Page 22 of Prey of the Bratva

“I didn’t, but none of it matters. They won’t find me.”

“Where are you?” she asked again, but I shook my head even though I knew she couldn’t see it. I couldn’t reveal my location to anyone. Not yet anyway. It wasn’t as if I didn’t trustmy team because I did. It was just because none of them trusted Kliment Romanov anyway, and I had no desire to worry them unreasonably.

“I’m safe. That’s all that matters.

“Are you injured?”

“I am, but it’s manageable now.”

“How bad?”

“Not bad enough to stop me or this mission.”

Diane exhaled slowly.

“You’re impossible. Alright, tell me, what do you need?” she finally asked, switching into her role at once.

“Make sure to pause all movement,” I said. “No new contacts. No active inquiries. Just listen.”

“For what?”

“For any mention of the symbol,” I said. “Any reference to rerouted shipments. Any sign that they’re adjusting patterns after the docks?”

“And Sera?”

“If she reaches out, you tell me immediately.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

I didn’t answer that because we both knew what it could mean.

“I’ll find her,” Diane said quietly.

“No,” I replied. “You won’t. Let her come back on her own. I am sure she will.”

“Just… don’t disappear again,” she said.

“I won’t.”

It wasn’t a promise, but it was enough. I ended the call, and the device went dark in my hand. For a moment, I stood there, staring at my reflection in the closed window. I looked pale and bruised, but I knew I was healing. The garden outside stretched wide and quiet, trimmed hedges and clean lines that spoke of control. Of order. Of a world that functioned exactly as it was meant to. I shifted my weight slightly, adjusting on the crutches, and moved closer to the glass.

I was sure my family would be looking for me already. I had wanted to ask Kliment about it, but a part of me didn’t really want to know. After what happened with Elisse, they would be losing their minds even more, but at least they would know I had left myself. This wasn’t a kidnapping. But I couldn’t go back. Not right now. I rested my hand lightly against the window, eyes scanning the perimeter automatically. I had mapped almost everything here by the second day.

Healing had never meant pausing but simply recalculating. And even though Kliment Romanov was the reason I was alive, I could not let my guard down even around him.

“I had a feeling you wouldn’t stay still.”

His voice came from behind me, low and measured, but I didn’t turn around immediately.

“I wasn’t moving much,” I said.

“This is more than enough.”

I glanced over my shoulder and noticed him standing in the doorway, watching me the same way he always did. Like I was something he hadn’t decided how to handle yet.

“Who were you calling?” he asked, immediately making me nervous.

“Eavesdropping?” I asked, making sure to keep my expression unreadable.