I flip the folder open and skim through it. Every authorization here bears my credentials and has my stamp on it, along with my signature.
On the surface, it’s hard to detect that it’s fake.
A sudden tremor racks my body as the weight of betrayal starts to sink in. “Bring me the security logs for the last six months. Now.”
The other guy hurries to the storage room without a word and reappears moments later with a basket full of well-arranged papers.
I look through each of them carefully, and it’s almost morning by the time I’m done. The patterns aren’t random at all. In fact, they’d be hard to detect if not for tonight’s hit. Someone carefully made changes to my security system over the last six months, maybe even longer, and whoever is behind this understands my security systems intimately.
A sick feeling settles in my gut, because there are only three people with that level of access.
Igor.
Myself.
And Artem.
Mikhail never had any interest in tasks that didn’t involve pulling a trigger or plunging a knife into an enemy’s chest, so he never learned how the system works.
I immediately dismiss Igor. It can’t be him. The man has saved my life twice, and the last time, he almost died.
That leaves one name.
One impossible name.
I lean back in my chair and stare at the monitors.
Artem.
Although we’re not blood relatives, I consider him my brother, one of the few people I thought I could trust with my life. We’ve been through life and death together countless times. There’s no way he would’ve betrayed me like that. He has no fucking reason to.
“No.”
The word leaves my mouth quietly, because if I’m right, Vasili already knows my weakness, and Artem helped him exploit that weakness—Elena.
My fists clench, my nostrils flaring with more fury than I know what to do with, but as much as I want to call Artem and have him return home for his execution immediately, I can’t act rashly.
If I play my cards right, he may end up becoming the perfect bait for the trap I’ll set for Vasili…and as for the rat, I’ll deal with him the bratva way, but I need to know beyond reasonable doubt that Artem is truly behind this before I move against him.
Rising to my feet, I turn to the two guys behind me. “Not a word of what happened in this room to anyone else. Do you understand?”
They both nod before one of them asks, “Including the logs?”
Rage courses through my veins. I’m one second away from blowing this idiot’s brain out of his head. “If I hear a fucking word aboutanythingthat happened here, neither of you will live to see another sunrise.”
“Yes, boss,” the both answer in unison, their voices trembling with fear.
I don’t say another word as I leave the security room and make my way to my bedroom, opening the door quietly so I don’t wake Elena.
She’s curled up on the bed with the duvet still draped over her, right where I left it. Her back is turned to the door, so I can’t say for sure if she’s asleep.
I slide off the new suit I changed into right after our shower and sink into bed beside her. The mattress dips under my weight, the warmth of her body welcoming me.
She stirs and jerks awake with a gasp. “Leo?”
I wrap my arm around her. “I’m here,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to the back of her head. “I’m right here, baby.”
She turns around on the bed to face me, strands of her brown hair spilling over her face. The room is dimly lit by the streak of moonlight cutting in through the open drapes.
