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I slam the now-empty glass on the table and lean forward.

“I'm trying to change our ways, but I cannot change our past,” he grits out. Leaning toward me, his knuckles go white on the armrests. “Would you want people to blame you for your past when you had nothing to do with it?”

A bit of the rising indignation falters. Okay, maybe my reasoning isn't sound, but still, how am I to trust him?

“I don't trust you,” I state, holding his gaze.

“We will build. To start.” Raising a hand, he flicks two fingers in the air in a summoning gesture. Igor the Giant steps forward and places a manila envelope in Vlad's awaiting hand.What’s with them and envelopes? Haven’t they heard of email?Vlad stands, straightens his suit jacket, and steps around the table to stand in front of me. In my periphery, two bodies shift closer, their movement rigid.

Vlad's dark eyes meet mine. Slowly he extends the envelope toward me and nods, indicating for me to take it. The smooth, thick paper slides over my fingertips as I carefully tug it from his hand.

“That will have the information you want on the man who follows your daughter.”

“Follows?” I gasp.

His bushy dark brows furrow. “Yes, follows.”

“How do you know this?” My fingers itch to rip open the seal and scour the information inside. Instead I hold the envelope close to my chest, protecting it with my life.

“I'm Russian,” he responds like I'm an idiot. “We know.” His gaze softens. “This builds trust, yes?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

With a nod, he gives a few shouted commands in Russian. Four men appear at his side within seconds.

“Madam Vice President, it was a pleasure. When you are ready to know truth, you come to me. I have it all.”

With a nod of respect, he turns on his heels, the four guards following step for step.

“Why do you hate him? Kyle—I mean the president. Why do you want me in that role instead of him?”

Now at the edge of the room, Vlad turns back, cloaked in shadows. “He is not a good man.”

“And you think I am, or a good woman, I mean? You don’t know anything about me. I’m not that great.”

He takes a menacing step forward; the shadows pull away from his face, revealing the hate sketched across his features.

“He prey on the weak. Takes advantage because he can. Uses his power and money for those he favors. You know this.” I'm about to say I do but seal my lips when I realize he's not talking to me. Following his hard gaze to Trey, I bolt up from the chair. “I know his plans. He must be stopped. War will come unless we stop it now.”

“What if I don't want it?” I whisper, voicing the growing fear pricking the back of my mind.

“We do what we have to do to protect those we love,” he says, a nostalgic tone in his voice. “We, you and I, know there are those who cannot protect themselves, who are kept behind by those who wish to rule without pushback. It will not be easy, but nothing has been, correct?”

“No.” My eyes search his, desperate for more reasons than the shitty ominous one he just laid out.

“Neither this. Come to me when you need the proof. I'll be waiting.”

Loud bangs and excited shouts pour from the kitchen, filling the private room as Vlad and his protection detail quickly file out. Only once the door clicks closed do I take a deep breath.

Turning to the guys, I search their rigid faces.

“What the actual fuck was that about?”

“I'll take that,” T says, tugging at the envelope clutched tightly between my hands. I tighten my grip, holding it firm. “Randi.”

I shake my head, unwilling to let the information go.

“What did he mean by follows?” I ask, my eyes searching his dark ones. “We knew about the listening devices in her dorm, but someone following her? Is that why he had his own guys out there making sure she was safe? I don’t understand his angle in all this.”