“Kaskov said he was going directly to the Indian Hills Hotel Casino I own in upper New York State. He’ll meet me for dinner and then we’ll have the discussion. I’ll take Rennell with me.” He smiled. “It will be fine, Maria. I’m not going to sell you down the river. And I won’t have to worry about you trying to come to terms with Rennell, who can be just as lethal as Kaskov in his own way.”

She met his eyes. “I had to find out for myself. We got along quite well for the most part.”

“So Mallory told me. But that didn’t keep me from tearing him a new one for letting you con him into taking you.” He took a swallow of his coffee. “You may not be able to trust me, but that’s your problem. I’m doing the best I can. But it did make it clear that the sooner the two of you are safely settled, the better for all of us.”

“We know that,” Lara said. “And the sooner that you’ll know about Sandrino. That’s always been the first order of business for you.”

“I won’t deny it.” He looked her in the eye. “I’ve never told you anything else.”

“Why should you? Everyone has to take care of themselves.” She pushed away from the bar. “When do we have to leave for this hotel?”

“You don’t.”

She stiffened. “What?”

“I’m going alone. You and Maria are going to stay here. There’s no place safer, and I’m leaving Mallory in charge.” He glanced at Maria. “And to make sure it’s safer is the reason I’m taking Rennell with me. I owe him that.”

Lara stared at him in disbelief. “You think you’re just going to keep us tucked away in this bed of thorns while you go and decide with Kaskov how you’re going to dispose of us? Not likely, Tanner.”

“It’s the practical thing to do,” he said curtly. “Your father found out that I’m the one who extracted you. Now he and Volkov have a name. By now they’ve also had time to find out a hell of a lot more about me. Which might mean the location of most of my properties here in the U.S., including Indian Hills. But no one knows about this place. You’ll be safe.”