Til Death Do Us Part (Kornilov Bratva Duet #2) - Nicole Fox Page 0,21

on her feet.”

“How did she find you?” Viktor asks.

“I told her where I was living,” I lie, thinking quickly. If I tell Viktor how easily Hannah gained access to my location, he’d lock me in a cage and throw away the key. He’d never let me out of his sight again. If I want any semblance of freedom, I have to lie to him. Besides, I’ll change my passwords later. It won’t happen again, so there is no need to worry him.

He folds his arms over his chest. “What else did you tell her?”

“I told her you’re my husband.”

His eyes flick down the length of me and then away. He nods. “Have you told her about the Bratva or … Fedor?”

It’s hard for him to even say his brother’s name.

I shake my head.

“Good. Keep it that way.”

I cross my arms to mimic his posture. “Is that an order?”

Fire flares behind his eyes. “It is. And it’s for your own safety and hers. The less she knows, the safer she is.”

I know Viktor is right. It’s why I didn’t tell Hannah about everything immediately. I don’t want her getting tangled up in this. Still, Viktor’s command chafes like a collar around my neck. I don’t like being told what to do.

“Plus, the less she knows, the less she can pass on to our enemies,” he adds.

“She wouldn’t do that,” I insist.

Viktor shrugs. “You never know.”

“I do,” I say. “I trust Hannah. She has always been there to help me when I need it. I know her better than you.”

I regret the words the moment I say them. Mostly because they aren’t true. Not anymore, anyway. I have only spoken to Hannah a handful of times over the last few years. I don’t know much about her life at all anymore.

Viktor turns away, waving over his shoulder. “I won’t spoil your fun, then. Good night, Molly.”

I hear him say a short, but sweet goodbye to Theo before the door closes and he is gone.

6

Viktor

I call Petr again and let it ring five times before the automated voice clicks on to tell me the recipient of my call can’t make it to the phone and his voice mail is full.

I know. I’m the one who filled it.

We are supposed to meet this morning to talk about consolidating the business. The renovation to the motels is costing more than we expected, and I’m not confident we’ll make back the money we are spending fast enough for it to matter. Besides, we are operating with fewer men now that Fedor took half of them, so fewer moving parts mean fewer things to guard. It might make more sense to sell off a few nonessential motels that we aren’t currently using for stash houses, consolidate our men, and use the money from the sale to cover losses. I planned to talk it over with Petr. Except, he hasn’t shown up.

Petr has never been late to a meeting before. He has shown up half drunk and in pajama bottoms before, but he has never been late.

All I can think is that he is dead. Somehow, Fedor got to him and he has been killed.

I call anyone who might have an idea where Petr is and ask everyone at the office, but no one has seen him all morning.

Shit, shit, shit.

I call him again and again for almost an hour, growing more frantic with every unanswered call.

Then, just when I’ve decided to get up and go search the city for him myself, he answers.

“Hello,” he says, out of breath.

I let out a relieved breath, and then my relief instantly shifts to fury. “Where have you fucking been all fucking morning?” I growl.

I can practically see Petr wince through the phone. “I was tied up. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

“Unless you were actually tied up, you should have been able to answer your phone. We had a meeting this morning. Or, we were supposed to. Where were you?” I press.

There is a moment of hesitation, a beat of silence too long to miss. Then, he answers. “My mom is sick, and I don’t have cell signal in her apartment. It’s a dead spot for some reason. I’m sorry.”

“Aunt Vera?” I ask. “Why didn’t you just say so?”

Petr and I have a working relationship, but he is still my family. I’m his boss, but I like to think I’m not a monster.

“I don’t know,” Petr sighs. “I didn’t want you to think my attentions were divided. I thought I could handle