Page 37 of Dark Christmas
“I’m so glad you’ll be back on Monday. Susie’s been great, but I miss my partner in crime.”
“I miss you, Claire Bear.”
“Well, I’ll let you get back to it. But seriously, I can’t wait to see you and hear all about your trip.”
“Me, too,” I force out, trying to match her energy. We say our goodbyes and I step into the kitchen.
I hate lying to her, but if it’s what I need to do to keep her safe, I’ll do it.
Chapter 19
Melor
“So, are you saying you want me to kill them?” Viktor Mashkov asks.
I pace around the room like a caged tiger, fingers clenched around the phone, trying to figure out how to respond. It would be easy to say yes, to let him handle this. But this time is different. I stop and close my eyes.
“I want to do this myself.”
There’s a pause, then a dark chuckle. “You were always a stubborn one, Melor.”
I smirk, shaking my head. “It’s personal, Viktor. You know that.” I can hear him shifting on the other end, probably lighting up one of his cigars. “Besides, I’m no longer in the Bratva. I knew when I left if I had to take matters into my own hands, I would.”
“Your father raised you right,” Viktor grumbles. “But don’t forget, I did you a favor releasing you from your obligations. That’s not something I offer lightly.”
“I haven’t forgotten,” I say, my voice softening. I owe the old man more than I can ever repay. When he let me walk away from the Bratva, it wasn’t just business—it was a personal favor to my father, something he didn’t have to do. “You’ve always treated me like your own. I know that.”
Mashkov sighs. “And I think of you as a son, Melor. But understand this—if you need help, I will send it. Even if you refuse.”
I smile grimly. “I appreciate that. But this one’s mine.”
A heavy silence hangs between us before Mashkov speaks again. “Take care of it, then. Don’t let it linger.”
“I won’t.”
“Do you have any leads on who it was?”
I run a hand through my hair, staring out the window. “The man said I killed his brother.”
“Well, then, that’s a start,” Mashkov replies.
I grit my teeth. “I’ve killed many men over the years. How the hell am I supposed to remember a particular one?”
There’s a pause on his end before he admits, “That’s a good point. I suppose narrowing it down to just one dead brother would be a bit of a challenge for someone like you.”
“Yeah, that’s an understatement.” I lean against the wall, the frustration settling deeper. “There’s nothing specific I can remember about any of them. Nothing that stands out.”
“Nothing at all? It’s not like you to miss details, Melor. At least, it never used to be.”
I think back to the encounter, the rush of violence, the adrenaline. Nothing comes to mind. It was just another attempt on my life, faceless, like the others. “Nothing. They’re just ghosts in the dark.”
Mashkov lets out a long sigh. “Then you’re at a dead end.”
I nod, even though he can’t see me. “Yes, seems that way.”
“Be careful, Melor,” Mashkov says quietly. “Ghosts can still be dangerous.”
A fresh wave of anger surges through me as I recall the night those bastards invaded my home, my sanctuary, and threatened Amelia. The thought of her being dragged into this, into my world, sets my blood on fire.