“It’s too late.”She stood, toe to toe.“They left one for me, too.Different symbol.”
His gut twisted.He hadn’t known.“When?”
“When they slashed my tires and broke out the windows of my car.”Her eyes burned.“The brick they used was sitting in the front seat with a symbol on it.I dismissed it until now.You can’t protect me by lying.”
“Fuck.”He ran a hand over his face.“You can’t go home.”
“I’m not staying here.”She crossed her arms.
“Then you’re dead.”No sugarcoating.
Her eyes flashed.“Because you won’t tell me everything.”
“Because of who I am.”He stepped closer, backing her to the wall.“I’ve killed for less than your questions.Everyone I care about dies.”
Keisha didn’t flinch.“Then we’re not so different.”
The air crackled—not just anger, but recognition.Two people carrying too much loss, forced to trust.Sergei sank onto the cot, defeated.“One night.Stay here while I track who’s watching.”
Her tremor shook her hand, fatigue causing her to slouch.“Then you tell me everything.”
He nodded, guilt heavy as his knives.“One condition.Why’s Tiana so important to you?”
A shadow crossed her face.
“Deal,” she said, voice firm.
A knock on the door filled the room.Sergei reached for his knife as he checked to see who it was.Spotting Nadia on the other side, he relaxed a little before opening the door and stepping aside.
Nadia slipped in, arms full of gauze and antiseptic.Her scarf slipped, revealing a star-and-lines tattoo—Kryvaya Stal, high rank.His stomach knotted as he hoped that Keisha didn’t pay close enough attention to notice the exact markings.
“Supplies from Carmen,” Nadia said, too casually, setting them down.Her eyes flicked to Keisha.“I didn’t expect company.”
“She’s with me.”Sergei took the supplies for the clinic, blocking Nadia.“Bandages, antibiotics.The good stuff.”
“I’ll try.”Nadia’s fingers tapped her thigh.Three quick, pause, two.A Kryvaya Stal signal.Danger close.
Keisha stepped forward, spotting a tattoo.“That’s like the brick’s symbol.”
Nadia’s hand covered her neck.“Old mistake.”
“Funny,” Keisha said, in a clinical voice.“Looks fresh to me.”
Sergei moved between them, warning in his eyes.“Check the supplies, Nadia.”
“Sure.”Keisha didn’t back down.“After you explain why she’s marked like Tiana’s hunters.”
Nadia froze.“Who’s Tiana?”
“No one,” Sergei said sharply.
“The foster kid your friends are watching,” Keisha said, ignoring him.“Black SUV, neck tattoo.”
Nadia paled.“Mikalai’s in Miami?”
“You know him,” Keisha said, eyes darting between them.“You’re both in this.”
“I was,” Nadia said, too quick.“Not anymore.”
