Page 96 of Ruthless Bonds

Now, I just had to figure out how the hell to get the damn thing open. I flipped on the light switch and froze.

A chill ran down my spine when I stepped further into the room.

The safe was open.

How could that be possible?

Kreos would never be that careless.

Was this some type of trap?

I took a tentative step forward, gasped when I saw Sasha lying on the carpet in the middle of the room. Something didn’t look right. I hurried over and kneeled down.

“Sasha?” I whispered.

When she didn’t stir, I pushed her gently, but still she wasn’t getting up. Fear gripped my insides as I wiggled her some more, but she wasn’t moving. My gaze swept over her form, not finding any visible wounds or injuries.

I rubbed her belly, relief washing over me when I realized she was breathing. But something wasn’t right. “Come on,kuritsa, get up.” Her collar seemed too tight around her neck, and I unclasped it, shoving it into my back pocket.

There was movement behind me, and I turned with a gasp. Nadya stood by the door, her eyes wide.

“Oh, Nadya, you startled me. Something’s wrong with Sasha. I think we need a vet.” Kreos would be heartbroken if anything happened to her and he wasn’t there.

Nadya limped over and kneeled next to me. She placed her ear near her head, then shook her. “I think she’s just sleeping, Mrs. Zokrova. Too many treats, probably.”

I clenched my jaw, willing myself not to snap at her. “Nadya, this isn’t normal. She’s not moving at all.”

“Hm, odd.” Nadya lifted Sasha’s eyelids, then tried shaking her body again.

“Do you know who was in here? The Pakhan’s safe is open and he definitely wouldn’t do that. Was Gavriil here?”

She gave me an odd look, then stood. “Nobody was here, Mrs. Zokrova. We should call the vet.” She walked over to the door, but instead of calling out for help or leaving, she shut it, sealing us both inside the room.

Goosebumps spread over my body, and I tried to figure out what I was missing. Kreos and his men weren’t here. The safe was open, and Sasha was out cold.

Nadya’s shadow fell over me, and I glanced up from Sasha. My gaze landed on Nadya’s ankle, and my heart raced wildly. She and Anya were usually dressed in the house uniform of black stockings and a dress with an apron. For the first time since she’d walked into the room, my mind registered that she was dressed differently. Jeans and tennis shoes.

And on the inside of her right ankle was a smalltattoo. Maze-like vines formed a circle, with little stars throughout. On the inside were the initials “L.H.V.”

The coin.

Loyalty, Honor, Victory.

My head shot up, my eyes drawn to the object in her hand, which she had lifted over her head.

“You,” I whispered.

“This is going to hurt a little,” was the last thing she said before she hit me on the side of the head.

The room spun as I tipped over; everything went black.

*** ***

I woke with a gasp, a metallic taste in my mouth. My head throbbed like I had gotten hit with a bat.

Oh, maybe that was because Nadya was the damn mole and had tried to kill me?

My gaze traveled around the room I was in, and I realized I was in some type of old wine cellar, but not one I recognized. There were bottles scattered on the ground. Some were full, others were empty and broken, with shards of glass everywhere. It was as if someone had been drinking down here, then had a tantrum. The air was heavy with moisture and must, a suffocating sensation. Off to the side was an old wheelbarrow, like one might use for gardening. There was dust and grime everywhere.

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