Page 84 of Arranged Control

“Enough. No more. Do not ask me about that woman again, do you understand? No more!”

He storms out. I watch him go, surprised at his anger. I didn’t expect him to spill everything he knows, but I also had no clue mentioning Molchanie would make him that upset.

Clearly, there’s a lot he’s not telling me.

Which is extremely frustrating. I have three days to hunt down Molchanie, or at least to find out why she cares about my marriage to Seamus so much. Papa could help if he wanted, but it’s clear he’s not going to.

“Katya? Can you do me a favor?” I find the housekeeper in the hallway pretending to dust a dresser. She does that when she wants to hang around while looking busy.

“Anything at all, Alinochka. I just hope you can forgive your father. He can be so difficult sometimes.”

“That’s fine. I’m used to it. But I want to know where Taras is.”

She looks surprised. My much older brother and I never got along very well. We’re half-siblings, and he always treated me like a nuisance at best.

“Taras is in the gym downstairs.”

“Thank you!”

I stride past her and head into the basement. I find Taras sitting on a bench, sweaty and catching his breath, idly scrolling on his phone. He’s got his usual scowl on his face and glances up when I call his name.

“I didn’t know you were home,” he says, not sounding happy about it.

“Just here to ask Dad about something, but he wasn’t helpful.” I sit across from him.

“I doubt you’ll get more out of me. I’m still not finished with my workout.”

“What do you know about Molchanie?”

He frowns slightly. “The assassin? Not much. She’s expensive.”

“Dad said the same thing.”

“Because it’s true. Twice as much as anyone else. But she’s very, very good. Always gets the job done and cleans up afterward too.”

“Papa wouldn’t talk about her. The second I mentioned her name, he acted all strange.”

He grunts, tilting his head to the side. “He’s been strange for the past few days, actually. More reserved. Hiding in his office. I have no idea what’s going on with him.”

“Think it’s got to do with Molchanie?”

“I doubt it.” He puts his phone aside and glares at me. “Are we done? I need to get back to lifting.”

“Pleasure as always, brother.”

“Half-brother,” he corrects, which I knew he would.

I leave him to his weights, my brain working in circles.

Papa knows Molchanie. I don’t know if they’re close or if it’s something else, but they’ve got a connection. I’m absolutely sure of it. But I don’t know how that loops around to me.

I need to figure it out.

If I can, I might be able to stop Molchanie from killing again.

Chapter 27

Seamus