Page 74 of The Russian Retribution

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Sunray.

Where have I seen that before?

“You… you’re the only one with access to these accounts?” I lift my head and meet Viktor’s gaze.

He nods. “So don’t worry, that money isn’t going anywhere until she’s taken care of.” Viktor takes his phone back. “I’m sorry I asked so much of you, my boy. But I will fix this, once and for all.

Sunray.

Why do I know that?

Watching Viktor pocket his phone, it hits me like a ton of bricks.

The assassins.

The one from the construction site. He had been paid from an encrypted account that no one could get into, and that was the name on the account.

Sunray.

It was… Viktor? All this time, all the attempts on her life, even from the beginning when I hadn’t even had a chance to get close to her, it was him.

“Viktor…”

“What?” He narrows his eyes at me. “What is it?”

Is it all him? If Sergey trusted Viktor enough to give him access to his encrypted accounts that even his daughter can’t get into, then they were close.

Really close.

Close enough that Sergey surely would have run any business plan past him. My thoughts tumble back over our conversation right back to where Viktor immediately deflected the topic by mentioning the pregnancy. Viktor spoke with such confidence that Sergey’s mysterious business partner wouldn’t have killed him.

Because it’s him.

My eyes widen and my heart pounds up into my throat, and I’ve never been more thankful that I agreed to meet at The Black Ox.

“What is it, Son?” Viktor prompts again.

“Viktor, listen to me,” I said firmly. “Anastasia is innocent, do you hear me? She did not kill Sergey.”

Viktor snorts. “Whatever.”

“I can prove it,” I say earnestly. “I can. I can prove she’s completely innocent.”

Viktor looks me in the eyes and his look doesn’t change. He doesn’t care. He’s so hungry for revenge and power that blaming Anastasia for Sergey wasn’t because he was grieving. It was because he wanted to rule.

And he still does.

“It doesn’t matter,” Viktor says stiffly. “It’s too late for that, anyway.”

“What? Why?” Coldness seems down my limbs, sending shivers curling across my back. “Viktor, what have you done?”

“Anastasia will die at the gala,” Viktor says calmly. “And no one can stop it. You should be grateful since she killed your baby.”

“You son of a bitch!”

“What?” Viktor yells back. “Did you really think I would take this lying down? I trusted you to help me and instead, you were fucking her! You were like a son to me and you stuck your dick in that cunt like family meant nothing to you!” Viktor stands abruptly. “Well, now you’ll see. She’s going to get what’s coming to her, and me? I will take my place asPakhanwhere I belong!”

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