Page 114 of Scarlet Vows

I give him a rundown, leaving Santo’s name out of it.

“So someone set you up?”

“Yes,” I say.

“No, Ilya sold us out,” Denis growls, but there’s a lack of real conviction. The words still bite.

Pavel laughs. “I’ll fucking finish the job if I believed you meant that. Ilya’s loyal. He wouldn’t do that.”

“No I fucking wouldn’t.” I grit my teeth.

“Well,” he says with a grunt of pain. “Someone did.”

“Someone did, and I’d like to know who,” I say, though Isuspect I know. I keep a tight hold on the hot fury burning like acid in my veins.

Pavel runs a hand over his face. “We’ll find out.”

“I owe you for this,” I mutter. Fuck, I’m gonna owe Demyan.

“It’s fine.” Pavel shrugs.

But it isn’t. I failed. I trusted the wrong person.

I glance back at Denis, who’s pale and starting to sweat. “How in the hell did you get everyone there so fast?”

“Like I said. I thought about what you said at the meeting to Melor. Too fucking easy. I have interests in this bratva. We were on our way before you gave the signal. Also, I saved your ass.”

I look at him. “I’m lucky the Simonov backup were cautious.”

“They probably knew they had the time to get there. A bloodbath and then come in slow and finish the job. Need a car?” Denis asks as we pull into the hospital.

I sigh and rub my eyes. “I have to get back to the compound. Shit’s hitting the fan now.”

He cuts me a look. “Need help?”

“I’d love help, but I don’t think help’s going to help here.”

“You’re probably right.”

He puts a call in to one of the drivers and gets them to meet me at the hospital, a place I really don’t want to step foot into.

I don’t know if my grandfather has a private hospital he pays for. Money goes everywhere, but unless it was listed under something else, I don’t think so. I guess Melor claiming he was loyal to his men didn’t extend to care if things went wrong.

My earpiece is still in, but it’s dead. We must be out of range, but I call Santo. It goes straight to voicemail.

“I’m coming back with you,” Denis says weakly from the back.

I don’t bother looking at him. “You’re getting your wounds looked at and taken care of.”

I let Pavel know I’ll be paying all the bills and making a donation to the hospital. I don’t know how much the hospital cares about what Demyan spends because of his hefty donations. The hospital is in his pocket.

I’m not Demyan. So I’ll donate heavily. I’ll pay what is asked. It’s a real hospital, but the exclusive emergency part is mostly for Demyan and other rich folk who don’t want anyone to know they’re here.

After the men are unloaded, I shake hands with Pavel, who promises to leave a guard. Denis has passed out, but I’m sure he’ll be calling the moment he wakes up. With the head surgeon promising to call with updates, I head to the car and then home.

It’s pandemonium when I get there.

I want to check to see if Alina is there, but I’m not about to. She’ll be upstairs, locked away with Albert, far from the noise.