32. Dmitri
32
DMITRI
“ W e’re wasting time,” Nikolai mutters, breaking the silence. “Whoever the mole is, they’re still out there, feeding Vadim everything they can.”
Ivan’s jaw tightens, his sharp gaze locking on Nikolai. “And you think barking about it will make them fall into our lap?”
I snort softly, pushing off the window. “He’s not wrong, though. Whoever it is, they’ve been too precise, too calculated. Someone close is playing both sides.”
Nikolai pauses mid-step, his expression dark. “You’re saying it’s someone in the house?”
“Someone who knows our moves,” I say, my tone grim. “It’s not just Staten Island. Every hit Vadim’s pulled has been one step ahead of us. That’s not coincidence.”
Ivan’s fingers drum against the desk, the sound sharp and deliberate. “I don’t deal in speculation. If you have proof, bring it. Otherwise, this is just paranoia.”
I exchange a glance with Nikolai.
None of us want to admit it, but the cracks in our foundation are starting to show.
A sharp knock at the door cuts through the silence.
Ivan straightens, his brows furrowing. “Come in.”
The door opens slowly, and Alice stands on the other side.
She hesitates just inside the doorway, her eyes darting between us as if gauging the temperature.
For a moment, I wonder how long she’s been standing there, how much she’s heard. But I quickly shove the thought aside. I’m not going to question her. Not now.
“Alice,” Ivan says, his tone softer but still carrying that unmistakable edge. “What is it?”
Her gaze flicks to me, then to Nikolai, before landing on Ivan. “I need to talk to you,” she says, her voice steady but tinged with urgency. “All of you.”
Nikolai raises an eyebrow, his pacing halting as he leans against the wall. Ivan gestures for her to continue, his expression unreadable.
Alice takes a breath, clasping her hands together. “It’s about Sergei.”
Ivan stiffens immediately, his arms uncrossing as his expression hardens. Nikolai’s easy stance evaporates.
“What about Sergei?” Ivan asks.
“I think…” She pauses, glancing at me again as if searching for an ally, before squaring her shoulders. “I think he might know more than he’s letting on.”
Ivan’s eyes narrow, and the room seems to grow colder. “Be careful, Alice,” he says slowly, his voice like a blade. “You’re treading on dangerous ground. Sergei has been loyal to this family for decades. I’ve known him longer than you’ve been alive.”
“I know,” Alice replies quickly. “I’m not accusing him of anything. I’m telling you what I’ve noticed, what I’ve found.”
“What have you found?” I ask.
“It’s…a feeling,” she says. I see the exact moment she changes course. There’s something she isn’t saying.
“You want me to question the loyalty of a man I’ve trusted for decades because of a feeling ?” Ivan demands.
“It’s more than that,” she insists. “There’s something off about him. The way he acts, the way he?—”
Ivan cuts her off with a sharp gesture, his jaw tightening. “You’re walking a dangerous line, Alice. Be very careful about what you say next.”
Her lips press together, and for a second, I wonder if she’s going to crack. But she doesn’t. She lifts her chin, meeting his gaze head-on.
“I’m not lying, Ivan,” she says.
“You had a gut feeling about Svetlana too,” Nikolai says.
Alice’s gaze snaps to him, her cheeks flushing. “That was different,” she says, defensive now.
“Was it?” Nikolai presses, folding his arms as he leans against the wall. “You made it pretty clear you didn’t trust her. And now you’re shifting your suspicion to Sergei. You’re not exactly building a solid case here.”
Her jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think she’s going to snap back. But instead, she takes a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing just slightly.
“I’m not shifting suspicion,” she says, her tone more measured now. “I’ve noticed things. Small things. Luka and Mila act differently around him. He’s…unsettling.”
Ivan exhales sharply, shaking his head. “Sergei has been with this family longer than you’ve been alive. If he’s unsettling, it’s because he’s been through hell to protect what we’ve built.”
Alice hesitates, and it’s in that moment I see it—her doubt. Not in her instincts, but in whether she should say more. She’s holding something back, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why.
“Is there something you’re not telling us?” I ask, stepping closer, my voice quieter.
“No,” she says quickly. Too quickly.
I narrow my eyes, studying her. She’s hiding something. I’d bet my life on it.
Ivan sighs, running a hand over his face. “This is a waste of time,” he mutters, his frustration bleeding into his voice. “Sergei is loyal. Until you have something concrete, this conversation is over.”
Alice opens her mouth as if to argue, but then she closes it again, nodding stiffly. She doesn’t look at any of us as she turns and heads for the door.
As it closes behind her, Nikolai speaks up, his tone dry. “Well, that went well.”
“She’s hiding something,” I say immediately, my gaze still on the door.
“You think?” Nikolai drawls, pushing off the wall.
Ivan doesn’t say anything, his jaw tight as he stares at the desk.
“She’s protecting someone,” I say.
“Who?” Nikolai asks.
“Not sure.” I shrug. “But I think whoever it is might know something about Sergei that she doesn’t want to say.”
Ivan exhales heavily, rubbing his temples. “We’ll deal with Sergei. But unless she comes forward with something solid, I’m not entertaining her theories anymore.”
“She’s good at deflecting,” Nikolai mutters, breaking the silence. “But she’s not as good as she thinks.”
Ivan shoots him a sharp glance. “You’re not helping.”
“I’m not here to help,” Nikolai snaps, leaning against the wall. “I’m here to figure out if we’ve got a problem bigger than Vadim breathing down our necks.”
I glance at Nikolai. My brother is acting like a wounded dog.
“The night she went into the city, she was in the alley with one of Vadim’s men. That’s not exactly a coincidence,” Nikolai says.
“Maybe if you hadn’t shot him on sight, he could have given us some answers,” I shoot back sarcastically.
“He had a gun on her. What was I supposed to do? Invite him to tea?”
“You have other appendages to shoot at,” I say drily. “In case you haven’t noticed.”
Nikolai crosses his arms, his expression unrepentant. “I’d do it again. I wasn’t going to take any chances with Alice.”
“And yet,” I say, tilting my head, “you have no problem questioning her loyalty now.”
His gaze snaps to me, sharp and angry, but he doesn’t say anything. I don’t let up.
“She’s hiding something,” I continue, leaning against the edge of the desk.
Ivan stops pacing, his sharp eyes snapping to mine. “You think she’s working with Vadim?”
“I didn’t say that,” I reply. “But you have to admit—it’s damn convenient. She walks into our lives right as everything starts falling apart. We’d be idiots not to ask the question.”
“She didn’t even know who we were when she got here,” Nikolai says.
“How much did you tell her before she figured out everything?” I shoot back.
Ivan frowns. “It’s almost impossible. I made a thorough search on her background. She was clean.”
“And you’re sure about that?” I counter, my gaze locking on his. “Are you sure or are you saying this because you’re the one who let her in?”
“That’s enough,” Ivan snaps, his voice slicing through the tension. “We’re not turning on each other.”
I lean back in my chair, forcing myself to take a breath. “I’m not turning on anyone. I’m saying we need to be smart about this. She’s hiding something—I can feel it. And if we’re wrong about her…”
The room falls into an uneasy silence.
“She’s not working with Vadim,” Nikolai says firmly, though there’s a flicker of doubt in his eyes. “But…”
“But she could still be a liability,” Ivan finishes for him, his tone grim.
“She’s more than just a liability,” I say finally, my voice softening. “I know you feel it too.” My chest tightens. “This…thing we have with her. It’s not just physical. It’s more than that. But how long can we keep this going? Sharing her? Pretending it’s not tearing us apart inside?”
“We’re being practical,” Ivan says, but even he doesn’t sound convincing enough.
“Then why does it feel like we’re the ones losing?” Nikolai mutters, his voice bitter.
The words hang in the air, unanswered.
Ivan straightens, his expression hard. “We talk to her. Tonight. Together.”
“And if she refuses?” Nikolai asks, his tone sharp.
“Then we figure it out,” Ivan replies, though his voice carries a flicker of uncertainty.
I glance between them, my heart heavy. None of us want to let Alice go, but the truth is clear.
She’s become more than we ever expected.
And because of that, she’s the most dangerous risk we’ve ever taken.