Page 14 of Sinful Embers

“According to Luca, they are.” I recount what Luca told me. “His father wouldn’t tell them where they could find Mark, so they killed him.”

“Are you sure they were looking for Mark?” Nikolas’s words make my chest tighten.

My heart slams against my ribcage as I remember Daniil’s words from the truck ambush: He wants the golden key, the journals, and Dalton.

“Fuck!” I hiss, locking eyes with Nikolas. “They weren’t your mother’s men, were they?” My fists clench, and I slam one against the desk, making Sabrina jump. “They’re Carlos’s. And the Dalton they were after wasn’t Mark—it was Leigh.”

I glance at the screen again, another memory hitting me like a freight train. “I actually saw that tattoo on a few of the men who ambushed us after the truck heist.”

“So, they are with Carlos.” Nikolas’s voice is calm, but there’s a dangerous edge to it. He stares at the screen, his eyes narrowing. “They leave as soon as Leigh bolts through the door.”

“Yes, I noticed that.” I frown, my gaze flicking between Nikolas and the footage. “What I don’t understand is, if they were following her, why not take her then?” My voice sharpens. “Leigh ducked around the back streets and lay low for quite a while before trying to get to the Golden Lights.” I turn to Sabrina. “At least, that’s where my men presumed she was going to find you.”

“Maybe they were hoping she’d lead them to the journals?” Sabrina offers, her eyes narrowing as she studies the screen again. “I don’t think those men are Greek.”

“They’re not.” Nikolas looks up from the laptop, his tone grim. “That tattoo is on both men’s necks. You can’t see it aswell on the other guy, but the tip of one of the hydra’s heads is visible.”

“Isn’t the hydra from Greek mythology?” I ask, a flicker of memory surfacing. If I recall correctly, the hydra lived in the swampy waters of Lerna near some ancient city in Greece, and it was slain by Heracles. “Didn’t Heracles shoot it with poison arrows and then cut off its head or something like that?”

“Basically.” Sabrina nods and points to the screen. “But those two men are not Greek.” She glances at Nikolas for confirmation. “They look more Russian to me.”

Alarmed, my eyes dart back to the screen. A fleeting memory taunts me. “Russian?” The word tastes bitter on my tongue. I look to Nikolas. “Is she right?”

He nods slowly, his jaw clenched, his expression unreadable. “They are. And that tattoo means Carlos isn’t here alone this time. He’s brought backup.”

The weight of his words hangs in the air, heavy and foreboding.

Chapter 5

RADOMIR

Sabrina and I gape at Nikolas.

“The Hydra symbolizes the multi-faceted nature of the organization. The Hydra perched on a mountain of gold represents their ultimate goal—total dominance,” Nikolas explains. He picks up one of Sabrina’s pens and approaches the board, his movements sharp with purpose. Beneath Ice Man, he writes Zolotaya Gidra. “The Hydra on the mountain symbolizes their ambition—global dominance in the underworld, corporate world, and militaries.”

He sketches the tattoo with practiced ease, labeling it as he speaks. “The Hydra and the gold represent the alliance of Greek and Russian powerhouses. Together, they’re unstoppable.”

“A mix of Russian and Greek.” My eyes narrow at the board.

“Like you and Leigh.” Sabrina glances at me before addressing Nikolas. “You’re not exaggerating about the world dominance thing, are you?”

“I’m afraid not,” Nikolas says, his tone grim. “And Leigh and Radomir are right at the nexus of it all.” He gestures towardthe board. “At first, I thought Carlos was just after Leigh. I can imagine why he and his Russian would want her. But then again, what happened ten years ago never quite made sense to me either.” He frowns, the tension etched across his face.

“Why did you mention ten years ago?” Sabrina asks before I can.

Nikolas meets my eyes, and his words hit like a sledgehammer. “Carlos was there the night your father, uncle, and Vivienne were killed.”

“You mean here in Vegas?” My heart slams against my ribs, hope mingling with dread. Does Nikolas actually know something about that night?

“No.” He shakes his head, his gaze shadowed. “I mean in the dungeon beneath the Diamond Hotel, where your father, uncle, and Vivienne were killed.”

A chill snakes down my spine, and Sabrina gasps beside me.

“How would you know that?” The roar in my ears drowns out my thoughts. For ten years, all I’ve heard is: We’re not sure—the video feed was wiped clean, everything erased. Only a professional would’ve pulled off something so meticulous. My eyes narrow on Nikolas. “You were there, weren’t you?”

“I came to get Leigh and your mother,” Nikolas replies, his tone even. “I wasn’t there when your father, uncle, or Vivienne were killed.”

“What the fuck, Uncle Nik!” Sabrina blurts. “Leigh?”

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