Her eyes widened. “Why?”

“I’m having problems with it.” His gaze was suddenly on her face. “Sex, of course. That’s always to be expected with a beautiful woman around.” He frowned as he reached out and his index finger touched her lower lip. “But that’s not all. I wish to hell it was. I keep thinking of those damn Trials. It’s pissing me off. I don’t want to think about them. I don’t want to think of the kid in that speedboat.”

“Pity?” She threw his hand away from her lip. “I don’t need pity, Tanner. Why should I? That was all in the past. I learned from it.”

“I know you did. And I can see I’m making you angry just mentioning it. But I thought I’d get it out right now along with the rest of the problems we’re going to have to come to terms with before we leave in the morning.”

“In the morning?”

“At four. It was going to be tonight. But my reports don’t show Volkov heading in this direction yet. And you and Maria are on edge; I thought you should get some solid sleep.”

“How kind of you.” She added in exasperation, “Damn you, Tanner.”

“I told you that I have to get you out of here. Since your mother isn’t going to go along with your plans for her, I’m your best bet and you know it.” He smiled. “So here’s how it’s going to be. I’m taking the two of you to my place in Connecticut. I have contacts all over the Northeast, and I should have no trouble moving you around if needed.”

“Connecticut?” She frowned. “That’s the U.S.”

“Is that far enough away from Volkov for you?”

“I’ve never been to the U.S. Neither has Maria. It will be…strange.”

“I’ll make sure it won’t be too strange. I was born in New York, which is very close.” He smiled. “Leave it to me. Just part of the service.”

“I don’t want to leave it to you. I don’t want to do this,” she said. “It shouldn’t be this way. I’ve always had a way to prepare for anything strange or difficult I had to do. I was in charge, and if I worked hard enough, I could make it happen.”

“Can you look on it as a kind of vacation? I know you don’t trust me, but I’m very good at what I do. I promise I’ll keep you safe from Volkov and Anton.” He paused. “I’ll even keep you safe from Kaskov. If you don’t like his plans for you, then I’ll help you make new ones. The only one you’ll have to worry about is me. Since I’m a known quantity, that shouldn’t be too much for you to handle.”

“I’m not sure about that,” she said slowly. “I’ve never known anyone like you. Sometimes I don’t know what you’re thinking. It makes me uneasy.”

“I wouldn’t want that. Suppose I promise to concentrate on thinking about you as that kid in the speedboat, and on not remembering what I’d like to do with you sexually.”