Page 9 of Bratva King

"I'm fine."

"Liar."

Alexei didn't bother denying it, because Dimitri knew him too well.

"We've already doubled security," Dimitri continued. "The men have rotated every schedule.”

Alexei nodded absentmindedly. "And?"

"And we'll find the assassin."

That finally drew Alexei's attention. He looked intently at Dimitri, and his brother misread the expression immediately.

"Maksim and I know you're pissed off about the incident,” Dimitri said.

Pissed off? Yeah right. If only it were that simple. Alexei let the silence stretch. His brothers believed the failed assassination had bruised his pride. That someone had dared target a Volkov, and so Alexei was now hunting the assassin out of vengeance.

It was the logical and expected conclusion. Instead, Alexei found he couldn't stop thinking about her and why she spared him.

"You'll get your revenge," Dimitri said.

Alexei almost laughed. The word revenge felt strangely hollow. Alexei wasn’t remotely angry, but confused and curious about the assassin? Absolutely. He decided to interrupt before Dimitri could continue.

"Has security found anything?" Alexei asked. “Potential names?”

"No names, not yet."

Alexei leaned forward slightly. "What about any evidence left behind? Potential witnesses?”

Dimitri shook his head. "Nothing useful."

Alexei frowned. "Someone must have seen her."

“One witness saw a woman leaving the area. A slender woman wearing dark clothes, but that’s about it,” Dimitri said with a shrug.

Alexei sighed. "How helpful."

"Our security team is narrowing it down,” Dimitri promised. "There aren't many contract killers operating at that level."

Alexei already knew that. Elite assassins were surprisingly rare. Precision demanded experience, patience, and money. The woman who'd taken the shot possessed all three. Whoever had hired her had spared no expense.

"We've already eliminated half the usual names," Dimitri continued. "By tomorrow we'll have a shortlist."

Alexei nodded slowly. "I want it immediately."

"You'll have it." Another brief silence settled. Dimitri tilted his head. "You know..."

"What now?” Alexei asked, wishing Dimitri would leave him alone.

"You've taken this oddly well."

Alexei raised an eyebrow. "Have I?"

"I expected broken furniture, maybe a few broken bones,” Dimitri said unhelpfully.

“You seem disappointed,” Alexei said dryly.

"A little."