Page 68 of Vengeful King

“Of course.”

He doesn’t say it, but we all hear Nikolai's silent words:I don’t like that I didn’t know this.

I’m sure he’s more than just put out. This is serious. A man is back from the dead and attempting murder. If Lachlan and his family were different, maybe they would have retaliated without meeting Nikolai first.

I don’t know much about the mafia world, but from what I’ve seen and what Lachlan has told me, Yuri is a problem for everyone.

“Has he contacted you?” Nikolai asks.

“In a way,” Connor says dryly. “He tried to kill Lachlan.”

I can see Nikolai’s eyes widen a fraction, a reflex before it’s controlled. “When? Where?”

“The club.” Lachlan gestures at me. “He hired Katrina.”

Nikolai’s gaze swivels to me and I want to hide. I fight the urge to step behind Lachlan and stand my ground. I know I’m not impressive or imposing. I know I don’t look like an assassin.

But Nikolai still looks at me with interest, and it sends a cold trickle down my spine.

I don’t want to be a part of this world, this life. I wish I had never taken the loan, never been blackmailed. I wish everything was easier.

But I can’t shrink from this. I took the loan, and I was blackmailed into murdering Lachlan. I did what I could, as inexperienced as I was, and I nearly made it.

Maybe Nikolai can see that. Maybe this man that dismissed me when I walked in is looking at me now, wondering just what I would do to get the job done.

Maybe he’s trying to figure out what drives me. But there’s only one person in this room that knows about my mother, and it seems like he doesn’t care anymore.

Except Lachlan suddenly steps in front of me, cutting me off from Nikolai’s view. And even as he does, I can see the darkness in his face. The possessiveness.

But he doesn’t turn to look at me. He’s still cold, still turned away. He doesn’t cast a single glance in my direction. It feels like this isn’t even about me, really—it’s a different kind of territorial anger. Like Lachlan is telling Nikolai he can’t have any more free information. He can’t even look at me.

Nikolai doesn’t push. He shifts his weight, obviously losing interest in me. I can see it happen, but Lachlan doesn’t move.

“I will see what I can find. Ask my own contacts for information,” Nikolai offers. “I’ll let you know what I find.”

“We’d appreciate it,” Aiden replies. “We’d like to know where he’s operating from and what he’s doing.”

“Aside from attempted assassination,” Lachlan adds, his tone cool.

“Then we shall see,” Nikolai says calmly. “And I’d like a word with him too.”

“It’s a deal,” Lachlan says shortly. “We appreciate your time.”

I can barely blink before I’m being ushered away, still out of sight of Nikolai. I keep wanting to look over my shoulder just to make sure he’s not following, but I bite my tongue and keep walking.

I just want to get out.

CHAPTER25

Lachlan

I’m not happy about the meeting. Knowing that Nikolai isn’t involved is helpful, but I’d be lying if I said it wouldn’t have been easier that way. Now that we know the Russians aren’t in on it, the options are endless. There are too many places to start.

But Nikolai, in a show of good faith, has promised to look into it. If someone on the fringes of his community is helping Yuri, he’ll find out.

Before I leave the place, Aiden stops between our cars. “We’ll check back in soon,” he says. “There’s a lot to do.”

I know he’s talking about the wedding, not just Yuri. The reminder makes me clench my jaw, but I agree before I get in my car.

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