Page 278 of Ruins
The words don’t register at first.
They can’t.
There’s no way he just said what I think he did.
Heofferedmy wife
Miroslav spits blood onto the ground, shaking his head like we’re all fools. “I offered her when she came of age, but then you,” he glares at Maksim, “Married her off to the Italians and I was back on the hook. It washeror me, and I don’t plan on dying.”
Something about the way he says it—the casual finality of it—snaps something inside me.
“You spineless bastard,” I seethe. “You gave up your own daughter just to save your miserable fucking life?”
Miroslav chuckles, coughing up blood. “You think this world cares about sentiment? Aboutfamily?” He tilts his head mockingly. “You’re not that naïve.”
Rage claws at my throat, threatening to consume me whole.
Angelo slaps a hard hand against my shoulder.
“Your phone,” he says, the vibration of my phone bringing me back.
I tear it out of my pocket, Wesley’s name flashing across the screen. I put him on speaker.
“Go for Santo.”
“The code word went out, and a response came in.” Wesley’s voice is clipped, urgent. “The Armenians sent back ‘The Queen is in the Castle.’ Does that make sense to you?”
Miroslav smiles a bloody smirk. Something heavy settles in my stomach. I turn to Maksim, but he’s already staring at Miroslav, realization dawning in his expression.
Maksim goes still.
Then he moves.Fast.He grabs Miroslav by the collar, yanking him forward. “You have got to be fucking stupid,” Maksim growls. “Tell me you didn’t do it!”
Miroslav laughs, low and knowing.
Something inside me fractures. “Maksim?” My own voice barely chokes out.
He meets my gaze, and for the first time all night, there’s fear in his eyes.
“Vasilisa’s name,” he mutters. “Her namemeansQueen.”
The weight of it drops like a guillotine.
“This whole thing was a bait and switch.” Maksim’s voice is sharp, furious. “They’re going after her.”
The world stops.
Then it detonates.
I turn and run.
I don’t remember hanging up on Wesley, but I do. I don’t remember dialing Romeo’s number, but it goes straight to fucking voicemail.
Angelo calls Luca—he’s with Elena—“Get to Vasilisa. Now.”
I hear Maksim barking orders, telling Vaska to leave Katya and head to my estate.
The panic is searing, suffocating. This is my worst fear come to life. I can’t relive this nightmare.
