Page 26 of Bound Vows (Empire City Syndicate #3)

Andrei

Watching my empire burn while sitting in a mountain fortress proves that paranoia is just pattern recognition when someone you trust has been systematically destroying everything you’ve built.

“Three more operations compromised in the past twelve hours,” Alexei announces as he enters my office. “Federal raids on the warehouse in Brooklyn, the shipping facility in Queens, and the safe house in the Bronx.”

I close the laptop containing Maya’s latest medical reports and notes from Dr. Morrison about her progress since we’ve implemented his recommendations—supervised walks around the property, access to books and entertainment, and choices about daily meals and activities—and lean back in my chair as Alexei spreads surveillance photographs across my desk. “Casualties?”

“None. Our people evacuated minutes before the raids began, like someone warned them when to leave.” He points to timestamps on the surveillance images. “The timing was too perfect to be coincidental.”

“Inside information.”

“Has to be. Someone with access to operational schedules, personnel assignments, and security details.” Alexei slumps into the chair across from my desk. “The leak is coming from within the organization.”

I study the photographs, recognizing the faces of federal agents who’ve been trying to penetrate my operations for years. The fact that they’re suddenly achieving coordinated strikes suggests intelligence gathering that goes far beyond normal investigative work.

I pour vodka from the bottle in my desk drawer and sigh. “The question is whether we’re dealing with a turned asset or an intentional plant.”

“There’s a third option you won’t like.”

“Which is?”

“The leak is coming from inside this facility. Someone who’s been here during the planning phases of every compromised operation. Boss, I think we need to consider that Katarina might be involved. They started just after her first visit.”

The suggestion nearly knocks me over, though I force myself to consider the implications rather than rejecting it outright.

Katarina has access to everything—operational plans, security schedules, personnel information, and detailed knowledge of how my organization functions, and she’s been here almost every day. Still…

“Katarina has been loyal to this organization for eight years,” I point out. “She has no motive for betrayal.”

Alexei leans forward reluctantly. “She has the strongest possible motive, sir. You married another woman and brought her to the one place Katarina probably considered her sanctuary. Boss, she’s been in love with you since Elena died. Maybe longer. Everyone knows this.”

“Being in love doesn’t make someone a traitor.”

“Being in love with someone who’s obsessed with another woman makes people do desperate things.” He pulls out his phone and shows me communication logs. “Katarina has been making encrypted calls when she’s here, always when you’re occupied with Maya’s care.”

“She coordinates intelligence-gathering for the organization. Encrypted communications are part of her job.”

“Not to numbers that trace back to federal task forces.” Alexei’s words land like bullets between my ribs. “Boss, I think she’s been feeding them information in exchange for immunity. Or maybe she thinks you’ll suspect Maya and turn on her.”

Before I can respond to this devastating possibility, footsteps in the hallway announce Katarina’s approach. She enters my office with her usual confident stride, though I notice how her gaze immediately moves to the surveillance photographs spread across my desk.

“Alexei,” she greets with professional courtesy before turning her attention to me. “I heard about the raids. Devastating losses, but at least our people escaped without casualties this time.”

“Convenient timing for those escapes.” I study her face for deception. “Almost like someone provided a warning. But they’d have to know the raid was coming.”

Katarina shrugs and smiles like I’ve just paid her a compliment. “Early warning systems prevent these kinds of disasters.”

“Or high-level intelligence from someone with intimate knowledge of our operational structure could be behind it.” I stand and walk around the desk until I’m close enough to see the pupils of her eyes. “Someone who understands our defensive strategies well enough to neutralize them.”

“Which is why we need to identify and eliminate the source. Internal security breaches threaten everything we’ve built.”

“Everything I’ve built,” I correct again, noting how she unconsciously steps back when I do.

“Some threats to what you have built might come from sources you trust too much to see clearly.”

“Sources like Maya?”

She glances at Alexei, who’s watching this exchange with tension. “I’ve told you before that your marriage has created security complications that extend beyond personal considerations.”

“The only obvious threat I see is someone who’s been systematically sabotaging my operations while pretending to investigate security breaches.” I place my hands on either side of her against the window frame, trapping her. “Someone who has access to everything that’s been compromised.”

“You think I’m the leak?” Her laugh sounds forced and brittle. “After eight years of loyalty, you suspect me of betraying everything?”

“I suspect you of eliminating threats to whatever future you think we’re supposed to have.” I lean closer until she’s pressed against the glass. “The question is whether you’re sabotaging my operations to protect me or to remove obstacles to your agenda.”

“My agenda has always been your protection.” Katarina’s breathing becomes shallow as panic overtakes her composure. “Everything I’ve done has been to ensure your survival.”

“Everything you’ve done has been to ensure Maya’s isolation and my dependence on your continued presence.

” I step back and gesture for Alexei to remain alert.

“Including feeding information to federal agencies that results in raids timed perfectly to avoid casualties while destroying infrastructure.”

Tears form in her eyes, though whether from genuine emotion or tactical manipulation is unclear. “You’re wrong. I would never betray you, no matter what you think about my feelings. I’ve been trying to protect you from making the same mistakes that got Elena killed.”

“Elena’s death wasn’t a mistake. It was a targeted assassination designed to destroy me psychologically while eliminating someone I loved.” I return to my desk and pour another vodka. “The only mistake was trusting people who pretended to care about my welfare while pursuing their agendas.”

Katarina moves away from the window with renewed aggression. “She’s not Elena, Andrei. That girl will never be the kind of woman Elena was. Elena loved you enough to die for you. Maya loves herself enough to use you for her survival.”

“There’s also a difference between love and obsession. Elena’s love was healthy and reciprocated. Your obsession is destructive and one-sided.” I reach for my phone to summon security. “Which is why your employment with this organization is terminated.”

Katarina scoffs, and the sound morphs into hysteria. “You can’t fire me. I know too much about your operations. I know things about Elena’s death that would destroy you if they became public.”

Alexei moves toward her, but I raise a hand. “Such as?”

“The bomb wasn’t intended for you, Andrei. It was intended for her, triggered by someone who knew her daily routines well enough to time the explosion perfectly.” The admission tumbles out before she can stop it, and her face transforms with the realization of what she’s just revealed.

“Elena’s death was random retaliation. An attack on me that caught her in the crossfire.” I tilt my head, watching her as I add, “Unless you’re suggesting otherwise.”

Katarina backs away from me with growing panic. “Some truths would destroy everything you believe about love and loyalty and justice.”

“What truths, Katarina?” I ask, following her.

“Nothing. I misspoke. Elena’s death was exactly what you’ve always believed it was.” She backs toward the door while I follow with inexorable patience. “Random violence from enemies who wanted to hurt you.”

“Except you just said the bomb was intended for her. You said someone knew her routines well enough to time the explosion. Who knew Elena’s routines that well, Katarina?”

“Her family. Her friends. Anyone who has spent time around your house.” The words tumble out in a desperate rush. “Lots of people knew when she left for work each morning.”

“Not lots of people. Very few people, because Elena varied her schedule to avoid predictable patterns at my instruction.” I pull out my phone and scroll through old security reports.

“Only three people knew she was leaving early that morning to pick up groceries before her doctor’s appointment.

Me, Elena, and the person she called the night before to ask about meeting for lunch afterward.

” I show her the phone records I’ve memorized.

“The person who suggested she leave early to avoid traffic.”

Katarina’s face goes white as she realizes the trap she’s walked into. “I don’t remember suggesting anything about timing.”

“No? The phone records show a twenty-minute conversation between you and Elena the night before she died. A conversation where you recommended she leave at seven-thirty instead of eight-fifteen.” I close the phone and study her face.

“Care to explain why you encouraged your sister to change her routine?”

“I was being helpful. Traffic was always terrible at eight-fifteen, so I suggested she leave earlier to avoid the rush. It was innocent advice.”

“Innocent advice that placed her in the location at the time necessary for a bomb to kill her. Either you’re the unluckiest sister in history, or you knew exactly what would happen when you made that call.”

“You’re wrong. I loved Elena. I would never have hurt her.” Tears stream down her face now, though I’m not sure whether they’re from guilt or fear. “She was my only family.”

My nostrils flare as the truth lodges in my chest. “She was the only thing standing between you and what you wanted. Elena’s death gave you access to me, purpose in my organization, and eight years to position yourself for whatever future you’ve been planning.”

Katarina reaches for the door handle with trembling hands. “When you realize the truth, it will be too late to fix the damage you’re about to cause.”

“The only truth I need is the one you’ve just confirmed through your words and reactions.” I stop just close enough to ensure she understands the full implications of this conversation. “You killed your sister to have access to me, then spent years positioning yourself to replace her.”

“I didn’t kill anyone. I just…” She stops herself before completing the admission, but the damage is already done.

“Get out. Get out now, before I lose control and do something that even I might regret. You have five minutes to leave this property before I stop caring about Elena’s dying wish.”

After Katarina flees, I collapse into my chair with Alexei staring on. For eight years, I’ve been protecting and supporting the woman who murdered my wife and unborn child. The irony tastes as much like poison as it does rage.

I reach for my phone to increase security around Maya, knowing that Katarina’s obsession won’t end with her dismissal. If anything, losing her position will make her more dangerous.