Page 58 of Dark Embers

Kirill’s eyes darken. “Then bring me Sam Winters.”

“He’s not here either,” Sabrina says. “You’ll have to deal with me.”

“I don’t deal with nobodies,” Kirill says with a sneer. “Your sister has our nephew and we want him back.” His eyes meet mine blazing with a threat. “The Dragon won’t be happy with this. About you aligning with the enemy. He’s your nephew too.”

I step closer, voice like ice. “Are you threatening me?”

“I’m warning you. Find our nephew—or the alliance between our family dies.”

“Why do you want to speak to my mother?” Sabrina presses. “She doesn’t know where Tara went.”

“Doesn’t she?” Kirill’s words drip with venom. “Your mother is full of lies. Maybe if she’d told the truth years ago, Irina would still be alive.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Sabrina’s voice breaks.

“While your sister may not have planted the car bomb—she’s the reason it was planted.”

His words echo in my head like a detonation and before I erupt physically, I bark, “That’s enough.” My hand tightens around his throat. “Tell us why do you want to speak with Carla Craft?” I growl.

He just stares at me with a smug smile as if daring me to take a swing.

“Tell me,” I add, “or I’ll let Gunner interrogate your brother. Let’s see how long he stays quiet.”

“Stephan won’t talk.”

“We’ll see.”

Gunner grins and heads for the door. “I’ll bring him in and then let you watch.” His eyes hold Kirill’s.

“You’ll regret this,” Kirill calls after him. “The Dragon won’t forgive it.”

“The Dragon answers to me,” I reply.

Kirill chuckles, eyes gleaming. “Keep telling yourself that, mighty Mirochin. Things have changed over the past eight months. You’ve just been too distracted to notice it.”

What the fuck does that mean?“Take him back to his cell,” I snap.

“I was hoping you’d want me to take him to the alligator farm.” Gunner sighs like a disappointed child. “But, sure, boss.” He grabs Kirill and hauls him out.

Sabrina’s voice breaks the silence. “I need to call my mom. I think… I think I was right. Maybe she did steal Tara.”

She bolts from the room and I follow, catching up with her in the parking garage as she paces, phone pressed to her ear. She pulls it away and shakes it. “Why isn’t she answering?”

“Sabrina, breathe.”

She doesn’t stop. “He said—if my mom had told the truth—his sister would be alive. What does that mean, Oleksi? Why would my sister take their child? What the fuck is going on?”

Her voice cracks. The tears come, and I catch her before she collapses. Her fingers curl into my shirt, her body trembling.

“We’ll find out,” I whisper. “I promise. We’ll get to the bottom of this—together.”

I hold her tight, feeling the weight of every unanswered question press down on both of us.

“Come on,” I say finally. “Let’s go upstairs. Have a drink. Call your mother. Elena’s probably back by now, wondering where we are.”

We step into the elevator, and for the first time since this nightmare began, I feel something shift. Like we’ve crossed a threshold. And there’s no going back.

CHAPTER 22

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