"Not without admitting the money existed in the first place." She glances at me over her shoulder. "Which he can't do, because that account is definitely not legal."
I move to stand behind her chair, looking at the screens. "How many accounts left?"
"Six. But the next one is trickier. It's got better security."
"How much better?"
"Government-level encryption. Two-factor authentication. Biometrics."
"Can you break it?"
Her smile is sharp as a knife. "I can break anything. It just takes time."
I believe her.
The morning dissolves into afternoon while she works. I order food, room service, delivered discreetly, and make sure she eats even when she's too focused to remember.
Around three, my phone buzzes. Maksim Vasiliev.
I step into the bedroom to take the call. "Yes?"
"Konstantin." Maksim's voice is smooth, urbane. "I trust you enjoyed The Hunt last night?"
"It was memorable."
"Good, good. I'm calling because we have a situation that requires your particular expertise." A pause. "A champagne glass was found shattered in the ballroom last night. Security footage shows a woman in blue attempting to approach Artur Troskoy before it was... knocked away."
Fuck.
"The woman disappeared during The Hunt," Maksim continues. "I'm told you caught number four. Interesting coincidence, no?"
My mind races. "You think my prey was trying to what? Poison Troskoy?"
"I think someone was. And I think you may have inadvertently stopped them." Another pause. "I'd like to speak with your prize from last night. Just a conversation. Nothing unpleasant."
"She's sleeping." The lie comes easily. "The Hunt, and her subsequent surrender, was intense."
"I'm sure it was." I can hear the smile in his voice. "When she wakes, bring her by my office. I'd like to understand what happened."
"Of course."
I end the call and find Emilia watching me from the doorway.
"That sounded ominous," she says.
"Maksim knows someone tried to poison Troskoy. He's connected it to you."
Color drains from her face. "What do we do?"
"We go talk to him." I see her about to protest and hold up a hand. "He's not accusing you yet. He's curious. And if we refuse, he'll become suspicious."
"So we walk into the lion's den and hope he doesn't eat us."
"We walk in together, and we give him a story he'll believe." I move toward her. "You're under my protection now. That means something in this world."
"It also means if I'm guilty, you're guilty too."
"Good thing we're in this together then." I cup her face. "Trust me?"
