I ignore that. “She’s a tech genius and she’s the only option we have that doesn’t involve trusting Vincent’s mystery contractor or relying on remote support from Tokyo.”
Elio frowns. “A student? You’re talking about bringing on a fucking student for an operation this big?”
“If you have any better ideas, let me know.” I meet his eyes. “But we’re out of time and out of options.”
Elio mutters Italian curse words under his breath and shakes his head. “You Russians are batshit crazy,” he grumbles, seeing himself out.
“He’s right about that,” Dem mutters. Then to me he says, “You sure about this,brat?”
“No,” I admit. “But I’m out of better ideas.”
“Why is our father blowing up my fucking phone looking for you?” Matvey squints down at his screen. “Did something happen?”
I press my tongue against the back of my teeth, remembering the ice pick through Abram’s hand, the way my father’s face went dark with rage. “Yes, something fucking happened, but I don’t have time to get into it right now. Just tell him I need time to cool off if he asks.”
Before either of them can push the issue, I head for the back door and push outside. The air is crisp and smells like rain. I pull out my phone and check my messages. A missed text from Evelina pops up:
Evelina: I’m fine. Just need some space. I’ll be in touch when I can.
I’m tempted to ignore her request and show up at her apartment anyway, but it’s nearly four in the morning, and she’s probably asleep by now.
I swing onto the Ducati, twist the throttle, and tear into the night.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
DINARA
I stand and stretch,rolling my shoulders until something pops. Outside, the sky is lightening, pale gray blooming from the darkness. My eyes burn like sandpaper and my neck aches, but I did it.
I found Spider.
Leonid Adamovich.
The man who ran trafficking for the Kupola Network. The man who “knew how to pick them,” meaning women to kidnap and sell. The man who might have trafficked my mother.
After hours of searching through Russian government databases, FSB archives, and Interpol records, I found what I was looking for. Buried in an old surveillance report was a reference to an operative for the Kupola Network, code name Spider, suspected of coordinating human trafficking routes between Russia and New York.
The moment I saw those three cathedral domes tattooed on Abram's forearm, my composure crumbled at my feet.
Everything fell apart after that.
Kirill doesn’t know what triggered my breakdown, but he’s suspicious that Abram did something to me, and I don’t think he’s going to let it go.
He called a bunch of times after I left Velour, but I let it go straight to voicemail every time. I can’t afford the distraction, and I sure as fuck don’t know how to explain the freakout. Finally, at three in the morning, I messaged him saying I’m fine, but I need space and I’ll be in touch when I can.
I know that won’t keep him at bay for long. A day, maybe two if I’m lucky. Then he’ll show up at my door demanding answers.
I press my palms against my eyelids, trying to push away the memory of his face when he walked into that suite. His eyes locking onto me in a full room. Even though his presence meant I’d lost my shot at getting Ruslan alone, my body sagged with relief.
It’s that. Those dangerous, traitorous feelings I have for him. That’s what scares the shit out of me. He makes me feel safe and special and desired. But this can’t go on and I know it. Because at the end of the day, Kirill is a Baronov. And when the truth about his family comes out, when I start pulling at threads that lead back to his father and his legacy, he’s not going to choose me. He’s going to protect his own.
Kirill wasn’t involved in the trafficking, but the Baronov Bratva is his birthright. The empire he’s being groomed to lead. The one he’ll inherit.
And I’m the woman digging up secrets that could tear it all down. There’s no version of this where we end up on the same side. I need to remember that, no matter how he makes me feel, there is no happy ending for us.
I need to keep Kirill at arm’s length, no matter what my stupid heart wants, and focus on my goal. The only thing that matters.
