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Serena gestures over to me. Her friend is crying into her shoulder, trembling. I raise an eyebrow to ask what the hell just happened, and Serena gives me a look that means, Later. It’s like we can text without typing anything out, like our expressions are a text.

“We need to leave,” Serena says. “Oh, I told Sasha you’d cover her next three months of expenses.”

I only hesitate for a moment. “Okay. Sure.” Serena must have a good reason for this. I’m so grateful I’ve got her on my team for this.

Sasha looks up at me with panda eyes. “Really?”

“Really,” I say. “You don’t have to worry about anything.”

Behind her, Serena’s got a big smile on her face. It’s soft and supportive and loving.

It hits me deep.

A second later, two security guards stride across the garden. These aren’t the run-of-the-mill security you normally see. These are tall, wide men walking with purpose. When I spot the tattoo of a marlin on the bigger one’s neck, I focus on keeping a straight face.

It’s the same man from the motel. It’s the same man we stole Owen Price from. The other one is my hostage.

“Sasha,” the tatted man says. “You have a meeting, remember, a meeting with the boss?”

Sasha looks terrified. All the blood drains out of her. She moves as if to stand, but Serena places an arm across her, glaring bravely up at the men. “Sasha is quitting her job, actually, so she won’t be able to do anything you say. Thanks for your interest, though. Really.”

The tatted man looks at me as if he’s going to ask me to control my woman. Then his eyes widen in recognition. “Volkov,” he says.

“Do I know you?” I growl.

“Why are you bothering our staff?”

So, Sasha did ask to meet here out of convenience… her tired mind didn’t have the energy to think about the implications. It wasn’t a trap we were going to turn into our own trap. But by coming here, I’ve alerted Rafael that I’m probing around the hotel.

“I’m here with my lady and, if you can listen, she just told you that Sasha has quit.”

“Is that right, Sasha?” the man with the marlin tattoo snaps. “You’ve quit? Is that really the fucking case?”

“Take it easy,” I snarl at him.

He aims a shit-eating grin at me. The man at his side shifts from foot to foot. But we all know there’s only so far they can go here.

Sasha tries to stand again. She whispers to Serena, “Michaela…”

And Serena hisses back, “We’ll keep you safe. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

When the marlin man steps forward, I slide into his path and stare into his eyes. He looks back at me coldly. No sign of recognition. No idea I beat his ass once before already.

“We’re leaving,” I snarl. “You better step aside.”

“Don’t make me hurt you, Volkov. You haven’t got your big brother to save you this time.”

“I’ve got enough in me to make short work of you two little rats,” I snarl. “Fucking try me if⁠—”

A sucker punch. Classic. I turn with the impact, taking it on the chin but absorbing some of the force. Ducking back, I raise my hands. They rush at me blindly, no training. I kick the shorter one in the solar plexus, hard. He drops to his ass. Clutches at his chest. Wheezes as his face turns red.

The marlin charges at me, pushing me up against the glass wall. I shift my position, unbalance him, then trip him to the floor. He springs up and rushes at me… straight into a brutal right hook. His jaw makes a bone-crunching sound as he crumples.

I rush to the women. Serena’s already on her feet, her arm wrapped around Sasha. I take Serena’s arm and guide them past the two groaning, beaten men.

“What the fuck is going on?” I growl.

“Nothing good,” Serena says darkly.