Page 120 of Inked Athena

The women are in their respective rooms, and I can practically feel the icy chill of Nova’s mood rippling throughout the castle air.

She might as well be standing behind me, whispering her last words in my ear again and again.

I need some air. One more breath of outside before you lock us all back in the cages you love so much.

I had a nightmare in the few short hours I slept last night. Nova, on the other side of a veil I couldn’t reach through, gasping and choking as the oxygen drained from her lungs.

I couldn’t save her, no matter how hard I tried.

I wrench my attention back to the screens. It’s a bloodbath in every corner of the Litvinov territory. No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to get an upper hand anywhere. Katerina and Ilya, backed by the might and reach of the Andropovs and with a sizable head start, are too much to overcome.

Myles raps his knuckles on the cracked door. When I nod, he slips in and shuts it behind him. There’s a sheaf of papers in his hand.

“Check it out.” Myles tosses a photo onto my desk. “Surveillance caught this at Heathrow two hours ago.”

My throat tightens. The grainy image shows my father’s unmistakable profile, his broad shoulders stooped with age. And next to him—a baseball cap pulled low, but I’d know that arrogant strut anywhere.

Ilya.

“Facial recognition to confirm?” I keep my voice level despite the rage bubbling beneath my skin.

“Ninety-two percent match on both.” Myles spreads out three more photos. Different angles. Different timestamps. Same conclusion. “They’re traveling under Venezuelan passports. Our contact at MI6 confirms Ilya booked a suite at the Connaught under the same alias.”

I lean back, steepling my fingers. “Father never stays anywhere but Claridge’s.”

“Already have a team watching both hotels, just in case.”

The pieces click into place. Ilya choosing London—taunting me by being close enough to strike and yet utterly untouchable. Taking Father there when he should be resting at his dacha. The synchronized attacks across my holdings.

“He’s making his move.” I stand, energy thrumming through my veins. “Get Vladimir and his crew on the next flight to England. I want our best hunters on this.”

“And you?”

“Have a chopper ready in thirty.” I check my watch. “But I need ten minutes with Nova first.”

Myles nods and heads for the door, then pauses. “Sam. What if this is another trap?”

“Then we spring it.” I bare my teeth in what might pass for a smile. “And this time, we make sure my dear brother doesn’t walk away.”

He doesn’t look convinced. “You’re sure?”

“He threatened my family, Myles. He threatenedus.”I clear my throat. “There are no more questions left worth asking.”

My best friend shifts his weight from foot to foot, exhaling wearily. His face is drawn long and haggard, bags under his eyes looking bigger and grayer than I’ve ever seen them before. “This goes without saying, but Nova’s already worried sick about?—”

“Nova is—” Her name catches in my throat. In my mind’s eye, I see her standing in the doorway earlier, belly peeking out from beneath the hem of her shirt, eyes wide with fear when I ordered her out.

The cages you love so much.

I shake my head. “Don’t talk to me about Nova. Nova needs me to end this. Now. Before our child is born into a world where Ilya can reach them.”

“Copy that.” Myles pulls out his phone. “I’ll tell Vlad to bring down the?—”

My phone vibrates against the mahogany desktop. The screen lights up with an incoming call.

From, of all people…

Ilya.

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