Ruslan read out the four names.
“I think we should add Mirko to the list,” Konstantin said.
The other enforcer.
“He did climb up the ladder pretty quickly,” I said, staring at my three captains.
I couldn’t see Sergei’s son being a shestyorka. The four young men we had at the moment were aged between eighteen and twenty-three.
“Add him to the list and trace everything about them. I want the matter to conclude soon. Set up the memorial for Sergei and see who attends.”
I wouldn’t be there but Konstantin would.
“We have paperwork to sign?” I asked Valentin.
He had likely already passed the names on the list to our hacker.
“Yes, we declared him intestate and now yourself and Konstantin can claim everything.”
“Good,” I grunted.“I repeat, I want the traitor found. This is the perfect time to draw him out.”
He was young and wouldn’t have much power alone. The poor state of his father’s corpse should be a clear warning to him.
But when cornered and desperate, a rat could do anything to survive.
Chapter 77
Iskra
When Runa began to fuss, I checked the time before unstrapping her from her walker. Once I lifted her and held her close, she leaned into me.
“My tired baby,” I murmured to her.
“You know there is talk amongst the men that you’re going to poison Bogdan,” Olya said as I turned to leave.
Bogdan hadn’t drunk or eaten anything from the house in days.
“Put him out of his misery. I miss feeding the big oaf,” she grumbled.
I didn’t tell her that I had started the rumour.
“What can I do? He is a grown man. He shouldn’t listen to gossip,” I shrugged, but as I walked away I couldn’t hide my grin.
I was making my way to the staircase when I heard Vadim and his men arrive. Runa became alert at the new voices and turned to look.
Konstantin reached her first, scooping her from my arms before Vadim took over. Both of them fawning over Runa was a common occurrence. Almost a competitive sport between the brothers. I left them to it and took the first step.
Runa would let them know once she’d had enough.
Fingers gripped my wrist, stopping me from leaving.
“I’ll bring her up shortly. Be ready,” Vadim said.
I didn’t need to look at him to know what that meant. He had left early this morning and timed his arrival just before Runa’s feed and nap.
We had proof of pregnancy, but his appetite never dampened.
“Of course,” I said, waiting for him to release my wrist.
