that matter. It is fantasy, nothing more!”

“You don’t see as I do. It’s Sanjivani— she’s working through me somehow— like I’m her reincarnation.”

Ethan sat up and buttoned his shirt. “That is complete and utter nonsense. Haven’t I taught you better?”

“Ethan, I saw it inside you.”

“It is ridiculous, a hallucination.”

He was right. It was completely crazy. “You’re right. I’m just overcome by all this.”

He straightened his tie, rising to his feet. “There is some scientific explanation for these memories in the blood. They are not precognition.”

“Wishful thinking, I guess.

“We never had this conversation.” For some reason this entire conversation had upset him deeply. Or maybe it was just the fact that I’d essentially dumped him for good. He broke away, heading for the door, but just as he put his hand on the knob he hesitated. “Goodbye, Mia. You know where to find me. I am always at your service.”

I couldn’t shake the vision. It was ridiculous I tried to tell myself. I was just worked up from being with Ethan and seeing all the things I did confused me. My imagination had intruded on what I saw or wanted to see. Brovik also told me you can’t really gauge the total truth from such visions— or was that just because he didn’t understand? Only Sanjivani and I shared this gift.

Kurt showed up unexpectedly two weeks after Ethan, wearing a dark suit to match the expression on his face. He’d learned from Philip about my new digs, and looked them over with a scowl. “This place reeks of Ethan.” He brushed past me into the bedroom, setting down his laptop and small bag down on the bed. “So. Has she been here?”

“Who?”

“Leisha! She’s gone, cleared out! Things are missing Mia, files, data, money. Brovik thinks she’ll search you out.”

That threw me for a loop. “Why me?”

Kurt looked very worried suddenly. “Because I have access to everything, and you have access to me. She was working on the acquisition of a new company for us, but she doesn’t have the kind of money to buy it herself.”

Threads insinuated themselves as intricately as the pattern of embroidered Indian shawl covering the table, as if Sanjivani’s fingers were weaving them.

“Brovik’s dogs are searching for her. They’ll be watching you closely now. If she approaches you, they’ll contact him immediately.” He took a good look around the bedroom, running his fingers over the silk draperies. “Didn’t spare any expense, did he?”

“What will Brovik do?”

“She’s tried to cozy up to me, but I’ve never trusted her overtures of friendship. Asking about you and whether I’m happy in my work— just to gauge the depth of my loyalties.”

Another strand insinuated itself into the pattern. “You still didn’t answer my question.”

He winced. “He’ll execute her.”

“I won’t be party to that.”

Kurt took me by the shoulders. “If you don’t cooperate, he’ll do the same to you!”

“Not if he never knows. If I see her, I’ll warn her, and you won’t tell.”

“Mia, you put me into an impossible position!”

“Brovik puts you in this position. You’d be better off far away from him. But you’re still in thrall to him, aren’t you?”

His anguished expression didn’t make me feel better.

I scowled. “He’s using me to keep you in line and I don’t like it.”

“What choice do we have?”

“You never heard me say this. Promise me, Kurt.”

“It could be very bad for us.” He pulled the drape aside, looking out over the park. “That park looks like a cage in the zoo.”

I snuggled against his shoulder. “It keeps people out, not in.”

“Cages come in all kinds. This one we stand in is particularly fine.” He broke abruptly away. “You can’t accept a record album from me but from him, well that’s entirely different. You accept real estate?”

“Don’t be stupid! I sent him away.” It was now or never. Taking a deep breath, I finally said the terrifying word, “I love you, Kurt.”

Those beautiful eyes turned arctic cold. “Don’t play Mia, now is not the time.”

I gestured to the piano I’d bought for him. “Would I have gotten that if I didn’t plan on keeping you around?”

“For me?” He caressed the concert grand in the bay window. He couldn’t resist opening it and touching a key. A beautiful rich tone filled the room. He struggled to remain cool but his voice trembled, “Doesn’t this qualify as barter?”

“No chains Kurt, not for us, not ever. We belong together. It’s that simple.”

A tear glided down his sharp cheekbone. “You sent him away for good?”

“I love you,