I tuck my chin. “No, you said SashaSheremetev. Like ValetinSheremetev.”
She nods. “Yeah, Sasha Sheremetev is married to Russiandiplomat Valentin Sheremetev. No doubt she was forced and being trafficked. The Feds said he took his wife into his custody, and now they’re in the wind.” Her eyes bulge. “I told the whole station about it.”
My pulse climbs. “No, you didn’t.”
“Yes, I told Paul. I followed the chain of command. He said he’d tell everyone, and you and I weren’t exactly speaking back then.”
“He didn’t tell me.” My logic races. “I didn’t know, but I know who Valentin Sheremetev is.”
“Who?” Alena pulls back. “And… why didn’t Paul tell everyone?”
“Fuck knows.” I jump up, grabbing her hand. “But come with me.”
“Wh… where are we going?”
“To enrage The Queen.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
ALENA
It’s a potent feeling,standing in the circle of kings and queens, with The Queen, Nadine, sharpening her glare.
“So,” she seethes, “Sheremetev is Sasha’shusband?”
“Yes, my Queen,” Loch answers her formally, like this is business.
Brutal Bratva business.
“And Sheremetev is The Warden, the Tennessee trafficker who took Wren and the other girls,” Axel adds, tenting his inked fingers on the breakfast table.
He and Ruby are the only ones sitting—way to ruin day one of their honeymoon.
Jace cocks an angry brow. “When the fuck did you find this Warden thing out?”
“It’s intel we got in a meeting months back with Sire.” Loch glances around. “Where is he?”
Wren sniffles, lifting her chin. “He took an earlier flight.”
“An earlier flight to Ukraine for a mission trip?” Grant scoffs. “And now this shit? Anyone else feel sideways about it?”
“Yeah.” My dad juts his chin. “Alena risks her life, rescuinga woman feared to be a victim of sex trafficking. Now, we know she’s actually the wife of Valentin Sheremetev, and?—”
“Not by choice,” I interject. “I’d bet my soul on it.”
Dad nods, clearly respecting my opinion. He continues, “Alright, worse. Sasha is a victimandSheremetev’s wife. And Sheremetev is Ruslan Kholodov’s sworn enemy. Our enemy too. And now we know Sheremetev’s the trafficker who tried to sell Wren?Andhe’s sniffing around my daughter?”
“He wasn’t sniffing, Dad. He was in a convenience store asking about me.”
Grant gruffs out, “I call that sniffing.”
I smirk. “I call it fatal when I carry a gun.”
“Can someone connect the dots, please?” Vale crosses her arms. “Cuz I’m missing something.”
“Wearemissing something.” Loch is fuming. “There’s some connection, but we don’t know what the fuck it is. Wren. Sasha. Alena. Sheremetev. Our shithead father. We?—”
“Until we know, we’re on high alert,” The Queen interrupts, arching her brow. “Is that clear? Alena and Loch have backup.” She addresses me, “Can we assume you two are a united front again?”
