Page 57 of Heritage of Fire

I frown at my thoughts.

Our marriage may not be traditional, but Icare. I see the weighted sighs, the tired eyes depicting how drained he is.

I wish I could alleviate his burdens.

The buzz of my phone on the coffee table makes me jump. I grab it, hoping it’s Nik.

My sister’s message makes me snicker.

Bella: Please tell me you are doing something other than reading in your pajamas tonight?

Luna: You caught me. What are you up to? How is school?

It’s funny how two people can grow up in the same house, with the same parents, and turn out so differently.

Bella: School is fine and I’m headed out tonight. Going to a new club!

Luna: Be safe Bella. Please. Want to meet for coffee next week?

Bella: Sure. I’ll text you. Bye!

My sister is too young to be going out the way she does, and I probably should’ve told her that. But it’s been a point of contention before, and I don’t want to ruffle our already fragile relationship—although, it feels like things have been more amicable between us since I moved out. Coffee next week would be a good step for us.

I exchange my phone for the remote, curiosity about what Nik likes to watch pressuring me to turn the TV on. Baseball crackles through the screen, and I laugh. Such an American sport for his Russian heritage.

Settling in to watch the game he’s recorded, I tell myself I’m going to wait up for him. But instead of paying attention to the TV, the enticing way he looked at me earlier has a myriad of fantasies playing over and over in my head—until I eventually end up drifting to the bedroom, resigned to the fact that I’ll probably fall asleep before he gets home.

Chapter 24

Nik

The office building is dead silent as I step through the rotating doors and take the elevator up. It’s already 9 p.m., and I doubt I’ll be getting home before midnight with this meeting happening so late in the evening.

Stepping off the elevator, I notice light trickling out from under Luka’s door. Movement on the other side of the door causes shadows to slice through the strip of light. Voices inside means he hasn’t summoned me here alone.

I pass Natallia’s desk, glancing at the stack of colored Post-it notes and neatly organized file folders. It’s weird not seeing her here.

I knock, and Luka calls out for me to enter. Igor is pacing back and forth, tugging at his tie. Luka stands behind his desk, peering down at the city. The phone in his hand rings on speakerphone before going to voicemail.

“Dmitry. Call in.” Luka hangs up and tosses the phone across his desk, then brings both hands to his hair, tugging lightly. “Shit.”

“What’s going on?” I ask, walking over.

Igor stops pacing and joins us at the desk.

“Dmitry was sent out on surveillance two hours ago.” Luka tucks his hands into his pockets, then immediately pulls them out and reaches for his phone. “I tasked him with sitting outside EV to watch for some of the bigger names on the list Salvatore provided us. He was supposed to check in an hour ago.”

Igor adds, “The tracker on his cell shows he’s still there, right outside. Most likely in his car. He hasn’t moved.”

“What can I do?” I ask, hating the fact that Dmitry was sent alone. It’s not normal, but we also don’t do many surveillance-only jobs. I can tell by Luka’s demeanor he’s already blaming himself.

“I need you with us. We’re going to check on him, see what’s holding him up.”

“Done.”

I shove way thoughts of Luna back at the warehouse—and the look Lev gave her as I was leaving a few hours ago. I need to focus.

Bratva first.

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