Page 42 of Wicked Embers

I see her phone is already drawn to her ear and she turns to talk to the emergency services.

“Mark!” I shake him, and he flops around like a ragdoll.

“Attic…” he barely manages to whisper before passing out.

“Fuck!” I stand and slam my fists into the door, sending it banging closed.

“Rude!” Gavriil barks from the other side of the door, pushing it open again and storming into the office. Coming to a stop when he sees Dalton. “Did you kill him?” His eyes look at me accusingly.

“Right now, I would love to throttle the fucking bastard.” I turn to Viktor. “Get someone to go with Mark to the hospital. If he survives, put guards on him 24/7. Do the same for Daniil. I don’t care what you have to tell the hospital.”

Viktor nods.

“Holy crap!” Gavriil’s eyes scan the room. “This looks as bad as your office in the penthouse.”

“What time is Carla on tonight?” I start leaving the office.

“She’s on early tonight, so in two hours.” Gavriil follows me.

“Good. Time enough to change and grab something to eat.” I turn to Judy. “Get this cleaned up and someone into Dalton’s room. Look for anything that will give us a clue as to who did that to his room or him. There has to be a third person here at the hotel, and it’s probably a man.”

She nods, calling after us, “Get your head looked at.”

Gavriil and I head for the penthouse.

“What the fuck is going on, Rad?” Gavriil asks as we step into the elevator.

“The sins of our fathers are catching up to us, and somehow, Mark Dalton is in the middle of it all.” My jawclenches. “If this is about him stealing another man’s wife, I swear, I’ll cut his fucking cock off”

“Love is a powerful thing.” Gavriil pats me on the back. “Wars have been fought over it. History is full of stories about it.”

“No, that was more like obsession, power struggles, and the fight for control.”

“Exactly!”

His words have my brows rising at the double meaning.

Chapter 16

LEIGH

I wake to a soft knock at the door, a sound that feels far too gentle for the reality I’m trapped in. For a moment, I’m disoriented, my mind still foggy from sleep, and it takes me a few seconds to process where I am.

My fingers brush against the silk sheets, the fabric cool and smooth against my skin, and I roll over, half-expecting to find Radomir. But the space beside me is empty.

My heart stutters for a brief second as the memory of the pool encounter floods my mind. I pull the sheet over my body as if it can shield me from the uncertainty gnawing at the pit of my stomach. The knock comes again. I blink a few times, trying to clear the lingering fog, and call out.

“Come in,” my voice sounds rough, still raw from sleep.

The door opens, and to my surprise, it’s not one of Radomir’s men, but Tracy, her blonde hair pulled back into a simple ponytail, wearing a soft, gray dress that looks practicalyet elegant. She smiles at me, a little nervous, but there’s warmth in her eyes as she steps inside.

“Radomir asked me to trade places with one of the housekeepers,” she says, her voice soft with an underlying kindness in it. “He thought you seemed to like me, and I was happy to help.”

I nod, sitting up slightly and pulling the sheet tighter around me.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I say, forcing a smile, though it doesn’t quite reach my eyes.

“Dinner is almost ready,” Tracy continues. “Would you like me to run you a bath, or would you prefer to shower after your meal?”

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