Page 61 of Blazing Embers

I sit forward and nod. “Yes.”

Viktor comes closer to my desk. “Sabrina Craft was rushed to the hospital in the early hours of this morning.”

“What?” I bolt upright. “What happened?”

“She passed out or something. Here.” Viktor hands over a second envelope. “Her hospital record.”

“How did you get those?” I raise an eyebrow and take the envelope, tearing it open. “My sister is trying to make amends?”

“No, boss, Ilya got them and listened in on the conversation in the private room Sabrina was in,” Viktor tells me.

I turn my attention to the contents of the envelope. My eyes fly across the page, and my heart stops.

It can’t be. My chest tightens. I look up sharply.

“Double the watch on Sabrina and the baby. Ilya will need more men.” My heart is thumping, my mind whirling. “Tell Ilya not to let either of them out of his sight. And for fuck’s sake, don’t let her leave Russia.”

“Uh… There’s more.” Viktor’s voice goes flat. His eyes lock with mine. “She’s been taken by Ergorov.”

I feel the blood drain from my face. “Who has?”

“Sabrina.”

“And the baby?”

“Still with Oleksi Mirochin. And…” Viktor hesitates. “Clyde Smythe is back. With reinforcements.”

The room drops ten degrees. My blood turns to fire.

“The Lost Subjects?”

“I believe so.” Viktor nods.

“Fuck!” My fist slams into the desk. “They must think I have Tara. They’ve come for her.”

Viktor nods. “All seven of them are here in Moscow. Ilya saw them. Outside the hospital, when Oleksi brought Sabrina in.”

“Seven?” My brow furrows. “Shouldn’t there be eight?”

“That’s what Ilya thought, too. But there were only seven,” Viktor confirms.

“They’re sending a message,” I snarl. “They wanted us to see them. They wanted me to know they were here.”

“Exactly. Clyde smiled at Ilya. Let him take a picture that is also in the envelope. It shows all of their faces.” He swallows. “Then they vanished.”

“Like that fucking spider that you see in the corner of your bedroom one minute then it’s gone the next but you know it’s there ready to get you whenever it wants.” I grind my teeth. “Can Ilya get to the baby?”

“No. Clyde’s with Oleksi,” Viktor tells me. “And that ex-spy who used to work for Nikolas Vasilikis, Sydney Purdey.”

“Do you think she’s the eighth Lost Subject?” The thought flashes in my mind.

“She could be.” Viktor shrugs. “She and Clyde have worked together for many years.”

“Why didn’t they stop the General from taking Sabrina?” But before he can answer, I realize and mutter, “They’re guarding the baby.” I look at him. “Did Ilya say only Clyde was with Oleksi?”

“Yes. The rest of his team are gone like fucking shadows at night.”

“Do you want me to reach out to Petra? Maybe she can contact Medusa so we can find out what the fuck is going on that Clyde would disperse the entire team here?” His brow furrows. “I didn’t think they would all be in Russia at once. That’s kind of risky.”

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