Page 14 of Marked By the Devil

“It is true. I am telling the truth.” Not that you deserve it from me. I was supposed to be the one getting answers from someone like him, not the other way around.

He tilted his head to the side. “Make up your mind, Red.”

“I was and am telling the truth.” I sighed heavily.

“You know, for someone in your situation, you’re not exactly… pleading with me all that well.”

I gave him a droll look. “I’m not going to beg.”

A slow, dangerous smile almost took over his face. “Now there’s a thought.”

“Fuck you,” I muttered. “Truthfully, I am on a task force to investigate fraudulent behavior with a couple of politicians. And truthfully, I am unaware of any assassination plot. But I was a part of the one last night.” He hadn’t told me which brother he thought had been targeted, but I could bet he meant Adrik since he was the heir, the interim leader.

“Explain.”

I gritted my teeth, hating that I had to give him this much intel. I should be taking this news to Smithson and the others at the agency. Not Viktor Volkov. Yet, I wasn’t stupid. I was new, but I wasn’t dumb. If I shared why I modified my answer, he could be encouraged to not see me as a culprit or accomplice to whatever had been planned for last night, but as a fellow target and victim.

“Because there were two shots. One hit that woman.”

The one he’d reacted to so swiftly, pushing his brothers down to safety. It had happened so fast that I hadn’t gotten a great look, but it was playing in my mind’s eye. Sketchy but there.

“The second shot was aimed at me.”

He stood there and watched me, goading me closer to breaking as time ticked on, his silence intimidating me into a fit of fear once more.

5

VIKTOR

Iwatched her, trying to let her words fit into my mind and make sense.

She wasn’t denying that a hit had been made last night. That alone was telling. She was rooted in reality and that was the truth. One I agreed with. Because I saw it with my own eyes how a sniper had been positioned to kill my brother. I witnessed the blood spilled from the bullet intended for him.

What didn’t add up was her amendment about a second shot. One aimed at her. And that this would make her have a part in the assassination attempt. As another target.

Was she trying to gain my sympathy?

Was she planning to trick me into thinking she was a victim and not a perpetrator?

Some things would never change, and one of those tenants was how we would always oppose the law. Bratvas didn’t mix with law and order and vice versa. Normally, I wouldn’t give a fuck if someone was trying to order a hit on a cop or agent. But the fact that she could claim that she was shot at on the same night my brother had been?

Not buying that, Red.

I stared her down as if I could will the real truth from her, applying pressure on her without any actions or words from my end. But she didn’t. Wren sat there blinking steadily and didn’t add anything else to what she’d said. She should know not to say shit to begin with. From all the experience and training she should have gained to become an agent, she should know not to open her mouth at all.

Watching her blink at me again, I considered how surprising it was that she’d spoken at all. Almost too eagerly, like she thought she could win my approval or acceptance by appearing ready to negotiate her release.

“Try again.” I kept my composure, speaking calmly and clearly.

She furrowed her brow. I didn’t know if she was aware of it, but her bow lips formed into a pout that emphasized how plump they were.

Lips I could kiss.

A mouth I could fuck.

Shelving the spikes of desire that were only increasing tenfold with her emerald gaze so sharp on me, I cleared my throat and waited again.

“Try what again?” she asked when it seemed like she wasn’t sure she could win a lengthy stare-down with me.