Page 99 of Dark Gambit Reliance

Marcel nodded. "We have the compound secure, and all the Kra-ell are either in the infirmary or the basement of the office building."

Helmi's eyes widened. "Including the kids?"

"We figured they would feel safer with their mothers."

"Let me talk to the others." Helmi disappeared.

Nearly fifteen minutes passed before Sofia heard movement on the other side of the door and then dragging sounds as things were moved to clear the way.

When the door finally opened, and her father stepped out, she flew at him with her arms outstretched.

"Sofia." He crushed her to him. "I was so worried."

"I was worried too."

When he let go of her, she turned to look at Marcel. "Marcel, this is my father, Jarmo. Dad, this is Marcel, my fiancé."

Her father gave Marcel a brief once-over before offering him his hand. "So those are your people, the ones dressed like aliens."

"Yes. We came to free you from Igor's tyranny."

Jarmo tilted his head. "And replace it with what?"

"We are not sure yet," Marcel said. "It was all done in a rush."

"Can we go inside?" Sofia asked.

Her father took a step back and motioned for them to enter.

70

MARCEL

The only thing Sofia had inherited from Jarmo was her blue eyes. He was balding, but what remained of his hair that hadn't turned gray was blond.

He led them to a communal living room with several worn-out couches, armchairs, and two round tables, one holding a chess set and the other a deck of cards.

As they sat down, wide-eyed people started to drift in.

"Do you speak Russian?" Jarmo asked Marcel.

"I understand some if it's spoken slowly, but I can't speak it."

Jarmo nodded. "You probably don't speak Finnish either, right?"

Marcel shook his head.

"Then we will speak English, but also slowly. Many of us don't know it." He smiled at Sofia. "You can translate. Yes?"

"Of course." She motioned for a plump, rosy-cheeked woman to come closer. "This is my aunt Hannele, Helmi's mother. And that's Isla, my other aunt."

The three siblings looked a lot alike. They were also close in age, late fifties or early sixties.

"Hello." Isla dipped her head and offered him her hand.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Marcel, Sofia's fiancé."

Smiling shyly, she turned to Sofia. "Chto takoye fiancé?"