in two.
She clasped his face, loving the feel of bristle on his lean cheeks as she pulled him in tighter and kissed him back with all the pent-up passion they’d missed out on for the last ten years.
She never wanted to let him go again, either.
“Promise me something,” she said against his lips.
“Anything.” He continued kissing her lips, her cheeks, her ears.
“You put your life in danger to save me. Don’t ever do that again. I don’t want to live my life without you.”
He stopped kissing her. “If you were dead, my life wouldn’t have mattered. You are my life now.” His gaze dipped. “Both of you.”
She squeezed her eyes shut, branding this moment into her memory so she would never forget it.
When she opened her eyes, Kyle was watching her.
The corners of his mouth lifted, his eyes conveying more love than she could possibly have hoped for.
The wetness on his cheeks wasn’t from her tears alone. She loved him. He loved her.
No matter what came next in their lives, they’d face it together.