I led the way up the big stone staircase to the top floor. Memories started unfurling as soon as I felt the cold metal banister under my palm and they only got stronger when I smelled the flowers that Katharina’s elderly neighbor grew in pots in the hallway. I can’t believe I’m back here.

We reached Katharina’s door. I smoothed out my hair, took a deep breath…and knocked.

No answer.

We couldn’t just wait for her to come back, not with our faces on TV. Gabriel stepped forward to pick the lock but I put my hand on his chest. There was an old metal light fitting above Katharina’s door and I fished around on top. Yes, she still kept a key there.

I opened the door and we crept inside in the dark, letting out sighs of relief. For the first time since Latvia, it felt like we were out of sight.

Someone stepped out of the shadows to my right and I felt the muzzle of a gun press against the side of my head. I grabbed the arm and pushed them back, trying to ram them against the wall, but they ducked and pulled and suddenly I was airborne, judo-flipped over their shoulder. I crashed to the floor on my back.

The light switched on. Katharina was standing over me in a bathrobe, pointing a gun at my head. She blinked as she saw my face. “Danny?!”

I gave her a sheepish grin. “Alright, luv?”

She gave a strangled groan of relief, fell to her knees and kissed me deep.

48. Erin

48

ERIN

I stood there staring. The woman was almost as tall as Danny, with treacle-colored, shoulder-length hair that hung in a perfect, glossy bob. She was straddling Danny’s chest, one hand still gripping the gun, the other around the back of his head to pull her to him. Her scarlet bathrobe had come loose and, as she leaned forward, it was obvious that she was busty.

The shock was melted away by a scalding flash of anger. I wanted to run forward and shove her off him, screaming in her face that he was mine.

Then I remembered that he wasn’t, anymore. That he never would be again. The jealousy turned in on itself and became a sharp-edged ball of pain.

Danny finally managed to pull himself free of the kiss. I felt myself frown: there was something in the way he looked at her: tender but sad. My mind raced to catch up and I was almost there when he turned to us and said, “Everyone, this is Katharina. My ex.”

Katharina. Even her name was sexy.

She punched Danny in the arm. “What are you doing breaking in here? I could have killed you!” Her German accent was strong enough that it sounded like killt you.

Danny rubbed his arm. “I did knock. You didn’t answer.”