Page 67 of Royal Bargain

And that’s no coincidence.

My chest tightens. Hands clenched so hard on the keyboard I could snap the damn thing.

They were there.

The Russians were there.

I sit back, jaw grinding, and let it settle in.

They didn’t just send a message to Ana. They aimed one at Burns too. Or maybe they weren’t even messages—maybe they were warnings. Punishments. Threats.

And if Ana had been a step closer to the blast zone?—

No. I can’t even finish the thought.

They’ve crossed a line.

They’re not just trying to scare her anymore. They’re trying to bleed her life out from under her. Piece by piece. And now they’re going after anyone who gives her shelter.

Burns. Me. Whoever stands between them and their puppet strings.

The rage comes quick, hot, and white and blinding. I grip the desk, try to breathe through it, but it won’t budge.

They think she’s weak. That because she walked away, they can come in and take what’s theirs.

But she’s not alone anymore.

Not while I’m still breathing.

If they want her back so badly, they’re going to have to tear her out of my arms. And I swear to God?—

I’ll tear the whole fucking Bratva down before I let that happen.

I’m still sitting at the desk, fingers tense over the keyboard, when the front door opens and Ana steps inside, cradling Lily in one arm while unzipping her jacket with the other. “I told her you can’t have that rock, miss ma’am, but she wasn’t having it.”

Kate follows behind with the diaper bag, shaking her head with a fond smile. “She’s got strong opinions for a four-month-old, I’ll give her that.”

Shane lingers just outside the door for a final scan of the street before stepping in and shutting it tight. He gives me a nod—silent confirmation that nothing suspicious followed them.

Good.

I stand, crossing the room before I even realize I’ve moved. Ana looks up, eyes crinkling at the edges when she sees me.

“You look tense,” she says, adjusting Lily in her arms. “Everything okay?”

I glance at Lily—her soft, rosy face peeking out from the hood of her little onesie—and feel that fury spike again. But I swallow it down. No explosions. Not yet.

“Yeah,” I lie. “Just been digging into some stuff.”

Ana raises an eyebrow. “The kind of stuff that gives you that ‘I want to punch a wall’ look?”

Kate senses the shift and quickly excuses herself to put Lily down for a nap. Shane disappears into the hallway, giving us space.

Once they’re gone, I take Ana’s hand and lead her gently to the couch. She follows without resistance, searching my face like she already knows something’s wrong.

I sit beside her, knees spread, elbows on my thighs.

“I think I know who was behind the shooting,” I say quietly.