“Ember slept in my damn room,” I muttered.
Daniil nodded, still giving dagger looks every so often to Artur. “She helped watched over you there. And the rest is hit or miss. There was fifty thousand dollars placed into her account the day before you were taken. It was cash so we couldn’t trace it. That’s when Artur really started,” he cleared his throat, “watching her. We know she gave you the mask. Although, since your father doesn’t have cameras in his church, we didn’t know if it was really left as she stated. We continued watching her. I even gently questioned her. But she never gave any indication that she knew where you were or even that she was a part of it, saying the money came from a generous benefactor in her escort business, which could have been true.” He shrugged. “We had to wait and see if she was a real threat.”
Artur snorted. “She gave it away when you pegged Valentina and Bogdan in the music room. She couldn’t wait to get out of there.”
I shook my head, burrowing into Daniil. “That still doesn’t explain why she did it.”
Daniil nodded, pulling my chin up to look into my eyes. “Do you want me to find out? Or do you want to talk to her?”
Honestly, I didn’t want to be in the same room with her after seeing how much she hated me, but I couldn’t just let someone else find out for me. She was my damn cousin. My responsibility. “I’ll do it.”
Daniil nodded, glancing at Artur. “Call the police. Inform them there’s been an attempt on Elizabeth’s life.”
Right then and there, I fell in love with him all over again. He hadn’t brought a gun out earlier. He hadn’t used lethal force on her when he could have. And, even now, he was going the legal way about this with the police. Because I loved her.
“I love you,” I whispered, kissing his cheek, and moving off the bed. “I have no clue how we’re going to keep her from talking about what I did tonight to Valentina and Bogdan.”
Daniil grabbed my hips, instantly stating in a business manner, “She wasn’t in the room. The surveillance has already been wiped tonight. Just state that they ran, dumping Inna here with us once they found out we knew they were the kidnappers.” He paused and nodded. “Their car is gone, and so are their bodies. Everyone will believe they just fled as far as they could. I’ll inform Inna and Mary of what they need to say if questioned. My kids will know to keep their mouths shut.”
I nodded slowly. This was a lot of fucking effort to do legally. “Okay. You go and talk to everyone, and I’ll go and talk to Katie.” I glanced at Artur. “Will you come with me?” I knew the guards were in there…but, damn, there had been a lot of hate in her eyes.
His lips lifted in a gentle smile. “Only if you promise those are boys inside your body.”
I blinked. “Not you too.”
He lifted his hands and shrugged. “I am my father’s son.”
Daniil snorted. “Get your ass in there with her, son.”
“Why?” I asked, staring deeply into her furious eyes.
Katie glared and hissed, “Think, Elizabeth. Really think.”
I was at a loss. I shook my head. “I don’t know, Katie. This doesn’t make any sense to me.” I waved my hand up and down her body, where she was being restrained by two of my guards. “You attacking me? Wanting to kill me? That makes no sense to me at all.”
She snorted. “You are so selfish that it doesn’t surprise me.”
I crossed my arms over my nightgown. Waiting.
Her faced flushed red in anger. “Daniil fucking killed my ex-boyfriend!” Her eyes were wide in fury. “I know he hurt you, Elizabeth, but I loved him. I did. He only had ten years left on his sentence.”
My expression went blank. “A poppy seed killed him.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it.”
I grimaced, and my lips thinned. “Maybe.”
She shook her head. “Again, bullshit.”
Yes, it was bullshit. I didn’t doubt for one second that Daniil had caused his death.
My voice was small, deep hurt clenching my heart. “Was he really worth having me killed over? Your own flesh and blood? Someone who has loved you forever—no matter what?”
Her jaw clenched. “They offered me money. And your death would hurt Daniil in the process.” She stared straight into my eyes. “And I want him to hurt. To hurt just as bad as I do.”
Tears burned my eyes, and I took a step closer to Artur. “I just can’t believe this.” I shook my head in confusion. “I really can’t. I love you, Katie.”
My cousin didn’t even flinch. “How bad did you want to kill those people tonight for hurting you, for killing your friend?”
