“Because you’ve been guarding her.”
That much is true. The best thing I ever did was take Lauren under my wing after she was attacked. She probably wouldn’t be alive today if I hadn’t. But knowing that Aslanov’s thugs are out there, watching and waiting, makes my blood boil.They’re like vultures circling overhead, biding their time for the perfect moment to strike. Every fucking second they are alive is another second Lauren remains in danger.
I sit back in the chair and grit my teeth.
We’re reaching the end of the quiet spell.
I have played this game before and I know it won’t be long before the shark resurfaces from the water to bite.
“Does he know about Lauren’s pregnancy?”
“I don’t know,” says Timur. “We can’t assume that he doesn’t. Just another reason for you to keep a close eye on her.”
He doesn’t have to say that for me to know. Lauren and our baby girl are in danger every minute of every day.Blyad.I don’t think Lauren has even begun to comprehend the powers at play. I absolutely cannot let her out of my sight. Ever.
Timur’s tense face suggests that this isn’t all he came here to tell me.
“Give it to me,bratan.” I recline in the chair. “What else?”
It’s rare for Timur to hesitate when delivering news, but that’s because things normally aren’t this sensitive.
“Miroslav, our guy in Aslanov’s network, gave me some intel earlier today. Remember Sentinel International? The shell company that Aslanov’s been using to launder money?”
“Da.What about it?”
“They’ve been losing cash.”
That catches my attention. “Losing, how?”
“Somebody with access to the company accounts has been skimming it. Small amounts regularly to avoid Aslanov’s notice, but a lot has been lost over time. If Aslanov has been funding it for Charles, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Mr. Watson is the culprit.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “So, Charles is trying to screw Aslanov over?”
“Not exactly,” says Timur. “Aslanov created the company to keep himself out of suspicion. He needs to fund it in order to keep it running, so he handed it over to Charles, a legitimate investor, as a means to keep his own identity hidden.” Timur takes a step back and leans against the wall. “Charles is a smart man. He knows better than to take money directly from Aslanov. So, he changed the IP address.”
I lean forward, waiting for him to deliver the punchline.
“The IP address leads back to your place, in the city.”
My head shoots up like I’ve been jolted awake. My jaw clenches so hard I’m surprised my teeth don’t crack. A surge of white-hot rage floods through my veins, making my hands curl into fists on the armrests. But the fury burns deeper than a personal insult. Is Charles trying to frame me? Or worse, is he trying to frame his own daughter?
Blyad.
This is not good.
Whatever the case, this means Aslanov will come for me, and by extension, Lauren and our daughter. Charles Watson has just signed all of our death warrants with his greed and his stupidity.
Ublyudok!
I sit forward in my chair, eyes scanning the dozens of documents laid out on Timur’s desk. If Timur’s intel is right, this changes everything.
“You know what this means, boss?” says Timur, coming away from the wall to face me head on.
Unfortunately, I do. He doesn’t have to spell it out to send me into an even hotter rage. It’s pretty damn obvious what all of this means.
This isn’t just a game of revenge anymore.
It’s one of survival.
