Page 73 of Konstantin

That’s not likely.

“What else do we know?”

“They moved their location again,” Aleksei continues. “Went underground. Every contact we’ve leaned on says the same thing. But the word on the street is clear.”

Kirill picks it up. “They want her blood and won’t rest until they get it. There’s even talk of a bounty.”

I slam a fist on the desk, sending pens scattering to the ground. “Find them and bring them to me. Every last one of them!”

“Trying,” Aleksei says calmly. “But they’re ghosts right now.”

“You’re telling me none of you can hunt down a nest of fucking roaches?” My temper continues to unravel. “If anything happens to her…” My voice carves through, sharp and unforgiving. “It’s on every single one of you. And I don’t forget.”

“You’re serious.” Anton tilts his head, eerily still, his gaze narrowing. “Why is she not dispensable? Why do you care? She’s not family. She’s not necessary.”

“She saved my life.”

Of course, that’s not the only reason why, but Anton of all of them would never get it. He hasn’t understood connection since the night our father slammed a bottle across his skull and left him unconscious for hours. Whatever emotion used to live in him died then. After that, he just…stopped feeling. Stopped caring. A perfect killer.

Sometimes I envy that. The simplicity of not giving a damn.

“She’s useful,” I add. “Not that I need to justify anything to any of you.”

“Of course not,” Aleksei replies, throwing his hands in the air.

“She shares your bed. Of course she’s useful.” Kirill laughs.

“Enough!”

Anton tilts his head. “You’d go to war for her?”

“I’d wage a thousand wars to keep her safe, even if it was just foran hour.”

The room goes silent, all eyes on me. The man I was before I met her would laugh. To go to war for a woman never crossed my mind until now.

Kirill flips the blade closed. “Nu da. Never thought I’d see the day Konstantin caught feelings.”

“That’s not what this is,” I grit out.

“Like hell it isn’t,” he adds, smirking.

My eyes cut toward him.

He holds up his palms. “Hey, I’m not judging. She’s beautiful. Deadly. I’d probably catch feelings too.”

My eyes narrow. “Call her beautiful again, and I’ll rip your tongue out. You focus on the crew. Leave her out of your mouth.”

“So sensitive.” Aleksei laughs. “How exactly do you plan to keep her safe?”

I let a small, sharp smile play at the corner of my mouth. “Don’t worry about that.”

Kirill raises a brow. “You’ve already planned it out, haven’t you?”

“Of course.”

They don’t need to know anything. Not yet. But I’ve thought of the perfect way to ensure her absolute protection.

If DeLuca wants her blood? He’ll have to go through me.