Page 31 of Vengeful Embers

“My phone,” I growl.

“You dropped it at the Zorin farm.” She puts it on the table beside me. “You really should be more careful, Ruslan.”

I don’t move. Don’t blink.

“You went through my phone?” My eyes narrow angrily.

“I had to,” Petra gives me an innocent look. “How else would I’ve known who it belonged to?”

She turns to the general. “Everything’s arranged. I’m ready when you are.”

“Thank you, Petra.” He nods and she leaves.

“She works for you?” I ask, stunned. “You do know she was a wanted fugitive? I want to say, by the Russian Government, but she’s on nearly every country’s most wanted list. She is a notorious black hat and cyber thief.”

“One of the best,” the general says proudly and smiles. “You have Konstantin Romanov,” the general says. “I have his sister. You don’t get better than the Romanovs when you need something done.”

I don’t respond. He knows that I would never turn Petra in. That would break the trust and bond between Konstantin and me.

“You said you didn’t target the woman in the picture with you?” The general looks at me inquiringly.

“That's right.”

“Then can you explain these?” He slides a page full of my text messages to Konstantin, asking him to follow Tara.

“Like I said, I met her once, that night in the bar,” I repeat. “We had one night together.” My eyes meet the general's, and a flush of hot rage flashes in his eyes.Oh, yes, he knows who Tara is.That's the type of anger I’d get if someone had just told me they’d seduced my daughter for a one-night stand. I actually admire his restraint because if I were him, I’d have thrown myself through the wall.

“Why have her followed?” He pulls out another page. “Should I answer that for you?” He slaps another page of text messages. “You think she’s Gavriil Mirochin’s mistress?”

“She is,” I reply, and see the anger flare in his eyes once again. “Look, yes, I targeted Tara. But I didn’t know who she was until that day. I was looking for Gavriil Mistress. I wanted to get her away from Gavriil.”

“So you seduced her?” The general's eyes narrow dangerously. “What? Were you going to romance her into falling in love with you, string her along, and then dump her as soon as you knew she was no longer a threat to your sister's marriage?”

Yeah, something exactly like that.“I was protecting my sister.” I defend my actions.

“Has your question about Leonid Zorin’s connection to Anya got anything to do with her?” The general continues questioning me.

“Yes,” I answer honestly.

“Did you find the picture in this box?” He shows me one of the pictures Petra just handed him, and this time, my blood runs cold.

The puzzle box.

“I believe so,” I reply honestly. “What is this all about?” I grow suspicious now.

“Where did you get this puzzle box?” he asks, ignoring my question.

“Garage sale.” I shrug.

I don’t expect the instant anger that jolts through the general as he slams his hand on the table. Hard. Making the contents on it jump and the metal table rattle.

“For fuck’s sake, Ruslan. This isn’t a joke.”

“Why does the box matter?” I ask, heart hammering. So there is a connection between the Zorins and Morozovs. That box has hit a very tender nerve. “What is the significance of it that has you so fucking mad?”

“Because it was stolen from a private safe of mine three weeks ago,” he tells me.

“And you think I stole it?” I splutter in disbelief. “What the fuck would I want with an old puzzle box containing a photo of your wife?”

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