To Russia With Love (Countermeasure Series) by Cecilia Aubrey, Chris Almeida Page A

A few moments later, an older security guard approached him. “Mr. Brennan?”
    Trevor turned to him with a questioning look.
    “You may not remember me—name’s Jacobson. You used to come to visit your dad and I would take you up. I recognized you immediately. You are the spitting image of your da.”
    Trevor smiled. “I do remember. How are you?”
    “Fine sir. I take it you’re here to see Mr. Connellan?” At Trevor’s nod he continued. “You can go straight up. No need to stand in line.”
    Trevor reached for his hand for a heartfelt handshake. “Thank you, Jacobson.”
    “My pleasure. Your da was a good man. He’s sorely missed.”
    He watched as Jacobson walked away and blinked his eyes several times to clear the moisture coating them. Yes, he is sorely missed . With renewed purpose, Trevor headed up to Stephan’s office.
    Máire O’Neill sat behind her desk just as he remembered from the last time he had been there, when she was his father’s secretary. She looked up and a warm smile spread on her face. She seemed unchanged except for a few more lines of age and wisdom creasing the corners of her cheery eyes.
    “Trevor Joseph Brennan! About time you came around to visit. Heard all about your wedding to a lovely American girl.”
    He hugged her petite frame and a familiar sense of hominess hit him square in the chest. “Good to see you too, Miss Máire.”
    “What brings you here? I am sure it wasn’t to see this old lady.”
    Trevor’s face flushed. He knew he had avoided this visit for far too long. “Is Stephan in?”
    “Yes, he is. He’s not with anyone at the moment. Just head in,” she shooed him on.
    Knocking on the door, he walked in and found the man hunched over his desk reviewing the contents of a file. Trevor smiled as he stood by the desk waiting for Stephan to surface. It was a position Trevor remembered well when he was younger. His smile widened when Stephan raised a finger. His version of, “I know you are there, give me a second.”
    To kill time, Trevor walked the room, looking over the pictures on the walls. One immediately drew his eye; as he stepped up to it, he knew why—it had been taken years ago on the lake. They—his parents, Stephan, and Trevor—had just returned from a great day of sailing. Trevor felt a pinch in his heart as he gazed on their smiling faces. Damn he missed them. Which brought him to the reason he was there in the first place.
    A rustling and chair rolling drew Trevor’s attention back to Stephan and he moved to meet him halfway. Trevor extended his hand; gripping it, Stephan pulled him into a hug. “Trevor. So good to see you, lad.”
    Trevor grinned. “You act like we weren’t just at the pub the other night, old man.”
    Stephan scoffed and led him to the guest chairs, taking the one next to him. “It’s good to have you here.”
    Trevor leaned back and steepled his fingers, contemplating the man who had been like an uncle to him.
    Stephan’s eyes narrowed. “I can see something’s on your mind.”
    With a deep sigh, Trevor held his gaze. “I thought I should come by and check on things.”
    “It’s about time.” Stephan studied him for a few moments, then asked, “How have you been handling it?”
    Trevor couldn’t feign not understanding Stephan’s question. He knew him too well. They had been through much together. “Having Cassie with me helps. Some days more than others. But I can’t deny it’s never going away. At least not until I find out for sure.”
    “Are you still pursuing that? Even after France?”
    “Yes. Not much has come of it. But we won’t give up until we find them.” His voice lowered. “Dead or Alive.”
    Stephan nodded and grief colored his eyes. “Is there anything I can do…to help?”
    “You are already helping. By not pressing me into taking Dad’s place here.”
    “Whenever you are ready. Until you are, I will keep you up to date. We do need to discuss some new hires I might be