"He was buying himself time."
Alexei nods. "By the time I figured that out, he was out of town."
"So why send Dimitri?"
Alexei sneers. "I couldn't allow the slight to go unchecked. If I couldn't get to Gabe, I'd take my anger out on his sweet sister."
I take a deep, calming breath. Bianca wants the Morozovs as allies. I want them buried.
"Obviously, I didn't know she was yours." He chuckles. "Though I considered that you might have put him up to it. Thought maybe you married the girl to cover your tracks. Seemed convenient, don't you think? My man goes to collect Gabriel's sister, and suddenly she's Mrs. Adrian Nero?"
He's fishing. Seeing what I know. What I'll admit.
"I didn't know about Gabriel," I say flatly. "Wasn't on my radar."
"No." He studies me. "I don't think you did. You were just as surprised as I was by the connection. Which makes me wonder—does she know?"
My hand moves before I can think. I grab him by the throat, pulling him toward me. Vodka spills across his desk, the glass shattering on the floor.
"Stay away from my wife," I say, my voice deadly calm. "Whether she knew or not, whether she was involved or not, she is off limits. Do you understand me?"
Alexei doesn't struggle. Just looks at me with cold, calculating eyes.
I drop him, angry at myself for giving in to his bullshit. He's testing me, and I failed.
"She's carrying your heir," he says, straightening his clothing. "I understand the protectiveness. But understand this, Adrian—her brother stole from me. That makes her collateral. That makes her leverage."
"Touch her and I'll burn your entire operation to the ground. Then I'll burn the ashes. Then I'll bury what's left so deep no one will ever find you."
"Will you?" He lifts a brow in challenge. "Because from where I'm standing, you're the one with a problem. Gabriel is gone. The money is gone. And your pregnant wife is very, very vulnerable."
I should kill him. Right here. Right now. Snap his neck and deal with the consequences later.
But killing him will make Sera even more of a target. And there's no telling how my mother will react.
Instead, I step back. "Don't fucking push me on this, Alexei. The other families won't support you if you break the code."
"We'll see."
I straighten my cuffs, trying to get ahold of the anger brewing inside me. "Don't test me, Alexei. No one is invincible."
"Remember that yourself," he says as I walk away.
I'm back in my car when I feel the vibration of the phone in my pocket.
"What?" I answer, annoyance flaring up again. I want to get back to Sera. The things Alexei told me, the way he talked about her—it makes me nervous in a way I can't shake.
"Sir—" It's Henderson, one of my men stationed at the safe houses. His voice is wrong. Panicked. I'm immediately on edge. "Safe house three is under attack. Heavy fire. We have casualties?—"
"What?" My blood goes cold. That's where Gabe is being held. Where Leo and Sera and my unborn child could still be. "Who's attacking?"
"Unknown. Multiple shooters." There's so much static I can barely hear him. "They came with explosives—we're trying to?—"
"Is my wife there?" The words come out sharp. Too sharp.
"Yes sir, she's—fuck—" Gunfire erupts on the line. Screaming. An explosion so loud I have to pull the phone from my ear.
Then nothing.
