Ryan Quinn and the Lion's Claw Read online

  Dad checked his watch. “Should be. I can’t get a signal out here, but I’ll check in and make sure as soon as we get down.”

  “You must be pretty mad at us.”

  “Actually, no. I was worried, but not mad.”

  “Really?”

  “The truth is, I was helping Granddad on ERC rescues when I was younger than you. Don’t tell Mom I told you that—I promised I wouldn’t encourage you.”

  Ryan smiled. “She wants you to be a hypocrite, huh?”

  “Absolutely. Being a hypocrite’s part of being a parent. You’ll find out one day.” Dad handed Ryan an energy bar. “But I was the same when I was your age. If I saw something that needed doing, I’d just jump right in. Didn’t really think about the danger or the consequences. I’m afraid it’s the Quinn curse. It’s in the blood.”

  Ryan took a bite of the bar. He chewed slowly, thinking back to that night in the brownstone looking at the family photo album. It seemed like ages ago, but it had only been a few days. Finally, he swallowed and looked up at his father.

  “Why are there no baby pictures of me?”

  Dad’s head swiveled quickly, meeting Ryan’s gaze. Several emotions flickered across his face: surprise, sorrow, resignation. “That’s a long story.”

  Ryan’s stomach clenched. His father wasn’t denying anything or making excuses. “I’d like to hear it.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Only now did Ryan realize how much he’d been hoping he was wrong. But there was no turning back. He needed to know the truth.

  “I wasn’t born Ryan Quinn, was I?”

  “There’s something I want you to know first.” Dad reached out and took his hand. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to Mom and me. You’re the love of our lives, and we’d do anything for you. You’re our son in every way possible.”

  Ryan said nothing. He couldn’t. He just waited for his father to continue.

  “But the name you were born with is Kostya Balazar …”

  PART THREE

  CRANK UP THE VOLUME

  CHAPTER

  40

  LORAND,

  PELSKOVA

  TWELVE YEARS AGO …

  The timing had to be perfect.

  John Quinn checked his watch. Seven minutes until the operation went live. He was unusually nervous today because of the baby. Rescues involving children were particularly complicated and dangerous. Often, the ERC refused to even take on those cases. Too many things could go wrong.

  But Ludo Milankovic had begged Declan and John to help this young woman and her son escape. Her name was Nina Balazar, and Milankovic had been a close friend of her family since she was born. He believed she’d be killed if they didn’t get her out of Pelskova soon.

  “There she is.”

  Jacqueline’s voice snapped John’s attention back to the mission. Jacqueline was looking at a young woman pushing a baby stroller through the busy crowd. Nina wore a heavy green coat and a furry winter hat. Ten feet behind, two uniformed soldiers shadowed her every step.

  The guards were part of an elite unit that protected Janos Balazar and his family. Balazar was the iron-fisted dictator of Pelskova, a harsh and ruthless ruler. He was also Nina’s father-in-law and the grandfather of her child. A few weeks ago, Balazar’s son had died unexpectedly. Nina was heartbroken at losing her husband, but also scared to now be living without his protection inside the presidential palace. Immediately after the funeral, Balazar ordered his guards to start following Nina and his grandson everywhere.

  Balazar suspected that Nina was secretly working with revolutionaries inside Pelskova to bring him down. The moment he had proof, he planned to order Nina’s execution and take his grandson, Kostya, to raise as his own. Which meant this mission had to be a success, because the tyrant was right. Nina had been helping the rebels and eventually the truth would come out.

  There would be no second chances for Nina and her baby.

  Jacqueline and John tracked Nina’s progress, following her from the next aisle over. Once a week, the central square of Lorand transformed into a sprawling outdoor market. Farmers brought in eggs, dairy products, and whatever vegetables and fruits they could grow in this cold Eastern European climate. The market was huge, surrounded on all sides by imposing government structures built back when Pelskova was a Soviet republic. It was also one of the only places Nina was allowed to visit outside the presidential compound.

  Nina moved slowly, taking her time as she inspected merchandise at various stalls. Occasionally, she paused, leaning down to check on her baby and to wrap his blankets more tightly.

  “She’s following the instructions perfectly,” John said.

  “We make the switch when she turns into the next row.” Jacqueline pulled out a furry hat exactly like the one Nina wore. She was already wearing a wig and a green coat that made her a near-perfect match to Nina.

  John looked to Jacqueline. “Ready?”

  “Always.”

  They made a great team. John worried about Jacqueline because he loved her, but he never doubted her abilities. She had been working with the ERC for a couple of years and was a natural. John had thought he might never settle down with anyone. What woman would accept how uncertain and dangerous his life was? But Jacqueline was proving the exception.

  He might even propose to her soon if he could work up the nerve.

  “We’re on.” Jacqueline straightened the hat and stepped forward, John right behind.

  As Nina turned the corner at the end of the aisle, she was out of the guards’ view for a few seconds. Moving with synchronized efficiency, Jacqueline and John swept up next to her. Jacqueline swapped places with Nina as John scooped up baby Kostya, replacing him with a child’s doll.

  “Back this way,” John whispered. Holding the baby against him, he steered Nina behind the nearest stall.

  The switch was completed in an instant. By the time the guards turned the corner, Jacqueline was pushing the baby stroller, and John had pulled Nina out of sight. From the back, Jacqueline could easily pass for the young mother. She led the guards away, casually sauntering down the long aisle.

  “We have to move fast,” John said. Nina was scared but holding it together. John handed her a gray coat and a wig. As she changed, he checked on the baby in his arms.

  Kostya had big eyes and curly hair. He was grinning, as if this was all great fun. John couldn’t help but smile as he gazed down at the boy.

  “How do I look?” With the new hair and coat, Nina appeared quite different.

  “Perfect. Hold my hand—we’re just a normal couple. We have to be fast, but casual. We don’t want to draw attention.”

  John led Nina through the crowd, keeping Kostya pressed tight to his chest for warmth. “Hopefully, this will give us at least a twenty-minute head start.”

  “I don’t know how I can thank you all.”

  “Let’s just worry about getting you out of here, okay?”

  No one gave them a second look as they passed out of the market and onto the city streets. A block away, John had parked an old Audi sedan. He strapped Kostya into a baby seat, then started up the car and sped away. The streets were narrow and claustrophobic, lined with apartment buildings in states of disrepair. As always, John had the route memorized.

  Taking Nina and the baby from the market had been the only option, but it had an inherent challenge. The city of Lorand was bordered by a mountain on one side and dense forest on two others. That left only one direction in and out of town. If they didn’t get past the city limits before the alarm was raised, they’d be trapped.

  “We may have a problem.” Jacqueline’s voice crackled through the communicator earpiece John wore. “There’s another soldier walking toward me.”

  John pressed the talk button. “Abort. Now.”

  “You haven’t had enough time—”

  “Get out, Jacqueline! Meet at the extraction point. Understood?”

  “Understood,” she said
, frustrated.

  John hit the gas, taking the corner with a squeal of tires. Jacqueline would turn off the main aisle now, discarding the coat and wig to change her appearance. With luck, she’d make it out of the market and to the motorcycle they’d hidden and be on her way within minutes.

  “We’re not going to make it, are we?” Nina asked.

  “We’re gonna try. Hang on.” John powered through a few more turns, checking his mirrors for signs of a tail.

  As they approached the next intersection, John heard sirens approaching. Rounding the corner, he was forced to hit the brakes. Already, vehicles were stopping as police blocked off the boulevards leading out of the city. He slammed the gearshift into reverse. But behind them, cars blocked the way. They were wedged in, unable to move forward or backward.

  Nina saw that they were trapped. “If Janos gets Kostya, he’ll turn him into a monster like himself. I can’t let that happen to my son. You must hide him.”

  “We’re not done yet.” John searched for a way out, but didn’t see any options.

  Nina looked back at Kostya, tears in her eyes. She kissed her fingertips, then touched the baby’s feet. “Ja velmi chabe kachayu. Da spatkanya.”

  “We’ll make a run for it,” John insisted. “We can hide out in the city.”

  But Nina was resolute. “Promise you’ll get him somewhere safe. Somewhere he can grow up happy. Janos will never stop looking for him. Whatever it takes, I beg you, keep my son away from him.”

  “Nina, we can still—”

  Before John could say anything more, she swung the car door open and jumped out.

  “Nina—no!”

  But she was already gone, running toward the police cars blocking the road. John watched in horror as she waved her arms and yelled at them. Nina looked around frantically, then raced across the street and into a park. Within seconds, the squad cars took off after her, sirens wailing.

  The blocked vehicles began to move once more. John was torn, watching helplessly as Nina disappeared into the park’s trees pursued by police. From the backseat, Kostya began to cry. John looked back at the boy, his heart breaking.

  “I know, buddy. I’m so sorry.” John put the Audi in gear and pressed the gas, then made the turn that would lead them out of the city, to safety.

  CHAPTER

  41

  MOUNT SATORI,

  LOVANDA, AFRICA

  A mile outside of Lorand, a helicopter was waiting to fly us across the border and into Lithuania,” John finished. “Jacqueline—Mom—was already there when you and I arrived. We waited for Nina as long as we could.”

  “But the police caught her?” Ryan asked. He was numb. Overwhelmed. Trying to process that all this wasn’t just a story Dad was telling him. It had really happened. To him.

  “Nina knew they would. Your mother sacrificed her life to ensure your safety. It was the most courageous thing I’ve ever seen.” John leaned his head back against the cave wall. “For the next few weeks, Mom and I took care of you while we tried to figure out what to do. Granddad called in every favor he could to try and rescue Nina. But a month later, Balazar announced to the world that she had died. An illness, he said, that took both mother and baby.”

  “He killed her.” Ryan’s stomach twisted into a knot.

  “We’re not exactly sure what happened. But Ludo Milankovic knew someone on the inside. They got word to Nina that you were safe. Whatever happened, she knew you were okay.”

  “Ludo Milankovic—that’s Principal Milankovic, right? He knew Nina?”

  “Their families were close. She was like a younger sister to him. It’s why we chose that school for you when we settled down in New York. We knew he’d always keep an eye on you.”

  “When he said he wanted me to know the truth, that’s what he meant. He wanted me to know about Nina.”

  “And I’m glad you do.” Dad’s expression darkened. “But we still have to be careful, Ryan. Nina was right—Janos Balazar has never stopped looking for his lost grandson. It’s why Mom and I kept it from you.”

  On the other side of the cave, Lawrence yawned and sat up. He rubbed his eyes, blinking at the morning light. “Guess they didn’t find us,” he said.

  “No, and hopefully they think we’re long gone by now.” John stood. “We should get down to the car and back to the city. We need to get out of Lovanda as soon as possible.”

  They quickly stashed the blankets and supplies into the pack. John slung it on his back, checking to make sure the coast was clear.

  Ryan was struck by a thought. “How come you and Mom decided to keep me instead of setting me up with a family?”

  “You stole both our hearts. It just seemed right.”

  “You weren’t even married yet.”

  Dad grinned sheepishly. “Only because I didn’t have the guts to ask. Sneaking into countries where you could get shot on sight is nerve-racking. But it’s a piece of cake compared to proposing.”

  CHAPTER

  42

  HOUDALI,

  LOVANDA, AFRICA

  In daylight, the trek down the mountain was easy. They found the car where Dad and Lawrence left it, still hidden and undisturbed. The roads were busier now, and they blended into the traffic heading toward Houdali.

  In the backseat, Ryan stared out the window. Dad’s story had turned his whole world upside down. It would take a while to sort out his feelings. Mostly, he kept thinking about how brave his birth mother had been. Nina had allowed herself to be taken prisoner so her son could be free. He wondered if he looked like her. And what about his birth father—he still didn’t know anything about him. What had it been like being the son of a tyrant?

  So many questions.

  Part of him was mad at Mom and Dad for not telling him about all this before. It was his life; he had a right to know. But the truth was, they had done what Nina asked. They’d kept him safe all these years. They’d loved him, protected him, even taught him the skills he would need to survive if the truth was ever discovered.

  Ryan was the only living heir of a brutal dictator, but he was also the great-grandson of one of the founders of the ERC, a group that had saved thousands of people around the world.

  So what was he—a Balazar or a Quinn?

  “We need to ditch the car,” Dad said. Ryan looked out the front window. Up ahead, police blockades were erected. Uniformed officers were checking all the vehicles entering and exiting the city.

  “Take the next turn and park.” Lawrence pointed up ahead. “I know how to get around the checkpoints. We had to do it often.”

  A few minutes later, they left the car and continued on foot. Lawrence guided them through a series of alleys and less-traveled streets. Ryan noticed his father frown at his cell phone.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’ve got a signal, but no message from the woman who was getting Danny to the airport.”

  “Can’t you just call her?”

  “I tried. Twice. It went straight to voice mail.” He slipped the phone back in his pocket. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

  But Ryan could tell he was worried.

  “Something’s going on,” Lawrence said as they passed an open-air café. Inside, people were packed together watching an old television. On the screen, a reporter stood in front of a courthouse.

  “… the emergency trial is still in session behind closed doors. All five defendants have been arrested on charges of high treason, a crime punishable by death.”

  Lawrence couldn’t hide his alarm. “Nadia …”

  He turned abruptly and started running down the street. Ryan was about to follow, but Dad grabbed his shoulder.

  “Walk. You and I stand out more here. We can’t draw attention to ourselves.”

  It took all the willpower Ryan had not to take off after Lawrence. They walked fast, keeping their heads down as much as possible. But no one even noticed—everyone was huddled inside restaurants and shops watching the unfolding drama on TV.
r />   After another two blocks, Dad opened the door to an apartment building, and they hurried upstairs. Ryan stepped inside the apartment and was immediately assaulted.

  “Dude!” Danny wrapped his arms around him, then pulled back. “I totally thought you were a goner!”

  “You always know just what to say,” Ryan teased. “Why are you still here?”

  Dad closed the apartment door. “Just what I was going to ask. What happened to Candace?”

  “I don’t know. The cops were stopping everybody. She made me get out of the car before they got to us.”

  John immediately pulled his phone out and stepped away. Ryan glanced across the living room, relieved to see Lawrence holding Nadia. They were both staring at a small television.

  “We were worried. There was something on the news about a trial. We thought it might be for Nadia.”

  “It almost was. She was hiding on the roof. But they got Jaz, Ryan. I watched them drag her away.”

  Ryan stepped to the television as Lawrence looked up. “They’ve arrested our friends. People they suspect might be helping us.”

  Nadia turned up the volume. “They’re bringing them out.”

  An officious man in a gray suit addressed the cameras and the crowd. “The highest court in the Republic of Lovanda has issued its ruling. All five defendants have been found guilty of high treason.”

  Nadia gasped. Lawrence held her tight, his expression furious. The camera panned along the five defendants as they were led out of the courtroom in cuffs. Jaz kept her head held high, but the fear in her eyes was unmistakable.

  “The punishment for treason is death,” the officious man continued. “The executions will take place at sundown tonight in Liberty Plaza.”

  Danny couldn’t believe it. “That’s impossible—there’s no way they had a trial that fast.”

  “There’s got to be some way to stop this,” Ryan said, turning to Lawrence.

  “The government appoints the lawyers for defendants. And treason is considered a crime against the nation. There are no appeals, and the sentence is carried out immediately. This is how justice works in Lovanda.”