Page 31 of Heritage of Blood

“What are you doing?” Luka demands. The sound has me lean closer seeking the rough, deep command of his voice.

“I was thirsty. Is that okay? Or are you depriving your captive of food and water?” I hold the water bottle out for him to snatch away, but he doesn’t. Maybe it’s the poor lighting, lack of sleep, or the casual way Luka is standing there, but I whisper out a plea.

“Please let me leave.”

A flash in Luka’s eyes offers a smidge of hope. But then it’s gone. Replaced by icy slits, resolute and impenetrable.

“Turn off the light when you’re done,” he says, and he disappears.

Chapter20

Luka

“Good morning, Mr. Morozov.” Natallia greets me, soft-spoken, as I saunter to my office.

She is wearing a soft yellow dress flowing down around her calves and is engrossed in the harmony of the morning. I meet her big doe-eyed glance, and she offers a timid smile, quickly averting her gaze. I’ve always appreciated her quiet attentiveness, but this morning I find the stark difference in her mood and mine irritating.

When I opened my eyes this morning, the immediate weight of exhaustion settled deep. After my run-in with Kate last night at 2 a.m., sleep eluded me. I tossed and turned the rest of the night, and now a heavy haze of fatigue has wrapped itself around me. A normal day of responsibilities has already begun to feel unreachable.

I offer Natallia a grunt, hovering around her desk as the elevator door opens and Nik struts out. His crisp navy suit is too bright and cheerful for this morning.

“Boss.” He nods and then looks to Natallia his eyes gleaming with a playful glint. “Morning,Spasibo, solnyshko.”

Nikolai has always had a magnetic quality, he has the ability to cover his past with his self-assured facade. One of the reasons he balances me, and why I trust him as my second. Nik has an unyielding determination beneath his effortless calm exterior. He exudes an aura of power and control, easily drawing others into his orbit, but that is when he pounces. Death does not come quickly for those who cross him.

A blush floods Natallia’s face, and she occupies herself in her work. "Senator Hope is scheduled for an afternoon meeting. I’ll have coffee made, sir," she says, seeing my dull, sunken eyes that betray my sleepless night.

I forgot; my mind was preoccupied with other … things. Nik’s eyebrows raise in my direction, and I push past him into my office.

* * *

“Kate’s motherfiled a Missing Person’s report yesterday morning,” Nik informs me, barely having shut the door. “I’ve spoken with our people within the department, and no one is suggesting the organization. They are going with a snatch and grab narrative right now, I’ll have the department bury it. Unfortunately, her work has also contacted the police for a wellness check since she missed workdays and didn’t call in. It went to a different precinct, apparently, a friend of Kate’s is on the force there. Our man stationed at her place spotted him knocking on her apartment. I think—”

Irritation unfurls in my gut. “When was this?” I interrupt, while I manipulate my computer mouse to pull up our security cameras.

“Yesterday morning. She hasn’t been missing for too long to panic the police, but her friends, work, and family are worried.”

I scowl at the average-looking man knocking on her door yesterday afternoon. He knocks three times before placing a hand on the door and leaning into it.

“We have audio this time,” Nik adds, and my pulse skyrockets. Flicking the volume up, I lean in.

“Kate. It’s Derek, haven’t heard from you in a while.” He knocks again. “The precinct got a call from Lacy saying you hadn’t shown up to work the past two days. I volunteered to do a wellness check.” Another knock.

A fleeting pang of resentment pulls at me as I watch this man casually approach her place. He knocks a few more times.

“Kate.” Without another knock, his eyes flit down the hall and back each way before discreetly reaching for the handle. He gives a brief jiggle. Unable to open the door, he yanks out his cell phone. “Yeah, it’s me …” His voice trails off down the hallway.

“Who is he?” I growl, switching off the camera system and pulling up my meticulously managed digital calendar.

Nik slouches back in his chair. “Not sure. He obviously works in the precinct, but it’s the first time we’ve seen him on the cameras at Kate’s apartment over the weeks. I’ll have to do more digging. Still need to get into her phone.”

“Take it to Anya. She’ll get it done.”

Nik agrees with a slight tilt of his head and leans back giving me a sneer.

“What?” I snap, earning a tentative smirk from him. I’m not in the mood to deal with him today. Little sleep, and a meeting with a snake of a senator have me on edge.

“What’s your plan with her, Luka?”

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