Page 24

Maksim was across the room in a heartbeat.

A message popped up, and Nora’s frown deepened. “I can’t read it.”

I could, and my breath locked in my throat when I did.

Tell them to show you the picture I sent. Ask what happened after you left the masquerade.

Nora tugged my hand. “What does it say?”

“She wants to know if you remembered to take your vitamin today.” The words came out through numb lips.

Nora tapped the tablet. “Yep. I’ll tell her.” She swiped across the screen, making words appear in random order that made no sense.

I was too busy trying not to puke on Maksim’s exquisite carpet to stop her. I scooted off the couch and moved behind it to where Maksim stood. “What picture? What the hell is she talking about?”

He crossed his arms, the move pulling his sleeves taut over his shoulders. He’d rolled them up right after locking the door and hello, forearms. It had been too dark to see much last time we were together, and I realized what I’d been missing out on. Focus. No forearm distractions.

The lock on the reinforced door disengaged before Maksim moved away. Roman came in first, with Kirill on his heels. Blood dotted his clothes in broad splatters.

“Jesus Christ, Kirill.” I shifted to block him from Nora’s sight.

He glanced down. “What? I’m fine.”

“Hi, Prince Kirill.” Nora turned around and slung her arms over the back of the couch. “You’re red. Did you spill paint?”

“I did, tiny menace. Lots and lots of paint.” His eyes flashed, canines showing when he smiled. “It was magnificent.”

A shudder worked its way down my spine. This was not the man who’d comforted me in the gardens. This was a complete stranger. One I definitely should be wary of instead of wondering how all that heat and aggression would translate in the bedroom.

“Do you know what picture Alina was talking about? She said she sent it to you.” I crossed my arms to keep them from trembling when three sets of eyes locked on me.

Kirill exhaled through his nose, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a phone. “She left this at the gate. It rang after security brought it inside, and she sent something.” He kept the phone close. “It’s…unpleasant.” His gaze slid to Nora, who was watching all of us with wide eyes.

I walked toward him, angling my body so he could show me without Nora seeing. “Show me.”

“Are you sure?” His thumb hovered over the screen.

“I need to know. Honestly, I’m kind of surprised you’re willing to be so free with information, but I’m glad. The last thing I need is the three of you deciding what I’m capable of handling.” I nodded. “Show me.”

He tapped. “We should explain first, but I get the feeling anything we say is going to sound contrived.”

An image appeared, and my brain refused to put it together at first. Three men stood in a room wearing black tactical gear, their faces mostly hidden behind balaclavas. I couldn’t have identified them from the photo alone, but the whole situation reeked of dishonesty. Especially when I finally registered the body at their feet.

I took the phone. Blood spread beneath the man’s head and shoulder, dark against the floor. His face was turned toward the camera, visible enough that I forgot how to breathe. “Oh my god. I know him.”

“What?” It came from all three of them at the same time.

My mouth had gone dry enough that the words stuck in my throat. “Alina dated him. When did this happen?”

“Dmitri worked for us.” Maksim took the lead in his usual way, speaking low and quiet so it wouldn’t carry across the room.

Hearing his name rattled loose memories of seeing him with Alina. She’d been happy with him. So happy.

I lifted my head and stared at Kirill. “Did you kill him?”

“No.” He didn’t blink, didn’t flinch or even seem to breathe. “None of us did. We found him dead the morning after the masquerade. We’d been informed of the theft and went hunting. When we found him, we thought the woman responsible for the theft killed Dmitri as well. The location is telling as this is where the money came from.”

Roman took the phone and pocketed it. “We were wrong about who you were. And while this seems like damning evidence, this is one time we are innocent.”