Page 99 of Prince of Control
“How are classes?” I ask, feeling guilty that I haven’t checked in on her more. But losing Lara made me realize that despite all my micromanagement, I can’t keep everyone safe all the time. Maybe I need to let Lili be free to make her own mistakes. “Is Vasiliev still giving you trouble?”
Lara gasps beside me. “Vasiliev!”
“What?”
“He warned me about Denis.”
I turn to give her my full attention. “What? When?”
“The week Brash showed up. That Monday when I was in the bookstore. Remember you found me there?”
I’m ready to pull Denis’ tongue out of his throat. I looked for him when we got back to school, but it seems he has vanished. According to Anya’s research, he hasn’t attended any classes in the last week.
I nod. “Yes.” I’m wary, my entire body on full alert.
“Well, Denis had tried to talk to me in the bookstore. He basically said the same thing Brash had offered on the phone–that he could help me get away from you if I needed it.”
My upper lip lifts in a snarl. If I were a lion, I’d be showing my deadly canines. “And then what?” There’s so much menace in my voice that Lara recoils slightly, then reaches out a hand to wrap around my forearm and reassure me she’s still here. She’s still mine.
“Then I walked away, and when I was checking out, Vasiliev came up behind me in the line. I had just waved at you in the window, and he told me to be careful because you were dangerous.”
I snarl some more.
“And so I snapped at him and said, yes, I know you hate Baron. And then he said, not Baron, the other one.”
My brows pop. What does Vasiliev know about that oligarch mudak? “He warned you about him? Interesting. I had seen them talking and thought they might be working together. But it sounds like Vasiliev is under their thumb.”
I file that away for future reference. It could become an interesting lever to pull if I ever need it. Or it could be something I offer to get him out of for a fee.
The front doorbell chimes through Leo’s phone, and he glances at the face of it. His eyes widen slightly, and he meets my gaze. It’s Chancellor Ogden.
I roll my shoulders. I expected this after the Titan house burned. “Well, invite him in. The meat is ready.”
A moment later, Leo leads the president of Thornecroft University back.
Zoe sees him and pours her Bloody Mary into a plant.
He’s in his early sixties, but he carries himself with the same stealthy grace as Gabe Tracy’s special ops guy. He's extremely fit–we often pass each other running in the morning, and he appears alert, like he’s taking in everything around him.
“Benjamin.” He offers his hand to shake without a smile.
I clasp his hand. “Chancellor Ogden.” I don’t smile either. We met before when I was petitioning to donate Baranov House to the university to make it an official society house. “You’re just in time for our barbecue.” I hand him a plate.
He accepts it, which surprises me. I slide a burger onto the bun he opens on the plate, and he helps himself to the simple but tasty side dishes Emma left for us–potato salad, watermelon, and chopped vegetables with hummus.
“This is my wife, Lara,” I introduce him.
“Lara, this is Chancellor Ogden. He’s the pakhan of Thornecroft.” I give her a faint smile at my use of the Russian word for bratva boss.
I wait, but he doesn’t broach any conversation at first, so I serve the house members then fix myself a plate.
“Have a seat. You probably didn’t come for the burger.”
We settle onto one of the plush outdoor sofas beside each other. He’s giving off interrogation vibes–treating me to the same silence I got down at the police station where they seem to hope you’ll fill in the space with chatter.
But I’m not that guy.
The chancellor finishes all the food on his plate before he says to me, “So, the Titan House was behind Ms. Tracy’s assault.”
