CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

"If you think about it, she has the perfect situation," said Victoria. "She lives on a remote island, by all accounts controlling everything that happens there. She has access to the St. Lawrence River, which would allow for ships passing through to take women off the island undetected and into the Atlantic toward Europe, India, Asia, anywhere."

"So Krauss and his ex-wife are in this together," said Ghost. "Why? They're both rich beyond belief and have their own little side ventures happening. Why coordinate efforts on this one?"

"It's just a theory," said Victoria, staring at the men.

"We like theories," smiled Nine.

"Well, my theory is that she found out what he was doing and wanted in on it. She gave him an opportunity to either partner with her or she'd take all of it over, or turn him in. I don't think he wanted her as a partner, but she didn't give him another option."

"We've met a lot of women capable of something like this, but if she had her own money, her own business, why do this?" asked Gaspar.

"Again, my theory, sirs, is that she didn't want her husband to have any piece of this. Her father owned the trafficking in and out of Russia. She took it over from her base in Canada. When she found the ex was doing the same, but with a twist, she wanted in on that."

"And Canada suspects nothing?" asked Ian.

"Oh, they absolutely suspect," said Victoria. "She's been brought in numerous times under suspicious circumstances. Women found dead that had been reported missing, girls abused and left for dead or addicted to drugs, all whispering her name."

"Okay. Okay, Victoria. Beautiful job, hun. How do we get to her?" asked Ghost.

"Krauss. She needs him. He's willing to travel the world, handle the dirty jobs. She needs him. If you have him, you'll get her." Nine shook his head.

"Victoria, are we going to lose you to Naval Intelligence as well?" he smirked. Victoria looked at Hayes and smiled.

"If it's okay with you, sirs, I'd like to just stay here and work. I'm working on my second PhD, but I love what I'm doing here. Can I stay?" Nine looked at Mo, who had a sad expression on his face.

"Honey, did you think we were going to make you leave at a certain age?" asked Gaspar.

She didn't say anything at first. Then her lip began to tremble. Victoria was very petite, very small, and it made all of them want to wrap her up in a hug and rock her. Mo beat them to it.

"It's okay, honey. I told you, you don't have to go anywhere," he whispered to his adopted daughter.

"Really?" she sniffed.

"Victoria, sweetie, we told all of you that this is your home now. We meant that. You never have to leave if you don't want to."

"I don't want to," she sniffed.

"Victoria, is there a reason you don't want to?" asked Nine. "Is there something or someone you're afraid of?"

"I don't want to leave M-Mom and Dad," she said, smiling at Mo. "I can call you that now, right?"

"Always," he said proudly.

"I don't want to leave them. This is the only stable home, stable environment I've ever had. I don't need to leave to go to school. I'm already done. I can work here with people I care about and trust."

"You can do all of that," said Ian. "No one will make you leave Belle Fleur. But, honey, sooner or later, you're going to want to see the world, visit exotic places, do things outside of this property. If you want to do that, we can send an entire team with you for your protection."

"You would do that?" she sniffed, still clinging to Mo.

"We would do that," said Ghost. "I'd send your dad with you, probably a few others, but you'd be safe no matter where you went. We would make sure of it."

"Can I think about it for a while?"

"Of course you can. You did great, Victoria," smiled Gaspar. "Come and see us any time if you're worried about something or want to talk. Think of us like your grandfathers." She had a huge smile on her face as she jumped up, hugging each of them and kissing their cheeks.

"Thank you! I'll see you at home, Dad." He nodded at her, waving.

"Brother, why didn't you tell us about that?" asked Nine.

"We're working it through with Bree," said Mo. "I'm not sure what it is at the core, but I'm not making that child leave this property if she doesn't want to."

"We agree, brother."