Chapter 45: Tasha, Konstantin

Monday. Rose House. Arlington, VA.

NATASHA PACED THE FRONT ROOM.

Where were they?

It shouldn't have taken this long.

Why was it? Had they run into a problem?

Her phone rang.

Oleg.

At last.

She snatched up the phone.

"Where are you?" she demanded.

"Just left. On our way," he said breathlessly. "We lost two."

"Did you get the girl?" Natasha demanded.

"Yes."

"Good. That's all that matters."

Natasha breathed a sigh of relief.

She'd known it would be worthwhile to gift Ivana something trivial that would allow Natasha to keep tabs on her. The bracelet had done its job, leading her right to them.

Now she had all the pieces. By tomorrow she'd be the queen of not just one empire, but three.

***

Monday. Rose House. Arlington, VA.

KONSTANTIN SAT IN THE front seat of the car, staring straight ahead. But he wasn't seeing the cars or license plates. He saw Ivana. The way she'd looked at him and smiled. The blood.

Natasha was going to pay for this.