Page 113 of Shattered Cradle (Makarova Bratva Duet)

“Where are you?”

“In my office.”

“Alone?” she asks.

“Dem is here.”

Her breathing is low and shallow. But there’s an urgency in her tone. “The girl I’ve befriended, her real name is Edith Mulroney. Her alias is Star.”

“Okay?”

“She told me she was groomed for Hargrove for almost a year. I have the name of the person who had her.”

“Tell me,” I order.

“It’s—”

The line goes dead before Jennifer can say another word.

I check my phone and attempt to call back. She doesn’t pick up.

“Fuck!” I growl, slamming my phone onto the desktop.

“What’s going on?” Demyan asks, getting to his feet.

“I need you to get down to the Medusa,” I tell him. “Jennifer is working undercover there. I need you to make sure she’s alright.”

“Has she been compromised?”

“I don’t know,” I snarl. “Just go.”

Demyan nods and rushes out the door.

“Take backup!” I call after him. He waves in acknowledgement and disappears around the corner.

I turn back to the window, furious at the missed opportunity.

But I’m also worried about Jennifer. If Hargrove is onto the fact that she’s closing in on him, then that makes her a target.

This is one of those times when I wish my face weren’t so recognizable. Otherwise, I’d be down there making sure Jennifer is alright.

Unable to sit still, I leave my office and head into the garden. My mood is black, and I know whoever I run into is going to pay the price for it.

I turn the corner and run into Olivia.

She’s holding a couple of books in her arms. They tumble to the ground at my feet when we collide.

I just stand there as she scrambles to pick them up. When she straightens up again, she looks annoyed, but the expression falters when she notices my scowl.

“Is everything alright?” she asks.

I give her a curt nod and move past her.

“Hey,” she says, calling after me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

She jerks back. “Oh, wow. That was extremely convincing. You don’t have to shut me out, you know.”

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