“I’m not sure.” I keep my tone steady. “The boys seem to think you’re hiding something.” I nod toward Kaz and Dario behind me.
Something flashes in her eyes—hurt? It’s gone as quickly as it came, her face going blank as she looks between us.
Lily eyes us with obvious disapproval.
“I see,” Selene says calmly. “Then I guess it’s time we talk.”
She gestures toward the hall, and we all head into the main living area.
“Where’s Maximus?” Dario looks around.
“He went to do his job,” she answers coolly. We all pause, sensing the shift.
“You might want to sit down for this,” she adds, motioning to the couch.
We sit, while she and Lily take the chairs across from us.
“Why are you guys really here?” she asks, eyes locked on mine.
I scoff. “You already know. The Russian skin trade we’ve been tracking.”
She nods but looks away, lost in thought for a moment.
“It’s not because Kaz is a Volkova?”
The air stills.
“What?” I ask, confused. “Ivan Volkova?”
All of us shake our heads.
She groans. “Seriously? I thought you were well-connected on the East Coast.”
“We are. What does Ivan have to do with this?” I press.
“Ivan, the old Pakhan of the Bravata. His family was murdered.”
She looks at us like we’re missing something obvious—and maybe we are.
“I’ve had a theory,” she continues, now speaking directly to Kaz. “Since your last name was mentioned.”
Kaz’s jaw tightens. “What’s your theory, milaya?”
She moves in front of him, takes his hand. “My father made me learn about all the major players. One of them was Ivan Volkova. He had a wife… and a son.”
Dario and I nod. We’d heard as much.
“But weren’t they all killed by his enforcer?” Dario cuts in.
Selene nods. “That’s the official story. But our division out east responded first. Only Ivan and his wife’s bodies were there.”
She looks at me, waiting for it to click.
And it does.
“So, if Ivan’s heir wasn’t there…” My brow furrows.
She nods. “And not just that. The trauma caused his wife to go into early labor.”
