Page 25 of Betrayal and Vows

I knew it but when it came to Lena, I had no self-control.

I wipe my mouth with my napkin like I’m not suddenly calculating exactly how fast I can get to the gun in my coat.

“Yuri,” I say with a calm I don’t feel. “Join us?”

Dmitri clears his throat. “Want some bacon?”

Yuri doesn’t even look at him. He raises two fingers at the waitress. “Coffee. Eggs. No toast.”

A pause.

Then his eyes land on me.

I meet his gaze. Hold it. I’ve stared down worse men. But today, it takes effort.

My mind is replaying the night before. I know where the security cameras are. Did I mess up? Did they realize it was Lena in that shitty wig?

They’ll kill me but what they’ll do to her will be far worse.

I can’t stop mentally kicking my own ass for being so reckless.

I’ve never done anything I haven’t planned. I’m strategic. I’m careful. Disciplined.

But last night.

Fuck.

“Pakhan is happy with your handling of the situation the other night,” Yuri says.

I say nothing. We don’t get pats on the back.

This is off.

I steal a glance at Dmitri. He feels it as well.

The waitress drops off his coffee and scurries away. Yuri sips it, then sets it down before turning his attention on me.

I might be able to kill him, but the two guards will kill me before I have a chance to take them out. And everyone in the restaurant is loyal to the Bratva.

“I have a message for you,” Yuri says, still watching me. “From Vadim.”

Dmitri stiffens beside me, probably wondering what the hellIdid to earn a personal missive from the Pakhan himself.

I had a feeling I knew what the message was. My eyes dropped to the cup of coffee.

It’s too bad it’s going to be my last meal. I would have preferred something like Blini.

I don’t give him the satisfaction of looking worried. “I’m listening.”

Yuri pulls a plain white envelope from his coat.

“You’re reassigned.”

“To what?”

“Towhom,” he corrects, placing the envelope on the table between us.

I stare at it like it might bite.