Page 68 of Fallen Empire

I wasn’t ready to leave her, but I couldn’t protect her if I stayed.

Not like this.

Not when the walls were already closing in and we hadn’t even begun to count our enemies. We had to figure out a plan. It would be a matter of days before Savannah was released, and I sure as fuck wasn’t letting that happen with the threat of Koslov looming.

He may have left the note for me before she went missing, but Nic seeing him here wasn’t just a coincidence. I hadn’t been able to shake it since she’d told me.

I pulled out my phone before the door clicked shut behind me and called the one person I knew could give me answers.

Nic picked up on the second ring. “Tell me you’re not calling to check in.”

“You find anything yet?”

“Yep. I’m on my way to you now.”

“Nic—”

She cut me off. “Save it. You’ll want eyes on this.”

The line went dead.

Ben stood ahead in the hallway, posture tense but quiet. He didn’t look up when I stepped forward, just nodded once like he was waiting for me.

“Coffee?” I asked.

He kicked off the wall and led the way to the elevator.

We didn’t say anything as the elevator took us to the ground level. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, it was practiced. Both of us had seen too much to waste energy on small talk.

We stepped into the cafeteria, a place that felt too bright, too sterile, too normal for the kind of conversation we wereabout to have. Ben walked over to grab us coffee. I found a corner table tucked against the far wall, away from cameras and curious ears.

“She’s on her way,” I said, nodding to the empty seat across from me. “Nic.”

He nodded, eyes scanning the space. “She say why?”

“She wouldn’t over the phone. I have a feeling whatever it is isn’t good.”

Ben leaned back, exhaling through his nose. “You think it’s about Koslov?”

“I know it is.” I looked down at the table. “He was here. At the hospital. Nic saw him.”

Ben froze, his fingers curling around the cup. “He what?”

“She spotted him when she was getting food yesterday. Said he didn’t recognize her, but she knew it was him. He was calm. Like he belonged here. Like he’d already gotten what he came for.”

“Jesus.” Ben shook his head. “That means he got past every level of security we had in place. Me. Reaper. Cameras. Everyone. Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?”

“Did you want me to spill it in front of Millie and Savannah?”

I shook my head. “Nic said he’d left that note before Savannah went missing.” My voice dropped. “But showing up again? That wasn’t just for Savannah. He’s up to something.”

“Why now?” Ben asked. “Why even surface again?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” I paused, jaw tightening. “It’s not just vengeance. He’s acting like a man with orders.”

Ben narrowed his eyes. “You think he answers to someone?”

“I think…” I hesitated, then shook my head. “I think he’s not in control the way he wants us to believe. But until Nic gets here with whatever she found, it’s all speculation.”