‘—that you’ll take care of my boys, all three of them.’
Lachlan opens his mouth to argue more but the last part of that trips his brain.He stares hard at Sorrenko.‘Three?’
Behind Mikhail, thick streaks of white light catch his attention through the glass.Instincts flaring to life, Lachlan pushes Mikhail aside.
Outside, people are moving closer and the sweeping flashlight beams are unmistakably tactical, attached to weapons.
Sorrenko follows his gaze.‘Bozhe moy.’
‘It’s the Front,’ Lachlan says, kicking his mind viciously intoFocus Mode.Jules.He has to get Jules.‘The Moroz Front, they—’
‘It is not the Front,’ Sorrenko says with such certainty that Lachlan is briefly confused by it, until he’s not.
Lachlan’s mouth falls open.‘You.’
‘Upstairs, quickly.’
‘You command the Moroz Front?’Sorrenko pulls Lachlan towards the staircase leading to the main bedrooms.‘Answerme, you fucking—’
Mikhail snaps, ‘Of course I do.Move faster.’
They take the stairs two at a time.
Lachlan sees more coming from all sides, surrounding the mansion with lights.When they’re at the top, Lachlan aims his gun at Sorrenko, who shows no fear, calmly says, ‘It will come to this, yes.’
‘Give me a reason why I shouldn’t kill you.’
‘The fact that you need a reason is evidence enough.You know I am on your side.These are not my people attacking.We must get the children out.’
‘Youordered the attacks on the Estate?’
‘Tanner—’
‘Fucking answer me!’
‘Yes.’
‘Both times?’
‘Alltimes, but not now.Not this.’
‘I should kill you where you stand,’ Lachlan mutters, tight with anger.‘Jules had to shoot people, he almost died!You tried to take Mimi!Your own sons were—’
‘The children were not at risk.My people wouldneverharm—’
‘Why?To leverage them?To fucking ransom them?’
‘To end the cycle!Alistair is too far gone.He cannot have more children.’
‘What the fuck has that got to do with anything?’
‘I wanted to take them and keep them away from him, but I would never have harmed them.I even tried to take Julian officially by asking, but it was a mistake.Alistair was already suspicious.He did not believe that I wanted Julian for carnal reasons, no matter the part I played.’
‘Thepart you played?I’ve seen the way you look at him!’
‘You have absolutely no idea what you’re dealing with,’ he tells Lachlan and it’s so reasonable, so seemingly honest that it briefly floors him.‘Cold water creatures live longer than those in happy warmth.You are a good man, Tanner.I know you will protect my boys.It’s why I have given you VasilyandDanya.’
It hits like a knife to the heart.‘Danya?’
