Page 46 of Blazing Embers

My blood runs cold.

Pavel grips the doorknob, but he doesn’t open it. “Shit.”

“What is it?” I whisper. “Who is in there with Ruslan?”

“At a guess…”

Another crash makes us both jump.

“Why?” Thump. “Tell me, you bastard.”

“I can’t!” Konstantin’s voice is raspy and urgent.

“Konstantin killed Ruslan’s first wife and daughter?” My eyes widen in disbelief.

“You know about his first wife and daughter?” Pavel frowns at me.

“Irina once mentioned that her older brother had lost his wife and child in a horrible village raid,” I explain. “I didn’t know Ruslan at the time.”

Pavel nods in understanding and moves away from the door handle as there is more thumping and crashing.

“I need to get in there.” As my recently drug-dulled brain suddenly clicks. “Before he kills Konstantin.”

Before he can stop me, I push open the door.

Ruslan slams Konstantin into a chair. I notice his knuckles are bloodied, and Konstantin’s face is a mess of bruises and cuts.

“You’re still breathing.” Ruslan leans over Konstantin. “So I’m guessing I might just have passed this round so now you’re going to tell me why the fuck you killed my wife and daughter.”

Konstantin doesn’t flinch. “You know I can’t do that.” His voice is raspy. “Not yet.”

Ruslan grabs a letter opener and presses it to Konstantin’s neck.

“Then I swear to fucking God I’ll slit your throat if you don’t,” Ruslan seethes.

“Do it,” Konstantin says calmly. “I told you that once you have the truth, it's up to you to decide how you deal with it.”

Ruslan’s entire body shakes.

But then he drops the opener. Punches Konstantin one more time. Hard. Then spins around—and sees me.

“What the fuck do you want?” he snarls.

I’m a bit taken aback at the ruthlessness in his voice. “I… I have a message for you.”

Konstantin turns slowly. “I’d guess those are your results from your first test.”

Frowning at Konstantin’s words, I cautiously step further into the study, heading straight for Konstantin.

I kneel beside him. “Oh my God, you need ice and some stitches above your eye.”

“He’ll be fine!” Ruslan glowers at Pavel. “Get him some ice.”

Pavel is only too glad to leave the room and bolts.

“Where did you get that phone?” Ruslan demands, glaring pointedly at the object in my hand.

“I found it in the toiletry bag. It’s not mine.” I stand, swiveling it in my hand. “I didn’t even know I had a toiletry bag until I heard the thing ring.”

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