“Who are the Kotovs?” Logan asks, breaking the heavy silence.
My heart picks back up then, beating almost painfully in my chest. “Are you serious?” I whisper harshly at Salena, knowing full well if I don’t force my voice down, I’ll start yelling.
“I’m sorry I said nothing before, but I never felt the need to tell you. And once you became a couple, I figured she would tell you.”
I jerk to my feet, the chair falling over behind me. “She wanted out. She told me this was her last job. Do you think they did something to her?”
Logan stands, placing himself between me and Salena.
“Kai,” he growls in warning.
“Fuck!” I snap and swiftly spin around, adrenaline surging through me as I pace back and forth, rubbing the back of my neck.
Salena stands and approaches me with a look of understanding in her eyes. “Kai, I’m sure she is fine. This is Ash we are talking about.”
“I know, but something feels off.”
“Ash doesn’t strike me as the type who would need rescuing,” Logan adds.
They don’t understand.
I take a step back, my frustration building up, and let out an exasperated sigh. “She isn’t invincible. I know you’re all wary of her, but if any of you were to go missing, she wouldn’t hesitate to find you.”
“You’re right,” Salena replies, placing a hand on my arm. “She would help.”
Rose jumps to her feet. “Uhh, guys?”
We all turn our heads to see what has caught her attention. The sound of an engine growing louder pulls our focus to the long driveway, where a sleek black Cadillac Escalade ESV barrels toward us, kicking up a cloud of dust in its wake. The imposing vehicle’s dark armored exterior glints in the fading light, an unexpected arrival that immediately sends a ripple of concern through the group.
Salena doesn’t waste a second. Before I can even process what’s happening, she’s already in motion, darting across the deck with a speed and urgency that catches me off guard. She’s down the stairs and moving toward the approaching SUV like a force of nature, driven by a purpose only she seems to understand.
The rest of us exchange quick, puzzled glances before we, too, spring into action.
By the time the Escalade comes to a halt, Salena is already across the lawn. Felix is right on her heels, his body tense and ready. Logan and I catch up just as the driver, dressed in a crisp black suit, steps out with the kind of grace that suggests he’s done this a thousand times before. Without a word, he moves to the rear of the vehicle, opening the door with a smooth, practiced motion.
“State your business,” she snaps, her voice calm, but the warning is clear.
A towering figure emerges from the SUV, his sleek, tailored suit accentuating his commanding presence. His short black hair, shaved close on the sides, contrasts with the tousled and stylishly messy top. Piercing green eyes, flecked with hints of gold, lock onto Salena, acknowledging her as the alpha. The air carries a faint scent of cologne, adding to his formidable stature.
“You must be Salena,” he says politely.
“Yes, and you are?”
The man takes a step forward and holds out his hand. “I’m Penn.”
Salena’s fingers wrap tightly around his hand and she shakes it. “What are you doing here, Penn Kotov?”
Penn dips his head in acknowledgment, and if he’s surprised that she knows who he is, he doesn’t show it.
“Kai, get it together,”Salena chides through the mental link.
I realize then that my breathing is out of control.
“Sorry.”
Salena doesn’t acknowledge me as she steps back and crosses her arms, waiting for Penn to reply.
“I’m searching for someone.” Penn’s gaze moves to Felix, then to me. “You’re Kai, the one Ashwiyaa wants to leave us for.”
