kitchen. My pace sucked. With my aches and pain, I should’ve been in bed.
Once we got to the kitchen’s doorway, I spotted Blue sitting at the table with an old woman.
“Emily.” Blue stood.
I’d met Blue when we looked for weapons in Kapotnya. She’d been posted in Boris’s cousins’ basement—skin the color of dark honey, no make-up, high cheekbones. Gorgeous. Spectacular dark eyes with long lashes. Usually her blue hair was braided. Today, long sky blue strands fell past her shoulders.
We had gone to Boris’s cousin to buy more weapons. I purchased a large set of guns and ammunition, but I believe the smartest grab was Blue. She had broken down each weapon with a skill that reminded me of Xavier. And like him, her second hobby was hacking and security attacks. I grabbed her instantly, offered her money, and told her to come to the property the next day.
Later when I was kidnapped in Paris, Blue assisted Kaz with getting me back, proving that she was a genius hire indeed.
Blue raised her chin. “Is there anything I can do, Emily? Get you something to eat or drink? Punch or shoot somebody?”
I grinned. Boris and Blue treated me like a queen. I didn’t know if I could get used to so much adoration.
“No, thank you. I’m heading to Kaz’s war room.”
The old woman sitting at the table looked up at me.
She was a quiet, older woman with the resigned eyes of someone who had seen everything. She smiled, pushing up some of the wrinkles on her cheeks. Her English left a lot to be desired. Not broken, but thick with a mixed accent that I couldn’t place. “Emily, sit. You have been through a lot.”
I stepped inside. “I’m sorry, but who are you?”
“Baba.”
I thought back to where I had heard that name before.
“Kaz, I may be. . .pregnant.”
He leaned away and beamed. “You are. You’re pregnant with a little girl.”
Confusion hit me. “What?”
“Baba told me.”
“Who the hell is Baba?”
Not answering, he consumed my lips.
I shook my head and returned my attention to the kitchen. “I’m sorry but I don’t have time to talk right now.”
“You do.” Baba reached into a large yarn pocketbook with bright colored stars sewn on the front. A second later, she pulled out a large glass jar full of multicolored herbs. “I brought my special tea, Emily. It will be good for you and the baby. Come sit. I can read your fortune.”
I gave her a weak smile. “I doubt you could read it. Especially, if you think I’m still pregnant.”
Baba’s expression didn’t change. “Come and sit. The tea will be good for the baby.”
I glared at her. “There is no baby.”
Unperturbed, Baba’s smile widened. “Let me know when you want your future read. Baba will be here, when you are ready.”
She’s crazy.
I headed off to the special staircase leading to Kaz’s war room. The last thing I needed to do was curse an old woman out. It wasn’t her fault that she didn’t get it. And my anger was more for me and partly for Kazimir and this whole war room crap. It had nothing to do with her.
Meanwhile. Blue left the table and rushed behind me. “I’m coming.”
Boris frowned. “Have you been watching like I asked?”
“Yes. Lots of people have been going in and out of there this morning. Tons of men. Everyone’s been buzzing. Talk about bombs and Paris.”
“Blue, do me a favor and get everybody together.” Heading up the stairs, I glanced over my shoulder. “Have them meet me at the building.”
“O-kay. So, you don’t want me to come?”
“No. Get everyone.”
“No problem, Emily.” She rushed away.
“What’s your plan?” Boris asked.
“I don’t know. I just think I’ll need everyone.” I looked around. “Where’s Yuri? He’s usually with you.”
Boris looked away.
I paused midway on the stairs. “What now? Is something up with Yuri?”
“So much happened. There wasn’t time to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“Someone killed Yuri.”
Yuri is dead? Why? Is it the person putting the monkey heads in my bedroom?
My eyes watered. The doctor said I would probably be more emotional due to all the hormones and with the recent loss. Things would probably hit me harder.
I held my side as the ache rose. “Yuri is gone?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” I took my time going up the stairs. “Boris, stay near me. We’ll have your bedroom closer to mine. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Who do you think killed him?”
“I don’t know. Right when I was going to investigate, Kaz ordered all of us to come