Page 206 of Inferno

Venom drips from her voice.

“Hold up.” Finn cuts through the tension, casual like it’s just strategy, not the fucking air I breathe we’re gambling with. “We offer a deal. Doesn’t mean we actually follow through.”

My gaze snaps to him. “A setup?”

Mikhail nods once. “We have locations. Resources. People. Between Moscow, Vegas, New York…”

My mind races. She’s not going back to that man. Not on my watch.

And if this goes sideways, I know her. She’ll sacrifice herself without hesitation.

“I’m not risking Charlotte.”

She’s already pushing back her chair. That spark in her eyes of pure rage, the kind of fight that both infuriates and seduces me.

“I’m not staying here.”

“You think I can’t make you?” I speak it low. Deadly.

She stiffens.

“You wouldn’t dare.” Her voice shakes, but not from fear. From fury.

I stand, towering over her, every inch of me ready to dominate.

“Oh, I fucking would.”

Her breath catches. And just like that, she’s seconds away from throwing a punch or tearing my clothes off. Probably both.

“Enough eye-fucking,” Conan snaps.

We pull apart. Barely. I’m still burning.

“I’ll call Drago. We plan this right.”

“Who’s at the complex?” Enzo asks.

“Vlad, Emil, and Emil’s son,” Charlotte replies. Her tone is all business.

“And Tatiana?” Enzo questions.

She shakes her head.

“No. I’m kept away from her. She lives in her own compound somewhere hidden.”

Enzo hums, deep in thought.

“Too risky.” Enzo shakes his head. “Two innocent kids. And the off chance of hurting Tatiana? That’s a suicide pact.”

He looks at Charlotte. “We fake the deal. A clean swap. Then we intercept. Can you do it?”

I want to rip his tongue out for asking. But she says yes. Of course she does.

My heart cracks, the sound of it loud in my own head. Finn nudges my shoulder. “Let’s get Drago in. Hang tight, brother.”

“Your daughter must come first. Listen to Charlotte. You can’t cage a mother’s spirit. We need her,” Mikhail says coolly. Before I can reply, he’s already on the phone and walking towards the door.

I know that. Doesn’t mean I’ll accept it.

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