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They reminded me of royalty. Russian diplomats with their heads up and pride in their spines.

I followed them, wiping at the dried blood on my cheek. “There’s one flaw in your theory.”

“Just one?” Roman glanced back, eyebrows up.

“The largest one.” I caught up as we crossed the entrance hall. Staff and guards moved around us in every direction, carrying reports, checking windows, and closing another set of security doors behind us. “If Sokolov needs Anika alive, why put her on the auction block where any idiot with money could buy her?”

Anika didn’t slow as her words drifted over her shoulder. “Maybe he has a flair for unnecessary drama.”

“I would respect that if he hadn’t pointed a rifle at you.” I stepped around two men hauling reinforced panels toward the damaged west wing. “But selling you was never about punishment. I think he wanted Alina.”

Her stride broke before she could recover, but she resumed walking. “So he used me as bait too.”

“Again,” Roman added.

I gave him a cold look. He was correct, but there were kinder ways to say it. Unfortunately, Roman had been born without access to most of them. Poor man.

We passed through the second checkpoint. Maksim handed the photo and ledger to the security chief without stopping. “Lock these in the archive. No scans, copies, or electronic records until Roman says so.”

The man took both, head dipping in a controlled nod. “Yes, Pakhan.”

I waited until he moved away before continuing. “Sokolov knew Alina wouldn’t ignore her twin being sold. He expected her to rescue you before the sale. Probably.” I amended when Anika gave me a disbelieving look. “Just go with me for a minute. She did, in fact, follow you and approach us with an offer.”

Anika pushed open the door to the private residential hall. “She offered information in exchange for me.”

“And Sokolov’s men followed her trail straight to our estate.” I hated how neatly that part fit. “He flushed her out without exposing himself. Whether she knew about the attack is another question.”

Roman opened his mouth.

I held up a hand and gave him a warning look. “Yes, I know. Speculation isn’t evidence. Thank you, Roman. You’ve said it enough through the years I hear it in my dreams.”

“You dream about Roman? Aw, that’s so sweet.” Anika gave me a look and made kissing sounds while laughing at me when I gagged.

“At least someone listens to me.” Roman shouldered past me, something that almost sounded like laughter rolling out of his chest.

Anika stopped outside Nora’s room and faced us. The fear she’d held back during the drive came through now, pulling her mouth tight. “So, to sum up. The whole thing was meant to make us run in whatever direction Sokolov wants.”

“Likely.” I kept my voice gentle. “But he made one mistake.”

“Only one?” She borrowed Roman’s phrase from earlier and raised an eyebrow to match.

“He delivered you to us.” I smiled when her expression softened. “Now he has to deal with all four of us.”

“Five.” Maksim reached past her for the door. “Nora is part of this family.”

The words came out with such certainty that Anika stared at him. He didn’t appear to realize what he’d said, or perhaps he did and refused to take it back. Either way, I liked it, and I didn’t correct him that I meant the shit we’d put Sokolov through, not our actual number of family.

The door opened, and Nora stood on the other side in moon-patterned pajamas, her hair a riot of curls.

She blinked up at all of us, then launched herself at Anika. “Mommy!”

Anika dropped to her knees and wrapped both arms around Nora. The body armor made it awkward, and Nora knocked her chin against the hard plate before leaning back with a frown.

“Why are you wearing a turtle shell?” Nora knocked on the vest with her knuckles. “It feels funny.”

“Workplace safety.” Anika kissed both her cheeks. “Did you sleep good?”

“Yep.” Nora’s attention shifted to me. Her eyes widened. “Prince Kirill, your face is hurt. Boy, you get hurt a lot, huh?”