Page 22 of Sadistic

As we're saying goodbye, Eira runs out with a drawing. "For you!" It's a stick figure wedding—me in a giant dress, a dark figure beside me, and what appears to be a motorcycle with wings.

"It's beautiful, baby."

"That's you." She points. "And that's your prince. And that's his flying motorcycle because princes need cool rides."

"What's this?" I point to a small figure in the corner.

"That's me! Throwing flowers and being awesome." She hugs my legs. "Don't be scared, Aunt Rev. Mama says being scared means you're about to be brave."

Dalla and I drive toward home—toward fate—in heavy silence.

The sun sets behind us, painting the sky in shades of ending.

"Two weeks," I tell my sister. "We have two weeks to figure this out."

"We've figured out worse with less time," she reminds me.

"Have we though?"

"Remember when Dad found your birth control?"

"That's different?—"

"You convinced him it was for acne. In two minutes. While high on wisdom teeth meds." She grins. "If you can do that, you can handle one Bratva prince."

CHAPTER TWO

Doran

The surveillance photos spread across the penthouse suite's dining table tell me everything I need to know about Revna's morning.

Mikhail stands at my shoulder, tablet in hand, scrolling through timestamps. "She arrived at the boyfriend's apartment at 10:47. Departed at 11:23."

Thirty-six minutes.

I pour myself another coffee, black, studying the photos of her leaving Njal's building.

Her lipstick's gone.

Hair messed in a way that speaks of fingers tangled in it.

The boy had followed her out, shirtless even with the morning chill, looking like someone had ripped his heart out through his throat.

Good.

"The sisters are a short ways out from the clubhouse now," Mikhail continues. "Your parents' flight landed an hour ago."

Right on schedule.

Five years of waiting, and everything's finally falling into place.

I pick up the photo of Revna at the gas station—she's looking over her shoulder, paranoid, searching for threats.

She knew I'd have eyes on her. Smart girl.

"Send someone to check on Njal," I say, setting the photo down. "Gentle reminder about keeping his distance. Nothing permanent."

"Already done. Vadim paid him a visit this morning."

---