Page 92 of Shadows of Obsession

When I enter the bedroom, it's his scent of orange and something woody that relaxes the tension in my muscles. I'm safe here.For now,whispers the omniscient voice in my head.

Chapter 31

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Roman

After visiting the destroyed warehouse and talking to Gant, the police chief, about ‘losing’ details from his report, my attention turns to the two guards who swear they saw nothing.

My hand goes to one's throat, and I start questioning him through gritted teeth.

"Look, buddy, I haven't had a good day and I can't wait to stick my knife in someone's spleen. HOW THE HELL DID YOU NOT SEE ANYTHING?" My shout is loud enough to shake the ground we’re standing on.

"I swear we didn't see anything. The cameras were working. Suddenly we found the whole warehouse in flames."

I search his face. One of the reasons I'm such an effective pakhan is because of my ability to detect when I'm being lied to or when I'm being told the truth. Something in what he said makes me pull back. When Niko told me earlier who the mole was, part of me refused to believe it. Now the pieces seem to fall into place. I just need one confirmation.

I release the guard from my grip, spinning around and stalking to the car where Niko waits. As I pull onto the street, heading toward our old barn storehouse on the outskirts of town, I look at him.

"Denis?" I ask for the tenth time.

"Ro, you know as well as I do that I wish the evidence didn't point to him, but Lev confirmed the transactions. That money for the driver came from his account. Plus this whole thing with the warehouse. Denis knows where all the cameras are."

Niko's jaw clenches, a muscle twitching beneath the skin as his eyes narrow to steel-gray slits. Until a few days ago, he was encouraging me to give our cousin more responsibility. The implications, had I followed through on that, are catastrophic. Something in his features changes, and I know what he wants to say.

"You couldn't have known, Niko. Stop blaming yourself for others' betrayal," I say, but I’m not convinced we have the whole story.

Denis has always been ambitious but never to this point. He always wanted to make us proud, to show that he could handle more work. Signing a deal with the Irish seems extreme. And for what? Money? I know how much money he makes with us—he's a multimillionaire. Power? I don't think Devin would trust him enough to give him any high position.

"Something doesn't add up here, Niko."

Anton has been notified, and I know he's already bringing Denis to the storehouse. Instinct tells me to study his face when I accuse him. If his look betrays him and I see even the slightest trace of guilt, I'll know instantly that he sold us out to the Irish.

?

When we arrive, we find Anton smoking outside, and he seems to have aged ten years in the last few days. He gives me a short nod, confirming Denis is inside. I asked him not to tie him up. I want to talk to him first.

When I open the door, I find him leaning against a table, arms crossed. The moment our eyes meet, I read surprise and frustration on his face but not a trace of guilt.

Maybe he enjoyed betraying us.

"Ro, is Luna okay?" he asks, and the mere fact that he says her name when there's a possibility that he's the one who sent Devin's cousin after her is enough to make me lose my calm.

"I'm going to ask you something, and you better look me in the eye when you answer." I spit the words through my teeth.

He frowns, looking confused, but I also know how well a man can hide what he feels.

"Did you transfer the money to the driver who was supposed to take the weapons to Cancun?" I ask and hold my breath, studying his reaction.

His eyes go wide and he instinctively puts his hand to his chest.

"What? Are you crazy? NO!"

And I read everything I need to know on his face, and although I don't know all the details, it's enough. I rush toward him, and he doesn't back away when my fists start hitting his face.

Niko jumps to stop me, but when I turn to him, I know exactly what he sees in my gaze. Roman isn't here now. It's time to let my demons loose.

"Prepare the chains," I order Niko.

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