"I know," Anatoly answered quietly, his head bent slightly in deference to Lex. He might be a little rusty but he could still play the game, still say and do one thing while his heart thought another. It would be difficult but all worth it for the opportunity of seeing his children.

As he lead the way, they were the only thoughts in his mind. Svetlana, Molokov, even Lex was all but forgotten, pushed back into the category of things of secondary importance. Nothing mattered but Dmitri and Ilona and nothing else could stand in his way.