“Yep.” Alexei’s phone begins to ring, and while he takes the call, I go to Ariana’s TikTok account.

I watch a random video of Ariana showing how to put on makeup. She makes a mistake and burst out laughing… and all I can do is stare.

Christ, she’s even more beautiful when she’s smiling.

Soon I realize it’s a blooper video, and Ariana is laughing through most of it. When the video ends, I watch it again.

When Alexei ends his call, he gives me a what-the-fuck look. “You plan on watching that all day long?”

I quickly exit the video and shake my head. “Just trying to get a feel for the girl.”

“Yeah…” he lets out a chuckle, “right.”

“Don’t start,” I mutter as I check the address we found for her. She lives in the city. From what we’ve learned, she moved into the apartment a year ago.

“Beth is in a nursing home,” Alexei says, a frown forming on his forehead. “Alzheimer's.” He shakes his head. “What a pity.”

Leaning back in my chair, I look at my friend. “Why only take a contract out on Ariana and not Beth as well?”

Alexei keeps quiet for a moment, then he says, “Beth isn’t a threat.”

“How’s Ariana a threat? The girl doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the Bratva.”

Alexei lets out a chuckle. “Doesn’t mean shit. She can be used to form a strong alliance.”

“True. She’s twenty-three. Maybe Sergei is already busy arranging the marriage,” I muse.

“Sergei’s got one foot in the grave already,” Alexei mutters. “Last I heard, he won’t be around for much longer.”

“Will Yuri take over?” I ask.

“No. There will be a vote.”

“Oh, fun,” I mumble, not looking forward to that shitshow.

Alexei stares at the screens, drawing his bottom lip between his teeth as his mind starts to work. A frown settles on his forehead, then he says, “Either someone wants to take out Sergei’s entire family or…”

When he’s quiet for a while, I ask, “Or?”

“Yuri took out the contract to get rid of the other heir, so he’ll be the only one to inherit when Sergei dies.”

“Won’t be the first time,” I say. “What are we going to do if Yuri’s the one who took out the hit?”

We’ve been working with Yuri for almost ten years. He might not be the head of the Bratva, but he runs all of Sergei’s businesses.

Alexei turns his face to me. “We need to talk with Sergei.”

“When do you want to leave for Moscow?”

Alexei shakes his head. “If Yuri took out the hit, he’ll be suspicious if we suddenly met with Sergei. Yuri knows we don’t kill innocent people and go after the person who ordered the kill. I already rejected the contract, so he’ll be on guard around us.” Alexei lets out a sigh. “I’ll have to think of another way to contact Sergei.” Lifting his arm, he places his hand on my shoulder. “In the meantime, you should go back to Seattle and watch the girl.”