“Ginny…I don’t think he means them harm, but I know how angry he was when your husband managed to wreck his business dealings in Mexico. He was so livid. I tried to reason with him—after all, business is just business—but he took it very personally. Perhaps he feels that he can use the children as leverage with you.”

“You don’t believe that any more than I do.” Ginny rose to her feet. “He intends to use them as hostages.”

“Not even William would do that.” Sonya’s lips trembled and her eyes were dark with distress. “He’ll be furious with me when he learns that I’ve told you, but I think he’s gone too far this time. Children should not be used as weapons in a personal feud.”

“How long ago did he send for them? Oh God, they could be in America right now! I must find Steve….”

“Wait!” Sonya lunged to her feet, her face as pale as the white linen tablecloths. “Please, don’t let him go after William. He’s in ill health, and it could kill him!”

“I never thought you loved him that much,” Ginny said tartly, then was sorry when two crimson smears stained her stepmother’s cheeks. “Forgive me, Sonya, but this is too much, even for the senator. My God! To interfere in the lives of two young children surpasses anything he has ever done. It’s bad enough that he has lied, cheated and stolen just to enlarge his personal fortune, not caring who he hurt in the process, but now he has gone too far. If Steve doesn’t kill him, I very well may!”

Aware that their conversation was attracting attention from other diners, Ginny snatched up her reticule and left Antoine’s, gliding past a rather perturbed maître d’ with barely a nod and murmured pleasantry. There was no time to pause for social amenities, not when her children may very well be in danger.

When she reached the St. Louis Hotel, Steve was not there. He’d gone out again, leaving her a short note that he would be back in time for them to attend the opera later that evening.

The opera. Dear God, she’d forgotten all about their plans to attend the Royal Opera House’s late performance of Carmen with the lieutenant governor. How could she sit through an evening of music and pretend nothing was wrong?

Senator Brandon would not harm the children, she knew that, but they would be frightened, especially if her aunt was upset. Did he really think he could keep them from her? Did he underestimate Steve Morgan that greatly? Or was he just that desperate…?