Page 41 of Wicked Embers

“Boss!” Viktor’s voice booms from behind Judy, interrupting us. She turns, and I see her shoulders sag with relief when she sees him. “Judy.” He smiles at her before turning back to me. His eyes are dark with concern.

“Did you find Dalton?”

“No.” He shakes his head. “His room had been ransacked, and someone was hurt. There’s blood pooled on the floor and stained on the walls.”

“That’s Dalton’s room and my penthouse office that has been ransacked!” My eyes land on Judy. “How did this happen? Where is my hotel security?”

“They were attending to the intruder in your office,” Judy informs me.

“What the fuck!” My jaw clenches. I address Judy. “Who’s in my penthouse now?”

“Gavriil and one of his men,” Judy informs him. “He came to fetch you for your meeting at the Ember Club.”

“Crap!” I hiss, running my hand through my hair and heading back toward my office with Viktor and Judy following me. “Viktor, find Dalton and get Gunner and Temur extra hands so they can start interrogating those Greek fuckers.” My jaw is so tight now I fear I might crack my molars. “The truck and ambush were just distractions to infiltrate the hotel.” My eyes narrow further. “How the fuck did they infiltrate the Diamond?”

Judy’s face is grim as she fiddles with her tablet and shows me the footage. “They were already here. It was two hotel staff.”

My eyes widen in disbelief. “Jesus. These two women have been here for what… eleven to twelve years!”

“Isn’t that Daniil’s sister?” Viktor asks, his eyes flashing with anger. “I knew it. He and his sister are working with the Greeks.”

“Fuck!” My brow creases tightly, and my head starts to spin. I hand the tablet back to Judy. “Where are they?”

“Dead!” Judy’s words make my anger erupt.

“For fuck’s sake!” Now I want to punch something or someone. “How?”

“Took their own lives when they were caught,” Judy answers. “Just before they did, they sent messages from their burner phones to an untraceable number. Both the messages said:tipota.”

“That’s not Russian.”

“No, it’s Greek,” Judy informs me. “According to a translation app, it means nothing.”

A cold feeling creeps up my spine. Daniil said the Monarch was looking for books and a gold key. That could be what these two bitches were looking for. They must think because Mark works and lives at the Diamond Hotel the items are hidden here.

“I want Dalton found. He has a lot of explaining to do!” My phone rings. I look at the number, and my heart jolts. It’s Dolph.Shit! Leigh. I hope those fucking bastards haven’t tried to hit the estate. “Dolph,” I answer. “Is everything okay?”

“I was just phoning to let you know that I’ve doubled the canine unit to patrol the grounds at the estate and secured it—we are officially in fortress mode,” Dolph reports. “I’m personally on Leigh watch.”

“Thank you.” My attention is drawn as Viktor steps into my office and sucks in his breath. “Keep me informed and get someone to watch my office at the estate.”

“Fuck me!” Viktor breathes as I hang up. He turns to me. “I’ve found Dalton.”

I walk into my office. The place is a disaster—there’s blood smeared across the floor. Books have been thrown off the shelves. All the drawers and closet doors open with the contents dumped out. My desk looks like a hurricane hit it. I step past Viktor, and my heart pounds as I see Mark slumped in a chair, a knife wound in his stomach.

“Fuck! Is he alive?” I rush over, pressing two fingers to his neck. The pulse is faint, but it’s there. “Dalton. Wake up.” I slap his face lightly, trying to try rouse him.

“Want me to get some ice water?” Viktor’s voice is unemotional.

Mark’s eyes flutter open, unfocused. “Protect… Leigh… gold key at…” His head flops, and his eyes close.

My grip tightens and I give him a shake. “What does that mean, Mark? What journals are they looking for?”

“Sabrina…” he murmurs, fighting to stay conscious. “Song… book…”

“Jesus Christ, Mark, what the fuck are you rambling on about!” I glance at Viktor. “Get the ice.”

“Radomir!” Judy hisses. “No! He needs to get to the hospital.”

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