Page 74 of Innocent Prey of the Bratva

“Yes. Everything is under control now,” Maxim says, calm and sure. “We’ve swept the entire place. No more intrusions. Security’s tight again. And….” He pauses for effect. “Milos has been captured. He’s in the basement.”

A flicker of cold satisfaction rushes through me.

Finally.

“Good,” I say. “Send a team to the holding facility. I want a full perimeter lockdown to keep Violet safe.”

“On it.”

“I’ll come deal with Milos myself.”

Maxim doesn’t ask questions. He knows the tone in my voice well enough to know that it means someone’s not walking away.

“Understood.”

I hang up and sit back for a moment, rubbing my jaw.

Milos. My trusted guard. One of the few men I never doubted. Since Maxim named him the rat, something in me hasn’t sat right. The facts point his way. The betrayal fits.

But my gut—my gut is loud.

And unsettled.

Still…I’m not leaving any stone unturned when it comes to Violet’s safety. If Maxim and Arina say it’s him, then maybe….

But maybe it isn’t enough.

I grab my personal burner and dial a number I haven’t touched in a year.

Nikolai Volkov-Rusnak. Head of the Volkov Bratva in Chicago. One of the only people I’ve ever called a friend.

The line clicks once.

“Funny you call now after a year,” Niko says, his voice smooth and amused. “What a coincidence. I’m in your city. Flew in this morning.”

Relief courses through me like a shot of whiskey.

“Meet me at my estate,” I say.

“I might be busy.”

“Nothing more important than what I’m going through. See you in an hour.”

He chuckles—low and lethal. “I’ll humor you.”

The call ends. I set the phone down, staring at the black screen for a long second. If there’s one person who can sniff out the truth buried under all this chaos, it’s Niko.

And I need the truth. Now more than ever.

At that moment, the door swings open and Arina walks in, one hand still pressed to their earpiece. “The security detail just arrived.”

I nod once. “Good. They're here to guard Violet. Brief them and wait for me in the garage—we’re heading back to the estate to deal with Milos.”

They give me a sharp nod and disappear down the hall without another word. I reach for a notepad and tear off a clean sheet. My handwriting is quick, messy.

“I’ll be back soon. You’re safe here. I promise. —K”

I fold the note and head to Violet’s room. She’s still curled up beneath the blankets. She looks so small. So damn breakable. I step in quietly and slip the note underneath the table lamp. My eyes stay on her longer than I should allow myself. I shouldn’twake her. She needs rest. Peace. Everything I’ve never known how to give.