Page 50 of Tracking Shadows

Sergei’s grin doesn’t falter. “Your brother?” He chuckles darkly. “Oh, he’s alive.”

I don’t breathe.

He’s alive.

Ivan is alive.

“Ivan, isn't it? He's alive and well, and not only is he alive,” Sergei continues, a sneer curling his lips, “but he’s been working for me. Willingly.”

The world seems to collapse around me, the edges of my vision blurring as his words sink in like jagged glass. Ivan? Working forhim? I try to scramble for an explanation. No, it can’t be true.It can’t be true.Ivan would never—he couldn’t. Not after everything. Not after what he took from us.

“No.” I shake my head. “He wouldn’t.”

Sergei’s laugh is harsh, like a slap to the face. “Oh, but he has. He’s one of my best men now. Ruthless, efficient. He barely remembers you, barely remembers your family.”

The air feels too thick to breathe. “Where is the fuck he?”

Sergei steps closer, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Ohh, he's closer than you think, but it won’t matter. You won’t reach him. He’s too far gone.”

“Where is he, Sergei?” I demand again, my grip on the gun tightening.

Sergei shrugs, enjoying the torment he’s causing. “He’s mine now, Irina. My hitman. You wouldn’t even recognize him. He's killed pregnant women, children, and families without flinching. He's like a dog that barks as soon as I snap my fingers.”

Before I can react, Sergei moves. In a blink, he swats the gun from my hand, and it skitters across the rooftop. His fist crashes into my stomach, and I double over, gasping for air.

Before I can recover, he punches me in the jaw, sending me sprawling onto the cold concrete. Pain flashes through my body, but I push it aside. I have to get up. I have to keep fighting.

Sergei looms over me, sneering. “You’re weak. Just like your father.”

I force myself up onto my hands, glaring at him.

He kicks me hard in the ribs, knocking me back down. The pain shoots through my side, but I grit my teeth, refusing to cry out. I won’t give him that satisfaction.

“You think you’re strong?” Sergei taunts, pacing around me. “You’re pathetic. Just like everyone else who tries to stand up to me.”

I push myself up again, despite the pain. Sergei rolls his eyes and raises his fist, ready to hit me again, but before he can, a shot rings out.

Sergei jerks backward, blood blooming from his leg. He crumples to the ground with a grunt of pain.

I look up to see Alexei standing at the rooftop entrance, his gun still aimed at Sergei. His face is hard, his expression unreadable.

Sergei looks up at Alexei, his eyes widening. “You . . .” he spits through clenched teeth. “You’re Alexei.”

Alexei says nothing, his focus shifting to me as he approaches, checking for injuries. “You alright?”

I nod, though my body is screaming in pain. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

He keeps his gun trained on Sergei, who’s writhing on the ground, clutching his leg. “Dmitri’s never going to get me,” Sergei growls. His hand moves to his jacket.

“Alexei!” I shout, but it’s too late. Sergei triggers something in his jacket, and a thick cloud of smoke explodes across the rooftop.

The smoke blinds us instantly, stinging my eyes and choking my lungs.

“Fuck!” I yell as I stumble through the smoke, coughing and trying to see Alexei through the thick cloud. My eyes burn, my body aches, but I need to know he is okay.

I spot Alexei through the fog, struggling to stay upright. Blood stains his shirt.

“Alexei!” I rush to him, ignoring the burning in my lungs as I pull him to his feet. “Are you okay?”