Page 91 of His Forced Bride

Inessa's sudden strength and calmness impress me.

I find my hand reaching for the small of her back as a means of support, but the way she's reacting now, I don't know if she needs it.

This is a side of her I've not witnessed.

She chokes back her cries and squeezes her friend's hand tightly.

Alina shakes her head.

"I should've seen it coming. There was this man yesterday asking questions about security, about when the showroom was busiest. I thought he was a potential investor."

My attention sharpens, and I lean in closer to Inessa, drawing her into my side.

"Describe the man," I tell her.

"Older, maybe fifties. Gray hair, expensive clothes. Foreign accent, not Russian."

Kozlov's advance scout.

The bombing wasn't even spontaneous.

It was planned, timed for maximum casualties during peak business hours.

These fuckers are crossing lines left and right, and it's making my fucking blood boil.

Reluctantly, I move away from the women.

Inessa is holding her own now as she becomes the leader of her people instead of the victim who clings to me.

I have to deal with this and call Dimitri.

He answers on the first ring.

He doesn't waste time with greetings.

"I heard," he growls, and I already hear the judgment in his tone.

"How bad?"

I hear the scrape of a chair in the background and wonder what he's doing.

"Bad enough," I reply, keeping my voice steady even though fury burns beneath the surface.

"Kozlov sent a message, and he meant for it to be heard by everyone in the city."

I shift my weight, scanning the ruined street as I speak, letting my brother hear the steel in my tone.

He's passing judgement silently, but I intend to show him I'm not a weak man.

There’s silence for a beat, then Dimitri exhales sharply.

"Well, what's your response?"

His voice is edged with anticipation, like he knows the answer but needs to hear me say it.

"Complete destruction," I tell him, making clear that nothing of Kozlov's operation will be left standing.

My grip tightens on the phone, and I watch the paramedics carry out another stretcher.