Page 69 of Broken Embers

A smile lifts the corner of Ruslan’s mouth. “We’ll let you know,” he says. “We have to go.”

The screen goes dark.

Sabrina lowers the phone slowly.

“That didn’t feel right,” I say.

“No,” she agrees. “She was trying too hard. And Ruslan… he’s watching her like she’s… his.”

“She didn’t look free,” I mutter.

“I want to find her,” Sabrina says softly. “Before we go home.”

I pull her into my chest and kiss the crown of her head. “I have a feeling they’ll come to us.”

She tilts her face up. “Why?”

“Because you’re not the only one who knows how to threaten people.”

Her lips twitch. “Your threats aren’t quite as... veiled.”

“Nope,” I say. “They’re much more effective.”

We’re interrupted by the soft ding of my phone.

I glance at the screen.

It’s a message from Ruslan.

We accept your invitation. As it turns out, I have business in the United States. We’ll arrive in a week or two.

“Told you,” I say, holding it up for her to read.

Her eyebrows shoot up. “Invite them to stay at the hotel.”

I sigh, grab my phone, and type out the message.

“There,” I mutter. “Anything else?”

Elena reaches for me. I lift her into my arms, and she snuggles against my chest with a sleepy sigh.

Sabrina curls up beside us on the couch, resting her head against my shoulder.

“I hope she’s okay,” she whispers.

“She will be,” I promise.

We sit in silence for a while, letting the fire crackle and the tension melt away.

“I think we’d better gather the family,” I say after a moment.

Sabrina frowns. “No. I don’t want to tell my mother just yet. She’s been through so much already.”

“What don’t you want to tell me?” Carla’s voice startles us.

She steps into the room, her gaze immediately softening when she sees us all curled together.

“Tara just called,” I tell her gently.

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