Page 86 of Silenced

Maybe he did.

Maybe he ruined me because thatwas…

God.

It was…

I—

We—

Thatwas everything.

And I don’t think I’ll ever see sex in the same light again.

CHAPTERTWENTY

A little bird has revealed that the Kentuckian Albanians are experiencing a coup worthy of the end of the Romanov dynasty. The Çelas have reigned over Kentucky for over seven decades, but it seems as if their time is coming to an end.

Sources say that Altin Marku, the heir apparent, has recently gone missing. Without him, Çela is adrift in the face of extinction. With his daughter missing, long presumed dead, and hisfifthwife still not able to pop out another heir, trouble has been brewing since Elena’s disappearance.

Something Adrianu Kadare is willing to exploit.

The Komandant, known for his ability to procure any drug at the buyer’s request so long as the price is right, has set his sights on the leadership position.

From the recent deluge of Albanian corpses in morgues, lines have already been drawn in the sand.

Don’t let me sayI told you sowhen Kadare takes over…

It’ll be the dawn of a new day for Kentucky if that’s the case.

The Çelas have always focused on horse racing and gambling. With Kadare at the helm, the Bluegrass State will undoubtedly see a surge in drug use.

The Kentucky police departments should start preparing for the war that’s heading their way.

If they don’t, well…

21

NIKOLAI

“Myata called.”

Despite myself, I snort.

Dmitri huffs. “You’re not the one she calls.”

“Because she knows what would happen if she did,” I retort, fingers flying with the words as I deride, “You’re too soft with the women.”

He sniffs. “She’s Pavlivshev’s daughter.”

“So? Pavlivshev servesme, not the other way around. It’s not my fault she’s looking for a wedding ring she’ll never get.”

“She probably thought she would, seeing as he’s the only high-ranking Brigadier with an unwed daughter.” He clears his throat. “You’re not taking her to the party?”

I never attend with a date.

Ever.

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