Page 78 of Vengeful King

She answers and I listen; it’s not hard to hear the conversation when it’s so close.

And the voice that comes through the small speaker on her cell makes my hands curl into fists.

“Hello, Katrina,” Yuri says.

I can almost hear when Katrina stops breathing.

“What?” she says. It’s breathless, almost empty, floating in the air.

“You know, I’ve found myself with more friends, as of late,” he continues. “It’s not been so long that I’ve forgotten what it feels like. What itlookslike, when you are being scoped out. Being hunted by people who try to stay in the shadows. I know Nikolai’s men have been digging for information about me.”

Katrina swallows. I watch her stare into the distance at nothing, her eyes brimming with terror. This is her nightmare.

Somewhere along the line, it became mine, too.

“Please—”

“No.” Yuri says it quietly, so quiet I almost don’t hear. “It was clear you were never a good candidate. But now I know the truth. You are workingwithhim. You’re no longer working to kill him. You gave me up. Betrayed me.”

Katrina shakes her head silently; he can’t see her, but I know it doesn’t matter. Her world is falling apart.

Neither of us thought this would happen so fast.

Yuri speaks again. This time, the anger in his voice is clear. “I didn’t want to take the time, but it seems you give me no choice. I must teach you a lesson—and Lachlan too.”

“No—”

“I’m going to destroy the one thing that matters most to you,” Yuri says, matter-of-fact. There’s no cruel spite in his words. It’s how I know he is one of the old guard, one of the men that would do anything and everything asked of him.

Katrina’s hands dig into the couch. Her knuckles are white. “Don’t.”

“I’m going to take from you,” Yuri says slowly, “your dear old mother.”

Katrina’s face goes white, and my heart sinks.

CHAPTER28

Katrina

I can’t think. My mind is empty, sheer panic invading every one of my senses.

Your dear old mother.

Yuri didn’t laugh. He just hung up, as if that was the end. As if nothing more was needed.

And it isn’t.

Distantly, all I can think is that I failed. I didn’t just fail to kill Lachlan; I failed to ensure that my mother would be safe. I failed to do anything at all. She was in danger the second I was kidnapped, and I didn’t do anything after that to try to barter for her safety.

And now she may be dead.

I don’t want it to be true. I can’t let it be true. Not after all I’ve done. I agreed to Yuri’s demands, agreed to try to kill a man. I got into the club. I worked there for a week. Itriedto kill Lachlan and was kidnapped for it.

I’ve gone through so much for this to be the end. I did it all for her.

What am I going to do if she’s gone?

Lachlan stands suddenly. I look at him, still dumbfounded, as he starts yanking his clothes on.

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