Page 124 of Scarlet Secrets

The soundsof Erin’s fury and fear in her voice cracked something in me. That note of utter devastation keeps slamming against my walls and it makes the same tremor inside me. I focus on her, not my own reaction that would turn to white-hot terror if I let it.

Someone was in my home.

They walked in.

Took him.

Worse.

They knew about him.

The wordhowkeeps echoing through me as I bark orders at my men.

Every damn contact I have, every fucking informant and spy Ilya has set up, is being milked for information.

Pavel’s on the ground, working tirelessly. I’d make him my new head of security, except I think that’d be a mistake. He’s too good out there. I need someone more dedicated than Vitor. Someone hungry to prove they’re worth it.

But that can fucking wait.

My men follow orders and I think I need to changesomething in the structure. They’re loyal, but I need them watching, reporting at the slightest change, and I need the right person to filter that shit through.

I’m locking the gate after the horse has already vanished into the night.

“Focus.”

It’s hard to do when the information coming in is useless.

Rage storms through me and I sweep all the shit on my desk to the ground.

Alina comes in with coffee I don’t want, but I accept it. “Feel better?”

“No.” The snarl in my tone is something I can’t help. “Tell me which heads should roll. Other than Vitor’s.”

“I heard.”

“We have traitors?—”

“No. We have people who let their guard down, who thought everything was normal and got complacent. No one’s going to betray us. They respect you. Unlike our father. You have loyalty born from something better than fear. From respect. And they must have come in on the delivery truck.”

“Someone told them what room.”

“I-if the truck arrived when I put him to bed and most of the guards were watching the perimeter…”

She doesn’t need to finish.

“Someone talked; how the fuck did whoever did this know I have a son?”

“Anyone with eyes?”

It doesn’t make sense. I storm out and grab one of Ilya’s most trusted. “Got anything?”

“Just spoke to Ilya, sir,” he says. “Nothing yet, but we’re dragging in information from everyone, even Sergio?—”

“What?”

“Ilya said?—”

I ignore him and call Ilya. “What the fuck? Sergio?”

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