Page 39 of Den of Thieves

“No. But he could have.”

Karina laughed, finally loosening up. “I’m done with you.”

**

“Tell me more about these superpowers,” Aksana demanded as she and Karina loaded up the trunk with groceries.

“Well, they’re not regular superpowers, like flying or telekinesis. One guy can only turn into the female version of himself. Another is doomed to repeat the past but can’t change the future. There’s also a woman that can make other people bald.”

“What kind of superpowers are those?!”

“Crazy right?” Karina laughed.

“So, what happens next?”

“You’ll have to watch to find out.” Karina shut the door and laughed again at the exaggerated pout on Aksana’s face.

“I’m not your brother. Those puppy dog eyes won’t work on me,” she said, getting into the passenger seat.

“What if I get you an actual puppy?” Aksana wiggled her eyebrows at the suggestion.

“Don’t you dare! I can barely handle my own kids. I fear the day they realize they outnumber me three to one.” Karina squinted at the calculated look on her sister’s face. “If you get me a dog, I’ll tell Dimitri about Venchi.”

“Go ahead. We are so over.” Aksana busied herself by starting the engine and backing out of the parking space.

“Does he know that?” Karina chuckled. She’d seen the way Venchi looked when Vladimir banned him from escorting the women to the safe house.

“He will once we get back. Venchi was… fun. But I realized I deserved more, and Dimitri deserves better.”

That wasn’t an admission of guilt, but it was close. Karina squealed with excitement. “Does this mean my maid of honor duties are back on?”

Aksana frowned into the setting sun. “I don’t know, Tinkerbell. I really messed up last time. I hurt him.”

Karina nudged her elbow. “If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t have been upset. You should reach out after all the crazy is over. I have a feeling there’s enough love left between you two to salvage this relationship.”

“This is why sisters are necessary. Can you imagine this conversation with Volodya?”

Karina sat up straight and deepened her voice. “Enough of these tears, AK.”

The pair laughed until tears fell from their eyes.

“Hmm,” Aksana said, sobering.

“What?”

“Should we get gas now or on the next trip?”

“Let’s get it now. Just in case we need to leave in a hurry.”

They pulled into the next gas station without incident and AK jumped out once they reached the pump. It was later than they expected. She hated being so exposed. It would be nightfall soon. Hopefully, one of the women would at least answer the intercom when they arrived back at the compound.

“Hello, princess.”

Aksana frowned, turning around. The man in dirty clothes looked familiar, but she couldn’t place him.

Then she glimpsed the yellow bruising on his face and neck. “Anton?” It was the man she beat with a whip in Tim’s back office.

Before she could jump back into the driver’s seat, two hands grabbed her from behind. She fought back, but was quickly overpowered.

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