Page 34

A black sedan sits partially hidden beneath a cluster of trees beyond the property line. It doesn't look like much. Just another vehicle parked beside the road. But according to Luka, someone sat there for eighteen minutes watching the mansion, and the thought makes my skin crawl.

“When did it leave?” Alexei asks.

“Three minutes ago.”

The tech zooms in on the footage until the vehicle fills the screen. I wrap my arms around myself while Alexei steps closer.

“Can you identify the driver?”

The tech shakes his head no. “Windows are too dark.”

“Blyat,” Alexei growls.

The room falls silent except for the buzz of electronics. Luka points toward another monitor.

“We got the plate.”

The tech enters a series of commands, and information begins scrolling across the screen. Several long seconds pass before he swears quietly.

Alexei's voice hardens. “What?”

The tech glances over his shoulder. “False plate.”

My stomach sinks even farther. Nothing about any of this is normal.

Alexei takes another step toward the monitor. “Run it again.”

The tech tries again, but it doesn't help. The plate is still false, with no registration and no owner attached to it. Every answer creates two more questions.

No one speaks while Alexei studies the image on the screen.

“Find out who it was.” His voice drops lower. “Find out who dared get this close to my family.”

My family.

My chest aches unexpectedly.

Luka nods once. “We'll find them.”

Alexei doesn't answer. He continues staring at the monitor, already somewhere else mentally. Planning. Hunting. Calculating and looking for weaknesses. It should make me feel safer. Instead, it reminds me how serious this all is.

Nobody notices when I quietly back toward the door. Or maybe they do and let me leave. Either way, I slip into the hallway and let out a deep breath. By the time I reach the library, my nerves feel stretched so tight I could scream.

The door closes behind me. I lean against it and squeeze my eyes shut. My hands are shaking.

Well, ain't that just great.

I cross the room and lower myself into one of the oversized leather chairs near the window before pulling out my phone. There's only one person I want to talk to right now.

Jules answers on the second ring.

“Maggie.”

“Hey.”

“How's mansion life?” he asks.

I huff out a laugh. “Thrilling.”