Page 71 of Twisted

Tristan turned to Jian. “That’s your department.”

13

Varvara

Tristan

As soon as Jian had his assignment, he strode from the couch toward the desk in the suite and began preparing for their evening.

Colleen toddled off within a few minutes, looking at her phone, so that was when Tristan took the opportunity to speak privately with Jian. “You said this online group of yours was able to get information.”

Jian glanced down. “It’s meant for assistants to trade information that we use to do our jobs, like getting people into exclusive restaurants such as the secret-beef restaurant where you and your friends dined last time you were in Los Angeles.”

Even for Midwestern-raised Tristan, that restaurant had been a steak too far. Every dish in the twelve courses was wagyu beef, and the side dishes were lamb. “In addition to today’s fiasco, I’ve been approached by someone else. I need to know if this person is better or worse than the Butorin bratva.”

Jian raised an eyebrow at him. “If you can’t answer that immediately, I’m concerned.”

“And that’s why I need your help.” He handed Jian a piece of paper with the name Mary Varvara Bell written on it. “I need to know who this is and who she’s associated with. I assume they’re a she from the name, but I’m not even sure about that.”

Jian studied the name written on the paper. “So, you’ve never met them?”

“Only through correspondence. No phone calls, no in-person meetings.”

“Correspondence with this person?” Jian asked. “Or did someone else give you this name?”

“That’s how they signed a letter that was delivered to me.”

“I didn’t see a letter from this person in the mail.”

“A courier delivered it to the yacht club in Monaco. I picked it up with the rest of my mail the morning after Maxence’s wedding.”

“I would appreciate being kept informed of all correspondence.”

“It was private, Jian.”

Lines creased the skin between Jian’s thick eyebrows as he returned to looking at the name written on the paper. “Varvara is the Russian form of the name Barbara. Interestingly, she uses it as her middle name, yet her first name is Mary, not Maria, the form most commonly used in Russia. The fact that she wrote out Varvara means that she wanted you or people in general to know it. What was the tone of the letter?”

“Threatening,” Tristan said.

Jian nodded. “I will inquire.”

14

The Scholarship Mafia

Tristan

Tristan sat on the hotel bed and texted on his phone, Red flag.

Moments passed before the texts began pouring back in.

How long do we have? Blaze texted.

Logan wrote, where are you?

Los Angeles. A few hours at the max.

Micah is supposed to be in California. @Shine, are you around?