Page 80 of Devil's Azalea

But why has she never brought it up with me before?

And going after the Albanians like this—not arresting them, not building a case, buteliminatingthem?

The image of the redhead woman I kidnapped last year pops up in my mind, followed immediately by Maximo’s face—his expression contorted with rage and betrayal.No.Absolutely not.Arresting them for their crimes is one thing. But trying tokill them? Not trying…actuallykilling them? Maximo would never forgive me.

“Miss? Miss? We’re here.”

I glance up with a start to see the driver frowning at me through the rearview mirror. “Sorry,” I mutter, handing him a wad of bills before scooting out of the vehicle.

A couple of kids skip past me on the sidewalk, belting out Christmas carols at the top of their lungs, and I scowl at their retreating backs.When did it get so close to Christmas?I shake my head and make my way into the warm interior of my apartment building, desperate to escape the festive atmosphere that seems to mock my state of mind.

The doorman is engrossed in a phone call, so he just nods in acknowledgement. I return the gesture, deliberately averting my eyes from the shining tree in the lobby as I get into the elevator.

“Hey! Why didn’t you wait for me before leaving the office?” I shout into the apartment as I go in. Katie’s bedroom door opens and she pokes her head out.

“You know how long your meetings with Stacey usually run? I was famished after the long night we’ve had,” she answers as she walks into the living area, her eyes tracking my movements with unusual intensity.

“What?” I shrug off my jacket, suddenly self-conscious. One hand flies to my face. “Do I have some snow on me or something?”

“You’re just… taking it really well, is all,” she says carefully. “I almost lost my shit when I heard the news and was sureyou’dactually flip out.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I frown at her. “What news?” Does she know about my new mission already? About what Stacey asked me to do?

Her eyes widen, the lights playing prettily with her blueirises. “Oh... oh shit. You haven’t heard? Didn’t you just come from the office?”

“Spit it out already, Katherine.” I grit my teeth, intentionally using her full name.

She presses her lips together, her face scrunching up like she’s about to deliver a fatal blow. “The guy we saw with Jason Moore at that restaurant is none other than Sergey Volkov, thepakhanof the Russian Bratva.”

My heart does a quick thud. I had suspected, of course, but for it to actually be true… “Shit. That’s a hell of a jackpot.” No wonder Stacey was so impressed with me and either didn’t notice or chose to ignore my slipping symptoms.

“He was released,” Katie adds, cutting off my momentary triumph.

My jaw drops, and for a moment, all I can do is stare at her in stunned silence. “What?”

She nods slowly. “So was Jason.”

“So was Jasonwhat?” There’s no way. No fucking way he was released—not with how Greg had been riding my ass about getting him.

Katie’s lips thin. “Well, technically he’s still in custody, but the release papers are already signed. He’ll be out in the morning.”

“Fuck!” I punch the back of the couch in a burst of anger.

All that work—almost getting caught the night of the ballet performance, almost fucking getting shot at that restaurant—for nothing? I might have lost my goddamn life if Rafael hadn’t been there two nights ago. And for what? For those two criminals to just be fucking released?

My blood boils so hot I swear I can feel it searing through my veins, and my entire body starts shaking as tears of frustration gather at the corners of my eyes.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Emilia, you need to calm down. Deep breathes in.” Katie’s voice sounds distant, muffled by the roaring in my ears.

I whirl away from her and her reasonable voice, squeezing my eyes shut as I struggle to contain the volcanic fury threatening to erupt. “Who gave the order?”

“I–I’m not sure, but the rumors are that it came from the director or someone higher. You know Greg doesn’t have that sort of authority.”

Someone higher?The director is the fucking highest authority in the bureau, answerable only to the attorney general. But it couldn’t have been Stacey.It couldn’t have.

She’s the one most obsessed with bringing down the Nightshades—with destroying Rafael specifically. She wants his entire camp destabilized and stripped of allies. That’s why we went after the fucking councilor in the first place.

“Stacey didn’t mention anything to you?”