Page 130 of Scarlet Vows

“Are you his wife, Alina?”

“Yes.” Panic suddenly hits, and I drop the lead as Albert starts to bark. “Is he?—”

“He’s fine. I’m Radimir. Melor sent me with a message on behalf of work he’s been doing quietly for the pakhan.”

“As I said?—”

“Melor knows your first husband was murdered,” he says. “He has information, just uncovered, of who really killed your Max.”

My world spins out of control. Were thoughts of Max last night some kind of a premonition?

“You want revenge, yes?”

“Yes…” I can’t breathe. I can’t think.

I don’t…

“Come with me. I will take you to your revenge…”

I know he’s still talking. I can hear him. But blood’spounding, roaring in my ears. I’m in freefall, and the world’s gone mad.

Go with him? I can’t. It’s foolish.

Information.

About who killed Max.

I can’t move, even as his hand comes up and grabs my arm.

“You look like you’re going to faint. Sit. Here… Come…”

I stumble, everything numb, and loud, frantic barking comes from somewhere. The world shifts in and out of focus.

One minute, I’m standing outside the door, and the next, the man is helping me—pushing me—into the car.

Information. It can’t be right. Can it? Demyan found out who was behind it. But who is behind it and who pulled the trigger could be different.

Wouldn’t this be like Ilya to find the person, to help me get that closure?

The world keeps moving, and blackness encroaches. I force myself to breathe.

Why wouldn’t he have told me?

Or maybe he asked Melor, and Melor found out, but since Ilya isn’t home, this man is taking me to him.

That must be it.

But I don’t want to go anywhere. I don’t know him.

I turn, but the door slams. A click sounds.

I make myself breathe slower, deeper, calming myself.

My head still spins, but like a top, it slowly begins to wobble and then comes to a standstill.

And in that silence, doubt creeps in.

Where’s Albert?