Page 39 of Dark Embers

“Sabrina Craft!” I say through gritted teeth on the edge of ploughing my fists into the man’s stoic face.

“We see no one,” Scarface tells me. “She probably go out window. We did not see her.”

“Ru is going to be mad about the little one,” I hear the one without the scar whisper to his brother.

“What did you say?” I step in front of them.

“My brother said nothing.” Scarface stands almost nose to nose with me and in that moment I’m sure these men are either Russian military or some rival Russian Bratva fresh off the boat from Russia as well if their clothes and demeanor are anything to go by.

“Get them to Gunner. I want to know everything he can extract from these bastards,” I order.

They nod and carry on walking the men down the stairs.

I’m already pulling out my phone as I step back into Sabrina’s apartment.

“You sure you’re okay?” Ivan says, righting some furniture and putting cushions back on the living room chairs and sofa.

“I’m good. You need to go ensure Syd and Lev get those bastards to Gunner,” I order.

Ivan nods. “Okay. Call if you need us.”

“I will,” I assure him. “And make sure Gunner or Syd don’t kill them.” Although I don’t really care, but they know something about Tara Craft and I want to know what.

As Ivan leaves I dial Sam. “Sam,” I say the second he answers.

“You got them?”

“Yeah. The Russians, and itwasthe twins.”

“Good. Don’t kill them until I get a crack at them as I need answers.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“Are Sabrina and the baby okay?”

I hesitate. “They’re not here. But her window’s open. I think she might have gone out there as the fire ladder is down.”

There’s a pause. Then Sam says, “Good girl.”

“Where would she go?” I ask him.

“Are you in her room?” Sam asks.

“No, should I be?”

“Go into her room,” Sam tells me and I go where I stand and stare out her window expecting him to tell me there was a ledge or some little escape pod she was hiding in.

“I’m here and standing by her window.”

“Turn around and face the closet.”

I do. “Yeah?”

“In between the closest is a white panel.”

“I see it.”

“In the right closet, middle shelf near the back of it you’ll feel a small lever. Push and as soon as the fake panel between the closets opens, say purple porcupine.”

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