Page 55 of The Pakhan’s Unwanted Bride

"Thank you," I say once I'm presentable.

"It was my pleasure, too."

I laugh and shake my head. "Not for that, although I appreciate the sex, too. I mean, thank you for not giving up on finding my father."

"You don't need to thank me for doing my duty," Samuil says, his voice a bit clipped. Did I accidentally insult him? "He's not just royalty. He's family now."

"Nevertheless, I appreciate it," I say. "And you."

He looks a little uncomfortable at the comment. He gives a short nod, then leaves the office. I stand there for a minute, not sure what to do next. The sex helped to relieve some of the tension and stress, but unfortunately, it can't do anything to get rid of my fear. With a sigh, I head toward the sitting room.

Benedikt appears from the shadows, his expression grim. "Princess." He keeps his voice low. "I need to speak with you."

"What is it?" Did he find my father? Or has some other disaster happened?

He glances down the hallway, then back to me. "One of your father's personal bodyguards has vanished. No one has seen him since the wedding."

28

SAMUIL

The sky is still dark when I settle into my study with Ivan's journal and the letter that fell from its pages. The house is silent around me, Ana asleep upstairs after our encounter in the office. I should be exhausted, but sleep is impossible with what I'm holding.

Ivan's handwriting is precise and controlled across the folded paper. The message is brief but chilling.

Samuil,

If you're reading this, something has happened to me. Protect Anastasia at all costs. There are those who want the Rostova line eliminated. They've been patient, working across generations, but they're getting bolder. I've documented everything I could find in the margins of my father's journal.

Keep her safe. That's all that matters now.

Ivan

I set the letter aside and open the journal with careful hands. Ivan's handwriting appears throughout, small notes in blue ink questioning details. Next to an entry about the death of Ana's great-uncle, Ruled heart attack. He was 42 and in perfect health. A few pages later, beside mention of a distant cousin's drowning, Excellent swimmer. Body found in shallow water. Another notation circles the name of a royal aunt. Car accident. Brake lines cut? No investigation.

Page after page, Ivan documented suspicious deaths spanning generations of Rostovas. Each one was ruled an accident, illness, or misfortune. Each one conveniently removed someone from the direct bloodline.

I lean back in my chair, processing what I'm seeing. Ivan believed someone had been systematically eliminating the Rostova family. Not quickly or obviously, but slowly and carefully over decades, waiting and planning, removing obstacles one by one until only Ana and her father remained.

I close the journal and lock it in my desk drawer. The sun is just starting to rise when Gregory arrives for our morning meeting. He looks as tired as I feel, dark circles under his eyes from coordinating search teams throughout the night.

"Teams are at the Rostova estate," he says. "They're stationed at every entrance, monitoring everyone who comes and goes." Gregory pulls out his tablet, scrolling through updates. "Still no sign of Ivan or the missing bodyguard. It's like they both vanished into thin air."

"The bodyguard is our strongest lead." I pour coffee, black and bitter. "What do we know about him?"

"Not much yet except he's been with the Rostova family for eight years. He has a clean record, married with two kids, and lives in a modest house."

"Family?"

"Wife claims she hasn't seen him since the wedding. Says he told her he had extra security duty and would be gone for a few days." Gregory meets my eyes. "She's either lying or he didn't tell her the truth."

"Dig deeper. If he disappeared willingly, there'll be evidence."

"Already on it." Gregory makes notes on his tablet. "I've also got men canvassing the city in sectors. If Ivan's being held somewhere, we'll find him."

"Divide the captains into smaller units. Assign each one a different section. I want every warehouse, safe house, and property connected to rival families searched." I drain my coffee and set the cup down with more force than necessary. "Someone knows something. Find them."

Gregory nods and leaves to coordinate the search efforts. I sit alone in my study for another hour, reviewing everything we know and still coming up with nothing useful. I need to get some fresh air, so I go for a walk in the gardens. I don't come out here often, usually only when I'm really stressed or just need to get away but don't want to leave the estate. Like now.