Hostile Ground (The Arsenal #7) - Cara Carnes Page 0,112

amidst the bad.” Maksim’s gaze wandered to the house behind Kristof. “Zoey wishes to acquire our residential properties and any hidden ones Kostya owned.”

“She can have all of mine but everything he owned will be destroyed.” Kristof was determined to leave nothing of his father’s empire standing—most especially the mansions and properties he’d valued more than his family.

“She has a plan—a smart one. You should listen to what she has to say before saying no.”

Kristof nodded. “I suppose I owe her that much. Are you going to answer my question?”

“It’s complicated. I’m too old to be of any use to The Arsenal,” Maksim said.

“That’s not true.” Kristof laughed. “You’re what? Forty-five? Your martial arts and weapons knowledge alone would be a huge asset to their teams.” Then again, his friend deserved a quiet life, a tranquil one with no fighting or missions. Is that what he wanted? “Whatever you want, Maksim. Wherever. I will make it happen.”

“You owe me nothing.”

“I owe you everything.”

“We will see where fate guides me next. For now, I will finalize our mission. Once that’s done, if The Arsenal agrees, I will join you there until I know you are settled.”

“You’ve been at my side long enough, comrade. It’s time you enjoy your own life without putting me first,” Kristof said. “We’ve both been buried so deep in destroying my father that we haven’t truly lived.”

“I chose this life long before you were in my path. Don’t blame yourself for my choices. I would’ve likely died long ago if I hadn’t chosen to remain at your side rather than kill you.”

“We’re free,” Kristof whispered. “We’re finally free to do whatever we want. It’s almost too overwhelming to contemplate.”

The wealth Kristof had accumulated would’ve afforded him anything he’d wanted the past twenty years but indulging in grandiose debauchery hadn’t ever appealed to him. Mama had taught him to appreciate the small things in life.

What would his life have been like if she hadn’t been murdered? She’d never enjoyed the mansions and the yachts and the expensive jewelry and servants.

“She would’ve been proud of you,” Maksim said. “She and your uncle would’ve both been proud of what you’ve accomplished. But it’s time to live for yourself instead of them.”

“I wish I could’ve found where…” Emotion choked out the rest of the words. He’d never allowed himself to think about it over the years. The grief had been too overwhelming. “I wish I could’ve found where he buried them.”

It’d been so long since that night. Was there a chance he could find their burial site and give them the eternal rest they deserved? “All he ever said was he buried them like the animals they were.”

“We will find them. Perhaps The Arsenal would have equipment to help.”

“They’ve done more than we could’ve ever hoped,” Kristof said. “Their mission isn’t over.”

“There’s no shame in asking for help. Not everything in life is a transaction. You can ask for help without giving something in return.”

“We’ll see.” Kristof stood. “Think about what path you want to take after this. I’m not the only one who needs to start living life for himself instead of someone else.”

25

Home.

Addy gripped her seat as the plane landed at The Arsenal’s private airstrip. The small strip of land that’d once been pasture was now paved—an improvement from what it’d been when she first arrived. Midmorning sunshine splayed across the area. Exhaustion plagued her even though the day had barely begun. The stops along the way had made their return home a long, tiring ordeal.

Kristof sat near the back of the plane beside Olaf, who’d slept since they’d boarded the plane in North Carolina. Levi had met them at the small airstrip near the military base. The quiet operative had greeted Kristof and Olaf as though they were part of The Arsenal family. Addy couldn’t have been prouder of how her crew had treated the two men so far.

She’d spoken with her team via video conference before they’d left Russia. No one gave her grief for spending time with Kristof. They’d accepted her decision, as had Zoey and Mary and Jesse.

Addy suspected she had Gage to thank for that. He’d come up with the idea in the first place. Yeah, she definitely owed him for what he’d done.

Relaxed.

She’d never felt so rested and…

Happy.

But coming home for her was a new harrowing path for Olaf. Concern filled her when she watched him. Wariness filled his wide eyes as the plane came to a rapid halt. “The runway is shorter