Page 41 of Broken Embers

“I told you I had a plan,” Nadia reminds me. “You will find all you need on those, including the plan.”

“Just be careful with what’s on there,” Valeska warns. “There are people who would kill to have what you’ve got there.”

“Noted.” I nod, curious as to what precisely I’m holding here.

As if reading my thoughts, Nadia says, “You’re holding the fate of two dangerous organizations right there, in the palm of your hands.”

I look at my fist with raised brows. “Let’s hope I get to use it before these organizations get to me.”

“Don’t worry,” Valeska says, linking her hand with Nadia’s. “With the help of Nikolas, we’ve bought you time to get to where you’re going next and then take control of the situation.”

I nod, and another thought strikes me, and I look at Nadia questioningly, “You told me that you were sure the RMSAD doesn’t have Tara Craft?”

She glances at Valeska, who shakes her head. “No, I kept checking to ensure they would have no leverage to counter with.”

“They couldn’t be holding her somewhere you didn’t know about?”

“No.” Valeska shakes her head. “The RMSAD is still looking for her and her mother.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s not good news, but it’s not bad news either. Now all we have to do is figure out who the man was that was flagged with her at the Georgian and Russian border.

A knock at the door. “Come in,” I call.

The door opens, and Nikolas steps in. “We have to go.”

I turn to Nadia and Valeska. “So this is it?” I ask. “You disappear after this?”

“Yes,” Nadia says. “We start a new life.”

“No more hiding,” Valeska adds, squeezing Nadia’s hand.

“I’m happy for you,” I say honestly. “Whatever’s on these cards better be as good as you say.”

“It is,” Nadia promises, then steps forward and kisses my cheek. “And, thank you, Oleksi. For protecting our niece and for being good to my sister when she was alive.”

“I’ll keep her memory alive,” I say. “I’ll raise Elena to know who she came from.”

“Please,” Nadia says quietly, eyes wet. “I ask that you just promise me one thing?—”

I look at her questioningly. “And that is?”

“Don’t ever let Elena fall into Ruslan’s hands. That’s what he wants. A child who unites the bloodlines. He’ll only use her to further whatever cause he has.”

Her words send a chill down my spine, and I want to ask what cause Ruslan may have, but Nikolas shifts restlessly, so I promise, “I won’t let that happen.”

They nod once. Then they’re gone.

I’m left standing in the den, the two SD cards clutched in my fist.

Syd appears in the doorway. “So what now?”

Clyde and Ivan walk up behind her.

“We can’t go back to Moscow,” Syd says. “It’s not safe.”

“I doubt we’ll even get out of Russia,” Clyde mutters.

“I have a plan,” I tell them. “And a place we can go to where we can lay low until we can leave here.”

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