Page 20 of Arranged with Twins
In the back of the armored sedan, I strip off my ruined jacket and shirt while Sienna opens the first-aid kit the driver keeps stocked for exactly these situations. Her hands shake as she cleans the wound, but her focus remains steady.
“It’s not as bad as it looks.” I try to reassure her, though the cut stings more than I want to admit. “He mostly just sliced through fabric and skin.”
“You could have been killed.” Her voice carries a tremor she can’t quite hide. “If you hadn’t moved when you did...”
“I did move. That’s what matters.” I catch her wrist gently as she applies antiseptic to the wound. “Sienna, look at me.”
She meets my gaze, and the fear she’s trying to hide beneath practical concern shines through.
The realization that she was genuinely worried about my safety sends warmth through me that has nothing to do with the adrenaline still coursing through my system.
“I’m fine. We’re both fine. That’s what counts. ”
Ilya’s voice cuts through the moment from the front seat, his head bent over something on his lap.
I hear a click as he ejects a magazine from the grip.
“The weapon from his ankle holster is interesting. It’s the same caliber and manufacturer as the guns stolen from the Kolnaykov cache two weeks ago. ”
The confirmation of what I already suspected settles like ice in my stomach. “So, our friend tonight was armed with a weapon stolen from a previous operation.”
“Seems like, and it gets better. The knife he used has a distinctive handle design. It was custom work and expensive. It’s not something a random restaurant worker could afford on his salary.
” He holds up his phone. “I got a picture of it, but I couldn’t take it when so many people saw him try to use it on you.
I’ll look into it to see if I can find out who does this kind of work, and for whom they do it. ”
“That’s a good idea.” I settle back against the leather seat, my mind racing. Adrian isn’t just testing our defenses anymore. It seems he’s actively hunting. The escalation from harassment to attempted assassination represents a significant shift in his strategy, and I want to know why.
“What’s the timeline look like?” I ask Ilya while Sienna continues tending to my wound with careful precision.
“It’s hard to say. This felt like a probe rather than his best effort. Maybe he was testing response times or security protocols to see how close he can get before we react.” Ilya’s reflection catches my attention in the rearview mirror. “He’s building intelligence for something bigger.”
“Why such a public attack?” asks Sienna quietly.
I hesitate. “I’m not sure, unless he wanted to send a message that I’m vulnerable, and he’ll strike whenever he pleases.”
“That sounds like Adrian,” says Ilya.
“Who’s Adrian?” Sienna stares at him.
“Never mind about that,” I say, and she sighs but doesn’t argue. The thought of Adrian planning a more serious attempt while Sienna remains in the crossfire makes my jaw clench involuntarily. Tonight proved nowhere is completely safe, and even the most public venues can become hunting grounds.
“Double the security detail immediately for all. I want twenty-four hour coverage with no exceptions.” I look down at Sienna, who has finished bandaging the cut and is now sitting quietly beside me. “That includes you.”
She opens her mouth to protest, probably about to argue that she doesn’t need constant supervision. Then she seems to remember tonight’s events and simply nods instead. “Yes, I need extra protection now.”
“Good.” I pull on the spare shirt the driver passes back via Ilya. “It’s my gym shirt, but it’s clean,” says Dmitri.
I’m grateful to have something to wear, though I’m not wild about the bodybuilder character on the front. “What about Vincent’s situation? Any new developments there?”
With a warning glance at Sienna that disappears when I wave a hand, Ilya cautiously answer.
“That’s getting worse. Three more shipments have gone missing this week, always with the same pattern.
The containers are loaded correctly, with manifests matching, but the cargo disappears somewhere in transit.
” Ilya turns slightly in his seat. “He’s bleeding money and credibility with every loss. ”
The pressure on Vincent was always part of Adrian’s strategy to force him into increasingly desperate choices while his legitimate business crumbles around him.
Eventually, Vincent will have to choose between financial survival and family loyalty.
I suspect that choice point is approaching faster than any of us anticipated.
“What are you talking about?” Sienna sounds fearful for the first time all evening.
I hesitate. “It’s more of what I told you about weeks ago.
Your father has made some bad decisions, and they’re coming back to haunt him.
I’m trying to stop that.” I expect her to push for more information, so I feign a groan and clutch my side.
That distracts her back to tending to my wound.
I feel like a jerk for the move, but now isn’t the time to tell her everything.