“The latest digital fingerprints on the leaked files point to a security contractor the Lobanov Bratva hired months ago,” she divulged.
“What? A security contractor?”
She nodded. “Someone who has been inside the manor’s systems since you and Mr. Konstantin arrived from Russia.”
Then it dawned on me.
“The courier who reportedly tried to slip me a phone. That was a diversion?”
“Yes,” she replied. “It was clearly to keep suspicion on you.”
“And it worked,” I muttered, my eyes on the table.
Then I shot to my feet. “I’ll be back,” I told her.
I raced up the stairs, taking them two at a time. I flung the door to Konstantin’s office open. He wasn’t there. I went to his bedroom and went inside.
“Konstantin!” I called.
“Alina. What’s going on?”
I found him just outside the closet, fixing the buttons of his leather jacket.
“Oh, you’re going somewhere?”
“Yes. Meeting with Viktor,” he answered before asking, “Why are you panting?”
“I rushed up here. I need to share something with you.”
“Okay.”
“Digital fingerprints tie a security contractor to the leak,” I disclosed. “Mila said it’s someone with access to the manor and has been inside the system since I got here. The courier that tried to slip me a phone was a diversion.”
He studied me silently before saying, “If you’re lying to me again, I’ll know.”
What?
I shook my head, an annoyed frown on my face as I told him in a low tone, “I never lied to you.”
I turned around and stomped towards the door.
“Alina,” he called, but I kept going.
He caught up with me and grabbed my arm, stopping me.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“Just yesterday you talked about trusting me, and now you call me a liar?” I questioned, my voice shaky as a single tear escaped my right eye.
He came to stand in front of me, his thumb wiping the tear away. “I believe you. I do.”
I didn’t say anything, and he brought his arms around me. “Come with me to the meeting. It’s about this case.”
“What? A meeting with your brothers? And thePakhan?” I asked, moving out of his embrace.
“Yes. You should share the new finding with them,” he affirmed.
I looked down at my outfit. “I’ll just grab a jacket, then.”
