Page 84 of Ruthless Daddies

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DMITRI

“We’re wasting time,” Nikolai mutters, breaking the silence. “Whoever the mole is, they’re still out there, feeding Vadim everything they can.”

Ivan’s jaw tightens, his sharp gaze locking on Nikolai. “And you think barking about it will make them fall into our lap?”

I snort softly, pushing off the window. “He’s not wrong, though. Whoever it is, they’ve been too precise, too calculated. Someone close is playing both sides.”

Nikolai pauses mid-step, his expression dark. “You’re saying it’s someone in the house?”

“Someone who knows our moves,” I say, my tone grim. “It’s not just Staten Island. Every hit Vadim’s pulled has been one step ahead of us. That’s not coincidence.”

Ivan’s fingers drum against the desk, the sound sharp and deliberate. “I don’t deal in speculation. If you have proof, bring it. Otherwise, this is just paranoia.”

I exchange a glance with Nikolai.

None of us want to admit it, but the cracks in our foundation are starting to show.

A sharp knock at the door cuts through the silence.

Ivan straightens, his brows furrowing. “Come in.”

The door opens slowly, and Alice stands on the other side.

She hesitates just inside the doorway, her eyes darting between us as if gauging the temperature.

For a moment, I wonder how long she’s been standing there, how much she’s heard. But I quickly shove the thought aside. I’m not going to question her. Not now.

“Alice,” Ivan says, his tone softer but still carrying that unmistakable edge. “What is it?”

Her gaze flicks to me, then to Nikolai, before landing on Ivan. “I need to talk to you,” she says, her voice steady but tinged with urgency. “All of you.”

Nikolai raises an eyebrow, his pacing halting as he leans against the wall. Ivan gestures for her to continue, his expression unreadable.

Alice takes a breath, clasping her hands together. “It’s about Sergei.”

Ivan stiffens immediately, his arms uncrossing as his expression hardens. Nikolai’s easy stance evaporates.

“What about Sergei?” Ivan asks.

“I think…” She pauses, glancing at me again as if searching for an ally, before squaring her shoulders. “I think he might know more than he’s letting on.”

Ivan’s eyes narrow, and the room seems to grow colder. “Be careful, Alice,” he says slowly, his voice like a blade. “You’re treading on dangerous ground. Sergei has been loyal to this family for decades. I’ve known him longer than you’ve been alive.”

“I know,” Alice replies quickly. “I’m not accusing him of anything. I’m telling you what I’ve noticed, what I’ve found.”

“What have you found?” I ask.

“It’s…a feeling,” she says. I see the exact moment she changes course. There’s something she isn’t saying.

“You want me to question the loyalty of a man I’ve trusted for decades because of afeeling?” Ivan demands.

“It’s more than that,” she insists. “There’s something off about him. The way he acts, the way he?—”

Ivan cuts her off with a sharp gesture, his jaw tightening. “You’re walking a dangerous line, Alice. Be very careful about what you say next.”

Her lips press together, and for a second, I wonder if she’s going to crack. But she doesn’t. She lifts her chin, meeting his gaze head-on.

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