“Okay. You’re right.” I nod. “I promise I’ll be careful and make sure it feels right before I say anything. And if I get a moment to myself tonight, I’ll try to contact the girl in the photo.”
For once, we’re all in agreement.
“Are you coming in when we get there?” I ask as Irina’s ranch starts to come into view.
Cade scoffs, “No. We’ll meet you in Bash’s lab tomorrow around noon.”
Aurora pulls her hood up.
“Alright. It’s a plan then.”
I debate asking Cade to drop me at the edge of the property, closer to Malachi’s side of the estate, but it’s freezing out—and he’s probably at Irina’s anyway. So I find myself standing awkwardly at her front door. Do I knock? Walk in? I’m not sure of the protocol here, and the cold wind biting at my face isn’t helping me think straight.
I knock once, then glance back to wave offCade and Aurora. They don’t need to wait. They’re already halfway down the icy driveway by the time the door creaks open.
“Katja,” Irina says, her smile warm. “I’m glad to see you’re all right. You gave everyone a bit of a scare. Come in, it’s freezing.”
I step inside, pulling off my gloves and stuffing them in my coat pocket, rubbing my hands together to bring back some feeling. Her house smells like cinnamon and cloves, something warm and old-world comforting.
“Is Malachi here?” I ask, my eyes scanning the quiet foyer.
“He’s downstairs. Took the boys over an hour to haul in all the boxes from my brother’s compound.” Her mouth tightens slightly. “Will be interesting to see what we can uncover.”
She waves me toward the kitchen, where a pot of cider simmers on the stove. She ladles some into a thick ceramic mug and passes it to me. The warmth seeps into my hands immediately, and I inhale the steam like it might steady the nerves dancing beneath my skin.
“You were so close to finally putting an end to my miserable brother’s life,” Irina says, lifting a mug and settling onto one of the bar stools by the kitchen island. “I heard he had some sort of vial on him when he disappeared. Any idea what it could be?”
I pause, the rim of my cup hovering near my lips. That’s not idle curiosity. Malachi must have already debriefed her—told her I didn’t know what the vial was. So why is she asking me now? Is this small talk? She doesn’t strike me as someone who wastes breath without a reason.
“No,” I say simply, keeping my expression neutral, “I’m not sure.”
I have theories, ideas that make my skin itch when I think about them. But I’ve learned the hard way it’s smarter to keep my cards close. Maybe Cade’s paranoia is rubbing off on me.
She takes a slow sip, eyes never leaving me. “Well,you and Malachi are going to be running a bit of a skeleton crew here and over at the Depths for the next few weeks.”
That gets my attention.
“A skeleton crew?” I echo, watching her for a deeper explanation.
Irina nods, idly fiddling with a stack of napkins on the counter. “Yes. I’m sending Rain and her team to occupy Marco’s compound. I want it fully secured, and I want them to dig—see what he left behind before he has a chance to reclaim anything.”
I exhale, relieved it’s not Malachi’s team being assigned. The last place I want to step foot in is that house again. “I don’t think he’ll try to take it back.”
“Neither do I,” Irina says, brushing a hand through her long blonde hair. She looks tired. The faint creases at the corners of her eyes seem deeper than before. “But that’s what worries me. He has other places to go, too many. And I’m sure by now Viktor knows everything he does.”
She lifts her mug and takes a sip, pausing like the weight of everything is catching up to her. I tilt my head. “If Rain’s team is going there… where are you going?”
“A summit in the Southern District.” She meets my eyes. “There’s unrest among Syndicate leadership. Whispers of defectors. I’m hoping this meeting brings clarity… before someone does something that can’t be undone.”
A summit? My pulse quickens. “You’ll be gone for weeks?”
“There are other facilities I need to visit as well,” she replies vaguely. She stands, taking our empty mugs to the sink. “Ties that need tightening. Concerns that need addressing. You understand.”
Not really. But I nod anyway.
“Go find Malachi. He’s downstairs,and I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you.” Her expression softens slightly. “I need to finish packing.”
Before I can say anything, she disappears down the hallway.
