Page 57 of Innocent Prey of the Bratva

Noelle’s eyes widen. “What? Vi, what the hell is happening? Can you send me your location? I’ve gone to thepolice, but I don’t have much information to give them, so there’s literally little they can do. Vi, I’m freaking out over here.”

“I know,” I say quickly. “I know, I’m sorry. But these people…the police can’t do anything.”

My heart skips at the thought of the police raiding the estate, even though I know that’s not remotely possible.

Noelle gives me a look. “Start talking. Now.”

I swallow, then glance at the locked door again.

“The people I saw that night,” I begin, keeping my voice low, “the ones I caught on camera before the shooting…they followed me.”

Noelle stiffens.

“They found me. Kidnapped me.”

“Oh my God, Violet—”

“They’re part of the Bratva.”

Noelle’s eyes widen on the screen. “Wait—which Bratva?”

The urgency in her voice startles me. “I….” I blink. “The Southern wing.”

Noelle’s face goes dead serious, the color draining from her cheeks. “The Rusnaks? Kazimir Rusnak?”

I nod slowly, thrown. “Wait. How do you know that name?”

Noelle hesitates. Then exhales sharply like a dam breaking. “Violet, there’s something you need to know about me.”

My heart kicks. “What do you mean?”

She leans in closer, voice low and taut. “I’m not just—”

Before she can say anything else, the door swings open, and Kaz steps in.

And freezes.

His eyes zero in on the burner phone in my hand. In that exact moment, the air shifts. I don’t even know what’s on my face—guilt? Panic? My stomach drops.

“Noelle—” I whisper urgently. “I’ll call you back—”

I fumble quickly and end the call, ignoring her protests. Kaz doesn’t shout. He doesn’t lose his temper or rip the phone from my hands like I half expect him to.

He just…calmly takes it from me. Fingers brushing mine with that strange, cold gentleness that always makes my pulse race.

“Who were you talking to?” he asks, his voice unreadable, turning the phone over in his hands.

I swallow and tell the truth. “Noelle. She’s my roommate and one of my best friends. I’ve been trying to reach her since I got here. I didn’t want to…cross you. I just wanted to let her know I’m safe and to ask why she never replied.”

His eyes stay fixed on mine. “And?”

I exhale shakily. “She said she’s been trying to message me back for weeks. That she calls every day. But nothing ever goes through. Her calls bounce. Her texts vanish. It’s like….” I shake my head, frowning. “Like the phone only works one way.”

Kaz looks down at the burner in his palm. His expression doesn’t change, but something shifts behind his eyes. He continues to turn it over in his hands.

“And where did you get it?”

I hesitate.