Page 100 of Shattered Cradle (Makarova Bratva Duet)

He frowns. “Why wouldn’t they come forward if—?”

“They were threatened into silence. Them, their families, everyone who knew enough—all of them were coerced into keeping their mouths shut. All the girls came from poor families, hopeless situations. The police have never served people like that. You know that, Rob. You know that as well as anyone.”

“How do you know all this?” he asks.

“Because Aleks and I have been trying to locate them for years. We finally did manage to find a girl who would talk—”

“What’s her name?” Rob asks immediately.

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Why?”

“She’s terrified for her life, Rob. If I tell you, you’ll bring your guns and your badges and descend on her family. And if you do, she and her family will be destroyed by the man who ruined her life once already.”

“You expect me to believe this?”

She shrugs. “I can’t decide that for you. All I’m giving you is the truth.”

“Except you’re not so good with the truth, are you, Isabella?” he growls abruptly. “You’ve lied to me the entire time you’ve known me. So forgive me for not trusting a single fucking word that’s coming out of your mouth right now.”

He gets up abruptly, his eyes boring into hers like he has more to say.

Then he turns and leaves.

24

ALEKS

I feel cautiously optimistic as I walk back into the house after my meeting.

“How’d it go?” Demyan asks, appearing out of nowhere.

“For God’s sake, what are you doing skulking in that corner?”

“Waiting for you,” he says bluntly. “Answer the question. How’d it go?”

“It went… surprisingly well.”

He raises his eyebrows. “So not a trap?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Fuck, this really is a game-changer, huh?”

I nod. “I think so. He came alone, just like he said he would.”

“A man of his word—who’d have thought there were any of those left in this world?” Demyan chuckles. “What’s the plan now?”

“Still being decided,” I say. “We have more to discuss before I figure out how I want to play this. Now, where are Olivia and Jennifer? Are they back yet?”

“No word from either one of them yet. Been on standby for the last two hours.”

“You think she’ll be able to get through to him?” I ask.

Truth be told, I’m only mildly curious. It doesn’t matter to the plan ultimately. I’m not hinging my actions on the whims of Robert Lawrence anymore.

“Maybe. The girl’s got a gift. Several, actually.” I throw him a suspicious look and he raises his hands immediately. “I haven’t fucked her, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

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