Page 63 of Vengeful Embers

His words are ice. I stare at him, and something cracks behind my ribs.

I blink—and the past flashes in red.

A child’s cry. A tiny hand, limp and bloody, in mine. That feeling of utter helplessness, panic, and fear coursing through my veins.

I swallow hard.

“That’s why Tara is coming with me. I’m not leveraging the child,” I say through my teeth. “I’m helping a single mom create a stable environment for a child whose biological father has no interest in it.”

“You mean you’re going to prey on a vulnerable single mother who will warm your bed as an added bonus,” he scoffs and shakes his head. “Tara is intelligent and has her life mapped out. Do you even care about that?”

“Tara can have the same career anywhere in the world, including Russia,” I point out. “As you say, she’s intelligent and I’m sure she’ll pick up Russian quickly.”

“She already speaks Russian and very well,” Konstantin tells me.

“Then she will have no problems pursuing a career in Russia.” I shrug.

“And you’ll afford her that opportunity,” Konstantin says in disbelief. “Somehow I doubt it.”

“Tara planned to raise the baby alone,” I go on, ignoring his scathing remarks. “I’m giving her something better. A stable life and a father for her child— Gavriil doesn’t want it. I do.”

His brow twitches. “So what’s the plan? Keep her locked up like a princess in a tower? Make her your mistress?”

“No,” I say. “My wife.”

His coffee cup freezes midway to his lips. He sets it down slowly.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I am.”

“All she and the child she is carrying mean to you is power and control,” Konstantin says, and I can see he is holding onto the threads of anger. “What will General Morozov think of your plans for his granddaughter?”

“Who do you think suggested it?” I watch the surprise register on his face.

“Does the general know Tara is pregnant with Gavriil Mirochin’s heir?” Konstantin asks.

“I made him aware,” I reply. “After which, he was even more on board with my plan to take Tara as my wife to protect her.”

“I told you, Gavriil is no longer in her life,” Konstantin growls. “I will make sure it stays that way.”

“How gallant of you to offer to be her watchdog,” I mock. “But it’s not just the Mirochins she needs protection from.” I lean back in the chair. “Tara and Gavriil’s search for information on Lidiya Zorin has alerted the RMSAD, and they have hired someone far more dangerous than the Mirochins,” I inform him. “Fuck, even I shuddered upon hearing the news.”

“There’s a bigger monster than you, my friend?” Konstantin looks at me challengingly.

“I would say you,” I hit back. “But the mere fact that this person has never been seen and has proven time and time again they can get to anyone, anywhere, at any time…”

“Fuck no!” Konstantin pieces it together. “What did Leonid Zorin do to warrant the RMSAD to send the Black Widow after Tara?”

I see the fear make him turn pale.

“He took something from them, and they want it back.”

“Does it have to do with why you asked me what was in the puzzle box?” Konstantin asks me.

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