Unfortunately, there wasn’t much we could do without further proof, so we move on to the last name on the list.
Kazimir.
The street we’re watching is narrow and dimly lit, but a busted streetlamp that flickers like a heartbeat. Kazimir struts out of a bar with his coat collar turned up, scarf loose around his throat.
“There he is,” I whisper, as if the girls can’t see him.
Sunniva grins, her eyes sparking with delight. “About time. Third time’s a fucking charm, I say.”
Lucetta shifts beside me, her eyes narrowing as if she’s already calculating the best angle to take him down. Her hand rests on her hip, next to her weapon. “We should wait until he’s clear. There are too many eyes here.”
I swallow hard because she’s right, but the tether in my chest is yanking like a chain. Konstanin feels my focus narrowing, and I swear I can almost hear his voice in my head.
Lisichka, what are you doing?
There’s no way our bond has evolved like that without me knowing, though, right?
My stomach twists at the thought of him knowing I’m keeping something so big as us going after Giselda hidden.
“Sunni,” I whisper. “Luce. What if he somehow already knows we’re doing this? Our bond is growing every day, and I don’t know what he can pick up from it and what he can’t.”
Sunniva snorts. “Of course, he knows. That man knows everything, even without your little woo-woo bond. He’s probably out there right now sharpening his favorite murder toy. The question is, do you tell him before we drag Kazimir in or after?”
Lucetta cuts me a sharp look and lays it to me straight. “You want to be an asset to him? Tell him now, on your terms, before he sniffs it out and makes the choice for you.”
Fuck. I hate it when I have to admit that my best friends are right. Those bitches will hold it over my head forever.
With a sigh, I pull my mobile from my pocket, my thumb hovering over Konstantin’s number. The bond hums harder inside my chest as if it’s daring me.
I hit call and bring my thumb to my mouth to chew on my nail as I listen to it ring. My leg trembles as I fight to keep it from bouncing up and down.
There’s a second where I debate hanging up because I’m terrified of what he’s going to say or do, but before I get the chance, he answers.
“Lisichka,” he purrs in that dangerous, dark tone that lets me know I’ve been a very bad girl. “Where are you?”
I close my eyes and then tell him the truth. “Don’t kill me, but I’m outside of a bar on Twenty-Third. Kazimir just walked out.”
The silence on the other end is so wintry that the chill from it sends goosebumps popping up along my arms. “Stay where you are.”
When the line goes dead, Sunniva snickers. “Oooh, Daddy’s pissed.”
“Stop calling him that,” I mutter, my hands shaking.
She grins wickedly. “You love it.”
Maybe, but I won’t tell that relentless brat that. She’ll tease me into the afterlife.
Before I can retort, black SUVs roll up the block and slide into place not far from us. Konstantin and Misha spill into the night, cloaked in shadows and violence.
Kon’s eyes pierce the darkness and find mine instantly. Our bond slams against me violently like a rogue wave. He doesn’t yell or scold, he justlooks. . . and it’s worse than any scream from him could be.
How Kazimir doesn’t feel the threat coming for him, I’ll never know.
He barely has time to blink before Misha’s hand is on him, yanking him back farther into the dark alleyway.
We climb out of the car, hurrying over to where they’re at. They need me and my abilities if we’re going to get anything from this lead. I can tell from the look Konstantin gives me thathe’s about to order me back, but I narrow my eyes and bare my teeth at him.
I fucking dare you, I tell him silently, not really expecting him to hear it.
