Page 60 of The Pakhan

“You might be surprised. Go ahead and search the room carefully. Don’t leave. Do you understand?” I’d lowered my voice but needed her to understand I was dead serious. In the last few seconds, a strange sense of foreboding had positioned itself in the forefront of my mind. It was something I didn’t like in the least.

“Don’t worry, boy toy. I’ll be a very good girl.” She launched herself off me, even blowing me a kiss before providing Aleksander with one of her signature and more vengeful looks. As she walked away, I was forced to take a deep breath.

There wasn’t a single man who wasn’t watching her far too intently, hungering for what belonged to me.

“Wow,” Aleksander half whispered. “That is one interesting woman.”

He was choosing his words carefully. “Yes, she is.” I took a step toward the direction she’d gone and my jaw automatically clenched. I noticed Sergei close and nodded for him. Both he and Maxim had stayed inside the room, doing their best to blend in, although given both men’s statures, it was almost impossible not to stick out.

I sensed Aleks had noticed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

I grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, trying to act nonchalant while scanning the entire room. “Who are those men?”

It took my counselor a few seconds to figure out who I was talking about. “You don’t remember Stefano’s sons? The third guy is the man’s enforcer, a highly trained assassin.”

While Aleksander wasn’t usually caught in the violence of our world given his profession, he was highly skilled himself and knew what to look for.

“Why would Stefano bring his sons to this particular event?” I was asking the question more in passing. For grandstanding. However, Stefano never did anything without specific reasons. Did I detect some apprehension?

Sergei approached. “I thought you’d be asking for me. Stefano has his spawn here. They’re paying close attention to what the governor is doing.”

It would seem I hadn’t paid enough attention to the two young men. Or I hadn’t cared.

“Interesting. Check with the others and do a serious sweep of the room. I have a feeling something terrible is going down.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll keep you informed.”

“And have the car ready to leave if necessary.” A valet had taken it somewhere in the bowels of the building and the hold-up in attempting to get it if something went down would be costly.

“You got it, boss.”

Aleksander shifted in front of me. “What aren’t you telling me?’

“I have a bad feeling. Why would Stefano bring both his sons to this event and ensure his men are heavily armed?”

“Maybe the better question is why would Governor Chipino allow it.”

“Because he’s playing one side versus the other. And I don’t like it. I suggest you leave the illustrious party.”

“And miss all the action? That’s not going to happen. Let me see if I can rally up some information from other sources for us.”

“Fine. Just be careful.”

As soon as he walked away, I reassessed the room.

Soldiers knew how to flank all sides without appearing as if that’s what they were doing. Once they did, all exits were cut off without their permission. The military move also allowed for additional men to position themselves if and when necessary.

Why did it feel as if we were sitting ducks?

CHAPTER 16

Caroline

Games.

Yes, I was good at them. I’d learned how to shoot hoops and crack a bat against a ball to try to fit in. It hadn’t worked. My father hadn’t batted an eye, always too busy.

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