How many betrayals are there going to be? And why? What is making my men turn their back on me for the enemy?
“Make a list of people who knew about this and the attack on the Irish to narrow it down. Find me the traitor tonight with proof,” I demand. “We can’t afford to let them leak any more information.”
“On it,” Pyotr replies before the call ends.
Matvei starts talking about dealing with the loss of our goods and money, but his voice fades into the background. All I can hear are my own furious thoughts about what I’m going to do when we find who’s behind this.
I’m tired of losing property. I’m tired of losing money. And I’m tired of losing men.
Something has to change. Quickly.
The prison isn’t the only thing built underneath my estate. In the back right corner, there’s another room underground, and it gets more use than the prison.
As soon as Pyotr had the idiotic cash app receipts, two minutes before the attacks, our captive was brought in. I ordered Valentin to bring Alina down. After the night I’ve had, I need to see her.
And maybe I want her to see what I’m capable of. Either she won’t eye fuck me again after tonight or she’ll be excited by the violence. I’m hoping for the latter.
Pyotr stands by the door of the interrogation room as Valentin leads a sleepy-eyed Alina inside, pulling her forward by the chain linked between her cuffs. At least one of us got some rest.
“What—” Alina cuts off her own question when her eyes fall upon a man tied to a chair in the middle of the room. A single lightbulb hangs above him, casting a white glow onto the cement floor where there’s a drain in the center under his chair.
“This is Nazar,” I tell Alina.
Alina remains as still as stone as she stares at Nazar, who can’t say a word because of the duct tape covering his mouth. “Who is he?”
“One of my lieutenants,” I reply. “He’s been in my ranks for four years.”
“Why is he tied up?” Alina asks, sounding like she doesn’t really want to know.
“Because you were right.”
“Me?” she repeats quietly.
“Guess who suggested Leon change the route at the last minute and also had details of plans that blew up tonight.”
Her eyes dart over to the man.
“That’s right. He sold out my men to the enemy not once but twice and got more of them killed for two measly cash appdeposits,” I state as I turn to face Nazar, who shrinks back in his chair. “If he wants me to kill him quickly rather than draw it out, he’ll start talking about who he betrayed us for.”
Alina takes a step back like she’s ready to flee the room. “Why am I here?”
Because I feel a little less out of control when you’re near me.
I can’t admit that, so I tell her, “Your suggestion is what helped me uncover his deceit.”
Alina frowns but doesn’t say a word as I step closer to Nazar.
“You didn’t cover up your tracks well enough, Nazar,” I say before ripping the duct tape off his face. “A cash app? Are you really that stupid or just that cocky to think Leon would take the fall for you?”
He grunts in pain, his body stiffening under the multiple zip ties confining him to the chair. “I didn’t?—”
I strike him in the face with a clenched fist to shut him up, making his head snap to the side from the heavy impact. “You did. You informed our enemy about the attack and the cash move. They ambushed Daniil and Rodya, killing them both.”
Nazar spits blood onto the floor, his teeth shining red.
I glance over at Alina, seeing the shock written across her face.
After a few moments, her expression settles, and she watches and waits for whatever comes next.
