Page 40 of Broken Embers

And when Nadia and Valeska vanish later this morning, I know damn well what that means—Ruslan will break the Dragunov alliance. There goes my ports. But there is always a way around that. I’m not my grandfather, and with the help of my Uncle Dmitri, who would love to go to war with the Dragunovs, I’m confident we can take back control of that village.

I blow out a breath. But I was hoping to avoid a war with them and I most fucking definitely was not looking for a war with the Russian Government, because that’s what taking on the RMSAD means.

I press my lips to Sabrina’s forehead and close my eyes for a moment, steadying myself.

Nadia told me she had a plan. Said she’d make sure the alliance stood.

God, I hope she wasn’t bluffing. That village is teeming with innocent women and children. I think of the guards that had stopped us when we’d gone to meet Agafon and frown. Maybe Nikolas was right. Perhaps the Draganovs are looking to go solo and build their own empire. My jaw clenches, and I rub my chin. On top of everything else—that’s all I fucking need—another rival crime family to contend with.

A soft knock pulls me out of my spiral.

I ease out of bed, careful not to wake Sabrina. She murmurs something but doesn’t wake. I throw on jeans and a t-shirt and pad barefoot to the door. It’s Nikolas.

“It’s time,” he says, voice low. “I’m leaving with Nadia and Valeska in fifteen minutes.”

I nod, grab my boots, and follow him down the hallway to the kitchen, where Clyde, Syd, Ivan, and a few of Timofey’s men are already gathered. Nadia is there too, standing beside Valeska. And I have to blink when I see her.

Gone is the grungy goth chick with combat boots and black lipstick. Valeska is polished now. Elegant, almost, and poised. She still has the purple streaks in her hair, but otherwise, she looks like someone ready to vanish into a new life. My eyes fall on Nadia, and I know she’s more than ready to escape this old life and start again. Somewhere, she can be who she is and love who she chooses without judgment.

“Can we talk in private?” Nadia asks, glancing around.

Nodding, I turn and lead them into the small back room—an old den with a fireplace and leather chairs. As I close the door behind us, I turn to Valeska.

“We didn’t get a chance to meet properly,” I say. “Or for me to tell you how grateful and indebted to you I am for helping us get Sabrina back.” I swallow hard. “Thank you. For what you did. I owe you.”

Valeska shakes her head. “You don’t owe me anything. Sabrina is… she’s extraordinary. Watching her survive that place—it gave me the strength I didn’t know I had. I did what had to be done.”

“She is special,” Nadia agrees, eyeing me. “You’d be a fool to let her go or take her for granted.”

“I nearly lost her,” I admit. “I don’t intend to let that happen again.” I run a hand through my hair. “But now that the General’s lost his bait, and his golden boy, we’re staring down a war.”

“Not necessarily,” Nadia says, glancing at Valeska.

Valeska reaches into her coat pocket and steps closer. She takes my hand, presses something into my palm, and leans in like she’s going to kiss my cheek. Instead, she whispers, “Whatever you do, trust no one but Sabrina with what I’ve just given you.”

I frown, closing my hand around the objects. They feel like two small plastic disks—SD cards, I’m guessing.

“What is this?” I ask.

“Power. Leverage,” Nadia says softly, a smile lifting her beautiful lips.. “It’s also mine and Valeska’s insurance policy.”

My brows draw tight. “Insurance for what?”

“To ensure that the general stays away fromallof us and that Ruslan will not pull out of the alliance with your family,” Valeska explains. Her eyes are steel now. “While Nikolas has moved Valeska’s brother’s body to the town he was last known to be at, and I’ve wiped all the footage of Mikhail being at the institution, there are still the guards that saw him.”

“But it still buys you time,” Nadia tells me. “Time for you to get what we’ve given you to where it needs to go in order for you to be in a position of power over Ruslan, the general, and…”

“Sabrina’s overly ambitious aunt,” Valeska tells me.

“Aunt?” I frown.

“Yelena Zorin,” Valeska replies. “Sabrina’s mother’s older sister. The woman is obsessed with her work and outshining her mother’s legacy.”

“Great!” I sigh. “Another enemy to add to the list.”

“Surely you’ve stopped counting your enemies, Oleksi,” Nadia drawls, smiling.

“I have.” I laugh. “But I always list the new ones.” I look at my closed fist. “Thank you for this.”

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