Page 143 of Shattered Cradle (Makarova Bratva Duet)

“Olivia, please, just listen,” Mia sighs. It’s obvious how hard she’s trying to remain calm. I wonder if Hargrove is there with her now, sitting beside her, feeding her the words that she’s regurgitating to me.

I grit my teeth. “I don’t think—”

“If you don’t want to believe me, then fine,” she says curtly. “But will you at least believe the evidence that’s sitting in front of you? You can trust your own eyes, can’t you?”

I shake my head. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

“You know the cops are onto Makarova, right? Well, they might’ve replaced Rob with Steven Kennedy, but the entire Bureau answers to Donnie.”

She says it so pridefully that my stomach churns with disgust. Like that’s a noble attribute for her new husband to have.Puppetmaster Hargrove.

“What are you trying to say, Mia?”

“We’ve received a tip.”

“Okay, and…?”

“The girl that went missing over the weekend? The intel suggests that she’s… right there.”

“Right where?” I ask.

“In the same house you’re staying in,” Mia says, lowering her voice. “He took her and he’s keeping her there.”

“Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know and I don’t care. All that matters is that this is the slip-up we’ve been waiting for. The cops need to justify a search warrant to get into his compound. And as of yet, they haven’t been able to.”

“Because Aleks is more powerful than they bargained for?” I ask. “Or because there really is nothing to justify that kind of bullshit overreach?”

She steamrolls right over my sarcasm. “I told Donnie that it didn’t matter. Because we have someone on the inside.”

I tense immediately. “Mia, I’m not—”

“Actually, I told Donnie the only reason you’re with that bastard at all is because you genuinely believe he’s not guilty. But if you knew he was, if there was proof… then you would help us save that poor girl. Am I right, Liv?”

Her voice cracks with desperation. She wants us to be on the same side again more than anything in the world.

I thought that’s what I wanted, too. But would I want the same if it meant losing Aleks in the process?

My feelings for him are suddenly achingly clear.

I love him.

I’m in love with Aleksandr Makarova.

And it’s the worst possible realization to have at this moment. Right when I’m on the cusp of finding out if I’ve fallen for a beautiful lie. A gorgeous fantasy made up of smoke and mirrors.

“Am I right, Liv?” Mia asks again.

My eyes are swimming with tears. I blink them back. “Yes. Of course. If there was a girl trapped in this house, then of course I would help get her out. But there isn’t anyone. Aleks wouldn’t do that.”

“Will you just search for me?” Mia asks softly. “Please?”

I’m gripping the phone so tightly that my hand is actually starting to hurt. I close my eyes. My head throbs. “Okay. For you, I’ll search.”

There’s a long pause before Mia answers. Her voice is soft. Barely a whisper. “Thank you, Liv.”

Then she hangs up.

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