Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 100416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
It was a risk allowing Cillian into Dmitri’s office, but it was a calculated one. Aiden had trusted her to loop him in when necessary. Dmitri’s men trusted her to find him. She had to trust Cillian to do the job she asked of him. He whistled softly when he saw the computer setup. “Independent circuit?”
“I don’t know what that means, so shelve the geek talk. That one has Internet.” She pointed at the laptop on the corner of the desk. “I just texted you the number. Can you track it?”
“Yeah. If the phone’s still turned on, it will be cake.”
“Please hurry.” A fine tremor worked its way through her, and she had to turn away while she fought against the urge to scream herself hoarse. Hold on, Dima. Just… hold on. They would get to him in time. Her standing over Cillian and demanding he hurry wouldn’t make a damn bit of difference.
The door opened right as she got herself under control. Alexei poked his head in. “Mrs. Romanov, we’re ready. The house is cleared except for this one.” He motioned at Cillian.
“Good.” When he hesitated, she raised her eyebrows. “Yes?”
He glanced at her dress, a silent inquiry. Of course. She was hardly inconspicuous at the moment. Keira cleared her throat. “Stay with Cillian.” It would only take her a few minutes to change, and she wanted to be prepared for whatever situation they were about to walk into.
“Yes, ma’am.”
She turned to find her brother watching her. “What?”
Cillian smiled through bloodless lips. “When did you become a leader?”
“Trial by fire.” She let her hands drop to her sides. “Cillian, do you need anything else from me at this second?”
“No, but I should have a location in ten minutes or less, so whatever you need to do, do it fast.” He cracked his knuckles and got to work.
Keira nodded. “I’ll be right back.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
I found them.”
Keira didn’t allow her relief to show. She rounded the desk to look over Cillian’s shoulder. He’d helpfully brought up a map and dropped a pin to mark the coordinates he’d pulled from the phone. She frowned. “I don’t know New York. Where is this?”
Alexei came to stand next to her. He pointed at the street running the length of the screen. “This used to be Eldridge territory before it was absorbed by Andrei Romanov.” He pointed at the pin, just south of the street. “This has always been Romanov territory. Pavel’s team patrolled here.”
“That fucking bastard,” Keira murmured. Even if they weren’t traitors like Pavel was, they would have reported anything strange to him, effectively ensuring Dmitri never got word. It was brilliant, even as she clenched her fists in frustration. “What do we know about this place?”
“Those are offices slated for remodeling. They had become unsafe, and so Mr. Romanov ordered the building gutted and rebuilt. Demolition happened last month, but things have been complicated, so Mr. Romanov hasn’t approved the construction schedule yet.”
Complicated because Dmitri married Keira and they’d been on the verge of war ever since. “Alexei, meet me in the garage. I’ll be there shortly.” Without hesitation, Alexei nodded and led the way out of the office. The door shut behind them with a soft click.
Cillian turned in his chair to face her. “You’re really going after him.”
“Fuck yes, I am.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “That bitch can’t have him. He’s mine.”
Her brother pushed to his feet, and she tensed, half expecting him to start some bullshit, but Cillian just pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight enough that her ribs groaned in protest. “I won’t tell you to be careful. But come back alive.” He hesitated. “And bring that annoying-ass Russian back, too, while you’re at it.” He kissed her forehead. “We’ll be waiting for word.”
She tensed to keep her reaction in check. “I’ll call as soon as I’m able to.”
Cillian nodded and walked to the door. He paused and glanced back. “This might sound weird, considering the circumstances, but I’m fucking proud of you, Keira.” And then he was gone, closing the door gently behind him.
Then, and only then, did Keira drop her head into her hands and exhale a long breath. That had been the easy part. She just had to keep moving. If she didn’t stop, her mind wouldn’t have time to offer up all the things that Mae and Alethea could be doing to Dmitri in the time it took them to get to that fucking building. She counted slowly to ten and then moved, pushing herself to her feet.
She took out her phone and started to type out a response to Dmitri, but stopped. He might have had it on the way there, but she had no way of telling if he still had it. He hadn’t texted since she told him to hold on, which didn’t necessarily mean anything…