Page 56 of Wicked Vows (Suvorov Bratva 2)

He sighs. “Thank you for your time, ma’am.”

The line clicks and I set the burner phone on the table, staring at it.

Pavel touches my shoulder. “What’s wrong,Lisichka?”

“The way he spoke,” I whisper. “He sounds like a criminal.”

He gives me an inquisitive look.

“Like instead of asking where she was headed, he asked if she was headed toward a building or a car.”

He nods. “Interesting.”

“And then he asked if she was carrying specific items. The weirdest question was whether she was holding her stomach.”

Pavel’s features darken.

I nod. “I think he might be a guy to look into.”

“What’s his name?”

“Captain Sharp. I didn’t get a first name.”

As Pavel scribbles the name onto the notepad, the office door swings open. Stepan closes it quickly and quietly behind him. He’s huffing, with sweat beading his hairline and dirt on his shirt. There are a few specks of blood on his collar.

I stiffen at the sight of it.

He bows to Pavel. “I have Kiril in the car, pakhan. He’s losing blood.”

Pavel and I shoot up from our seats.

“What happened?” Pavel demands.

Stepan catches his breath while keeping his head bowed. “We were ambushed. Felix was wounded but got away.”

My eyes widen as my expression twists with shock. “Kiril should be taken to a doctor immediately.”

Stepan looks at me flatly. “Why?”

I step forward. “Why do you need to know?”

The flatness recedes, revealing a hint of surprise. He looks at me with an unreadable expression. But I don’t miss his eyes darting quickly toward Pavel before they return to me.

A moment later, he says, “I’ll contact Dr. Atlee.”

I cross my arms over my chest. Stepan bows to Pavel and then turns around to head into the lobby. The door remains cracked open, presumably because Pavel is going to join his brigadiers shortly.

But I don’t notice much other than the sheer, raw power glowing in my stomach.

One of his brigadiers followed my order.

That’s never really happened before.

Have they relented at my behest? Or was it because Pavel gave the green light?

Whatever the true answer is, I got Stepan to do what I wanted. I squeeze my arm slightly to keep my hands still as the power radiates out from my core.Is this what Pavel feels all the time?

Footsteps approach the office door. I anticipate Stepan’s return. But when I look up, my giddiness turns to ash in my mouth as Zoya—not Stepan—enters.

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