"I could have strangled both of them," he sneers.
I add, "We need to get out of here. If anyone finds out we're in the queen's chamber, there will be consequences."
"We need to go after them! The longer we wait, the farther they'll get, and we won't be able to tell who they are with all the other masked men!" he declares.
"Shut up so I can think," I push, pacing toward the center of the room and gripping the edge of the table.
He stalks after me. "Why?"
"Because I've heard those voices before," I admit, raking a hand through my hair, trying to sift through the memories.
"Who are they?"
"Let me think!" I demand.
Brax shuts his mouth with his scowl deepening.
I begin to pace.
"You're wasting time," Brax argues.
"Shut up," I bite out again.
He releases heavy breaths through his nose.
My brain races through faces, accents, meetings, family alliances, bloodlines, and rivalries. It takes a few minutes, but then the pieces click. I stop pacing. I turn toward Brax. "I know who it is."
Brax's eyes narrow. "Who?"
My tone fills with disgust. "Lev and Igor Petrov."
His jaw drops. Then his expression twists in the same revulsion I feel. "This is exactly why the Underworld will never work. You can't put rival families under the same roof and expect loyalty. Kirill's own bloodline wants his wife dead."
I rub my hands over my face. "The Petrovs hate Kirill."
"Why?"
The question lands harder than he realizes. I stiffen. "It's none of your business."
"Valentina—"
I cut him off sharply. "We need to go. Now." I stride toward the chamber door, forcing my thoughts into ruthless order.
Fiona is marked. The Petrovs are planning a coup. And the Omni allowed this test to happen inside the queen's own chambers.
Everything is shifting under my feet, accelerating at a speed I can't control. And Brax is a firecracker waiting to explode.
He falls into step behind me as we slip into the corridor with the assassination clock ticking, and the only ones who know anything about it.
And it has to stay that way. I don't know who I can trust with this information. Lev and Igor were too comfortable inside Fiona's chambers, which made my gut sink further. Someone at the top hired this hit. They have money and hatred for both Kirill and Fiona.
Brax stalks beside me toward the jet, every step radiating fury that only grows stronger the farther we get from the queen's corridor. We both sneak glances behind us, checking shadows, corners, and blind spots for enemies.
I miss the days when I considered everyone in the Underworld as friends. Ever since Sean O'Malley arrived on the scene, there have been few members I still trust. Everything has turned upside down, and there's nothing I can predict.
Brax motions for me to go first. I step into the jet, take a seat, and he follows. I murmur, "Not a single word."
Brax's jaw twitches.
