Page 90 of Phantom Flower

Marco’s voice shifted, trying to sound lighter. “Speaking of Dimitri. How are things with him?”

I felt my face heat up even though no one was there to see it. A small, helpless smile tugged at my mouth.

“Dimitri’s… good,” I said, and I could hear the softness in my own voice. “He’s been really sweet, actually. I mean, he’s still scary as hell when he wants to be, but with me he’s different. I know that sounds like a cliché.”

Marco made a small noise that sounded suspiciously like a smile. “You sound happy when you talk about him.”

“I am,” I said quietly. “It’s weird. I didn’t expect to feel safe with someone like him. But I do. It’s confusing.”

“I’m glad, Rei. Really. You deserve someone who makes you feel like that. Just… be careful, okay? With everything that’s going on. I don’t want you getting hurt more than you already have been.”

“I know,” I said. “I’m being careful. I promise.”

We talked for a while longer about nothing important. Marco told me about some new game he was playing. I told him about the terrible Russian movie Dimitri had made me watch the night before.

Chapter 26

Dimitri Morozov

I left two of my most trusted bodyguards at the mansion with one clear order. Rei was not to leave their sight. Not for a second. He was still too fragile after everything that had happened. The thought of leaving him tore at me, but this could not wait.

Ilya and Alexei walked on either side of me through the underground parking garage. I had no patience to sit still in some stuffy room. I needed to move. My blood was boiling. Every second we wasted was another second someone who hurt Rei was still breathing.

“Talk,” I demanded.

Ilya twirled a small knife between his fingers as he walked, his usual bright, manic energy radiating off him like sunshine in hell.

“I’m only missing one piece,” he said cheerfully, almost skipping beside me. “One tiny, stubborn little thread. Once I pull it, the whole rotten web collapses. I should have it tomorrow. Then we can start the fun part.”

Alexei glanced at him, his expression grim. “You said the same thing yesterday, Ilya.”

“And yesterday I was very close!” Ilya protested with dramatic offense. “Today I’m practically kissing the answer. The final proxy is buried behind some very clever layered encryption and ghost servers, but I’m almost through. When I crack it, we’ll have a name.”

I clenched my jaw, staring straight ahead as we walked. “Make it faster.”

Ilya’s grin widened, turning almost unhinged with excitement. “Oh, I will. I’ve been daydreaming about the celebration already. We could cut his c—”

“Not now, Ilya,” Alexei muttered, rubbing his temple.

We reached the end of the row. My car sat waiting. I pulled out the key fob from my pocket, thumb hovering over the unlock button.

I pressed the button.

The lights flashed once.

Then the world exploded.

A thunderous boom ripped through the garage as the car detonated in a massive fireball of heat.

“Where is my brother, Morozov?”

Leaning against a concrete pillar with casual arrogance was Kento Kurosaki, Rei’s older brother. He lit a cigarette, taking a drag as he watched the burning wreckage like it was mild entertainment.

He did not even flinch at the destruction he had clearly caused.

Ilya’s usual manic grin vanished. Alexei’s hand twitched toward his gun.

Kento exhaled smoke through his nose, eyes narrowing on me.