Page 46 of Sinful Embers

“We’ll call as soon as we know what’s going on in Russia,” Viktor adds.

“The team is ready to move in,” Nikolas says, his voice slightly raised as if alarmed and then they sign off.

The moment the call ends, my phone buzzes.

I answer.

“This is Alpha Team 4477,” a clipped voice informs me. “We need you and Miss Craft to remain where you are. We’re about to storm the house. Be advised—our teams have the place surrounded, and snipers are positioned strategically.”

Beside me, Sabrina lets out a low hiss. “Jesus. That’s a bit overkill.”

“No, it’s not. Not when you’re dealing with a man like Oleksi,” I tell her. My heart is slamming against my ribs, and my instincts want to jump in to protect my cousin while my mind want’s to rip into him. “Nikolas knows what his team is capable of. And he knows Oleksi.”

Before I can think further, the front door bursts open.

In an instant, the house floods with men dressed in black tactical gear, moving like a wave of controlled chaos.

Sabrina and I are immediately held in place by two of the team while the others spread out, clearing every inch of the house.

The raid lasts minutes.

Then the Alpha of the team approaches, his eyes sharp, his expression lethal. “Where are they?”

His tone isn’t a question—it’s a demand.

Sabrina answers first. “Oleksi went to shower. Clyde was in his room. Syd was probably in the shower with Oleksi.” She rattles off the last part, her tone laced with sarcasm.

“They’re not here.” The Alpha Leader’s eyes narrow. “Where are they?”

“Did you check under the bed?” Sabrina drawls. “Or in the closet?”

“Miss Craft, if we for one second think you’ve helped the fugitive escape we’ll have no option but to detain you,” Alpha Leader obviously had no sense of humor and if he lays a hand on my friend I rip his goddamn arm off. “Where are they?”

Frustration flares in my chest. “How the fuck should we know?” I seethe. My fists clench, my anger barely leashed. “They must’ve heard Nikolas on the phone.”

“How?” Sabrina glances around. “There was no one else here.”

“We had just finished a video call with him.” My voice is sharp. “Then you burst in here. There’s no way they got out that fucking fast.”

“They could’ve been lurking.” The Alpha Leader’s gaze darken with suspicion.

A tense silence.

Then Sabrina’s expression shifts, realization dawning in her eyes.

“Unless one of them was lurking while we were on that call.” She turns to me, her voice quiet but urgent. “They could’ve overheard us.”

The Alpha Leader steps away, his expression grim as he speaks into his radio.

“Targets are not on-site. Repeat—Oleksi, Syd, and Clyde are gone.”

A crackle of static, then another voice cuts through.

Nikolas.

“Secure Radomir and Sabrina. Take them to the safe site. They are not to be left alone.”

My blood turns ice cold.

---