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Still laughing, she wiggled her fingers at the camera. “You bought the wrong Petrova, boys.”

My nails dug into the edge of the console, my body vibrating with angry energy. “No shit.”

The corner of Roman’s mouth lifted, indicating he’d heard me. “Perhaps you’d like to explain why your sister was taken in your place.”

“I wasn’t the one who took her. Sounds like someone doesn’t know how to do their job.” She slid her hands back into her coat and tilted her head toward the camera. “It’s good to talk to you again. Where’s everyone else? Are they all there with you, watching me?” She tossed her head in a familiar gesture that made her dark hair flounce.

Roman’s face blanked, and I began to understand why Kirill loved to poke him just to get a reaction.

Maksim held out his hand, and Roman passed him the microphone.

“Why are you here?” Maksim asked.

Alina studied the camera. “Straight to business. I always liked that about the three of you. Fine. I know where your thirty million went.”

The words landed with the gentleness of a wrecking ball through a building. Kirill’s feet dropped from the console, Roman straightened, but it was Maksim who held my attention as his finger twitched against the microphone.

“I know who moved it,” Alina continued. “I know where it went, and why you never found it. More importantly, I can prove it. All you have to do is make a trade. Anika for the information.”

Five years these men had been looking for answers. They’d bought me for the exact amount they lost to prove a point.

“No.” Maksim didn’t move a muscle.

My brain refused to understand the word. Then it ran backward to the demand. Some stubborn corner of my mind tried to convince me she meant another Anika because surely my sister hadn’t just offered me up…again.

Alina’s mouth fell open just enough to show her surprise, but she recovered quickly. She always did. “You’re willing to lose thirty million for her?”

Roman took control of the microphone. “We do not hand over those under our protection. Would you like to offer yourself? Give us the information and we will protect you.”

I wanted to throw something at all three of them for making this so incredibly infuriating. They were protecting me after what they did last night. Why?

Alina threw her head back and laughed. “Funny guy. You have no idea what you’re about to stir up.”

“This has been a remarkably inefficient visit. I suggest you leave.” Roman pushed the mic away and ran a hand through his hair, disheveling the strands and giving him a boyish look that so completely contradicted the situation that my stomach writhed.

Alina rolled her eyes. “Give me Anika, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know.” If I didn’t know her better, I’d almost think Alina was panicked. But my sister didn’t panic.

Five years ago, she’d begged me to take her place for one night. She’d been scared, and I was dependable. Over and over again, she proved she was willing to sacrifice me to her whims. She’d deliberately sent me into a situation that had supposedly scared her. I’d never asked why, because her Please, Nika had reeled me in. I pushed away from the console. “I’ve heard enough. I’m leaving.” They didn’t need me here for this.

Maksim turned. “Anika.”

“No.” I jabbed a finger toward the monitor. “You keep talking to her, arrest her, shoot her, bake her into a fucking pie for all I care. I’ve had enough Petrova bullshit for one day. I want my daughter.” I marched out, and when Kirill caught up with me, I kept talking because all the hurt had been waiting for a moment to come out. “I’ve been waiting five years for her to stop using me as a shield. Longer, if I’m being honest. I’ve done my share.”

I didn’t really mean any of it, but the words felt so good to say. I needed the release.

“We are not giving you up.” Kirill said it so plainly, without any desire but as a plain fact, that it cut through the furious storm I’d been trying to walk away from.

“I need a minute before I see Nora.” I covered my face with both hands. “I can’t let her see me like this. She’ll know something’s wrong, and I don’t want her to be scared.”

“Then take a minute.” Kirill planted himself next to me like he had nowhere else to be. “Take two. I don’t fucking care. Take all the time you need.”

“I ca–”

The lights went out. Darkness swallowed the hall so completely my heart jumped into my throat. A beat later, red emergency lights flashed to life along the floor, throwing ugly shadows across the walls. A siren screamed loud enough I clamped my hands over my ears.

Kirill shoved me behind him. “Stay close.”

“What is that?” I tried to step around him, and his arm shot out to wrap around my middle. “Nora.”