Page 82 of Cruel Russian Pakhan
“Fuck,” Marten muttered. “That means anyone could’ve sent them.”
Jaroslav nodded. “So we stick to what we know. Watch each other’s backs, keep security tight, keep our ears to the ground.”
I turned to him. “Did you talk to Yegor? Tell him what Katya overheard, about someone targeting their faction, too?”
“I did. He took it seriously. Thanked me for the heads-up…then hung up.”
I nodded, jaw tight.
My heart ached for Katya. First, I denied her seeing her family, and now Artyom was cutting what little ties she had left. They’d already lost so much time together.
But I wasn’t giving up. If it was the last thing I did, I’d find a way to reconnect her with her sisters.
Yegor and Zahkar, I still wasn’t sure about.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Pyotr, being closest, got up and opened it. Mariya stood on the other side, an uncertain expression on her face. She stepped in, followed by two women in ragged clothes, faces smudged with dirt, hats pulled low. Pyotr shut the door behind them, but none of the women moved.
I stood slowly, my eyes narrowing as they landed on my sisters.
“Mariya?” I asked, half question, half statement.
One of the disguised women stepped forward and spoke.
“Lev, we came to speak with you. Please…just hear us out.”
The fuck?
I stepped out from behind the conference table, storming toward them. Mariya quickly moved to block my path, shielding the women.
“They came to the Hearth begging me to come see you. Please hear them out.”
“Mariya. Move,” I ordered, gruffly.
She hesitated, then reluctantly stepped aside. I reached out and pulled the hats off both women.
Kira. Vera.
“Fucking hell. Do either of you realize Artyom has declared war on our faction? What the hell are you doing here?”
Vera spoke up. “Zahkar told us what happened when you rescued Katya. Even though they didn't agree with what he was trying to do, they couldn’t turn their backs on Artyom…but trying to hold him off has already cost them.”
“Vera,” I said, eyes locked on her, “what do you mean, it cost them?”
Vera shifted uncomfortably under my gaze.
Kira cut in. “Lev, that doesn’t matter right now, what’s done is done. We know you have no reason to trust us. But Katya’s our sister. We love her. And we came here because it’s the right thing to do, to speak to her husband, to show respect.”
She looked me in the eyes, with the same spark of defiance that Katya sometimes carries.
“We’re not asking to be in her life every day. We just…don’t want to live the rest of ours without her.”
I was looking for a way to reconnect her with her sisters, and an opportunity had just presented itself. I’d be a damn fool not to take it.
“Ladies, please, have a seat. Let’s figure out a safe way to get you to and from Katya, shall we?”
Suddenly, Kira stepped forward and threw her arms around me.
