Page 35 of Sinful Scars

“I know.” I sigh, starting to gather my things. “I appreciate you doing this for me Pyotr .”

“Thought you’d want to know you’re not the only one looking into Igor.”

“Why am I not surprised,” I mutter as I pull on my shoes.

“Alexei has multiple men watching Igor’s…interests.”

I straighten, running my fingers through my hair. “Interests?”

“He’s been caught being linked to a few new drug suppliers outside of the city. It looks like he’s expanding.”

“Why would Alexei be interested in that? The Koslovs surely have more than enough business. Is it really worth the effort of going after Igor’s?”

“I haven’t been able to gather much information so far. Mostly just the names of the men he’s using to patrol the shipments. But I’m happy to look into it further if that’s what you need.”

“I think it’s worth looking into. I want to know what Alexei’s up to.”

While money can be enough of a motivator to go after a powerful man like Igor Ivanov, revenge is an even greater one.

Perhaps Alexei is hoping that Igor will give up my location.

It’s clear that the Koslovs have become aware of my involvement in their parents’ deaths, and they will only bide their time for so long. At some point they’re going to want to get their revenge, and I need to know what I’m up against.

If Alexei is planning an attack, I need to make sure I’m ready.

11

ELLE

I wakeup to the sun streaming in through the window, warming my face. For a brief moment, I feel a sense of peace, until the throbbing in my temples takes over, and I groan at the pounding in my head.

“Seriously?” I screw my eyes shut, the sunlight adding to the pain in my head. “How do I feel worse?”

I roll over and bury my face in my pillow, trying to ignore the nail gun that seems to be piercing my brain. After my little show, I was able to fall back to sleep without any trouble and slept more soundly than I have done in weeks. Even before the kidnapping, I don’t think I’ve slept that well, and yet I feel worse for it.

Go figure.

Throwing back the covers, I shuffle into the bathroom and splash some cold water on my face. Glancing in the mirror above the sink, I wince at the shadows under my eyes.

No amount of makeup is going to be able to hide the bruise-like coloring from my cousin, which means, I can look forward to being scolded over lunch.

If I could guarantee that Lucia wouldn’t come storming straight over here demanding to know what was wrong, I would cancel.

After brushing my teeth, I throw my hair up into a ponytail and apply some de-puffing eye cream in the hopes that it will make me look less like a zombie.

“I think I’m fighting a losing battle.” I stare at my appearance.

Heading back into my kitchen, I quickly turn on my coffee machine and gather my various creamers and syrups that would give my Italian Nonna a heart attack.

I fill the pot with water. “I should have done this first.”

I’ve never functioned well on no sleep, and yet I chose a career in healthcare where it’s seen as a badge of honor to work back-to-back twelve-hour shifts surviving on nothing but power naps and caffeine.

While my coffee is brewing, I grab my phone off the breakfast bar to see if Lucia’s messaged me.

I can’t thank Mikhail enough for getting my phone back to me. His concern for me makes me miss my own brother, the one I barely got to know before he was taken in the house fire, but I’m grateful that I even have people who care. For so long, it was just me and my Nonna, and I often dreamed of having the sort of family unit that the Koslovs have provided for me.

My throat grows thick with emotion, but before the tears have a chance to start welling in my eyes, a familiar gold chain laid out on the counter calls my attention.

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