Page 63 of Daddy Brigadier

I loosen my grip on him, my chest tightening as I struggle to breathe—the air feels oppressively thin. I reach into my pocket, quickly open the pill bottle, and swallow a dry pill, feeling my throat constrict around it. The room remains silent, witheveryone waiting for me to regain my composure. The men glance skeptically at the pill bottle, fully aware that my health is under scrutiny, but at this moment, I couldn’t care less.

I look at the man hanging from the ceiling, his chin drooping down. I pull my gun out, finger tightening around the trigger, and shoot the dead man in the face. His head explodes in a spray of blood and bone.

“Brigadier.” My gaze shifts to Nikolai, noticing how one brow arches like a blade. “Who’s the girl’s sister?”

I shake my head, at a loss. “I don’t know.” My little Krasotka has a sister? Lexi’s past is shrouded in mystery, erased, as if it never existed. But why is that?

I’ll need to sort through these questions later.

The weight of the dead man’s words hangs heavily in the air. I dial Lexi’s number, but it goes straight to voicemail. I try again—still voicemail.

Frustrated, I run my hand down my face and take a deep breath. I look at Lev and say, “We have to get to the casino—now!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

LEXI

“Another successful night,” Robyn announces, proudly counting a stack of cash.

“Did you see the clientele tonight?” Lacey chimes in.

“I didn’t notice anything weird,” I comment, focused on tidying up one of the card tables.

“We’ve been seeing a lot of Russians lately.” Lacey’s tone is dripping with sarcasm, hinting that her words carry a hidden meaning.

I raise an eyebrow. “And what’s wrong with that?”

“The Brigadier’s men have been hanging out here. That’s what’s wrong with it.”

“So, you’re pissed that he’s bringing in customers who are willing to spend their money?”

“Lacey,” Robyn hisses, their eyes locking as if they’re sharing a secret.

“What’s the problem?” I say, sighing, shoving a chair in while the cleaning crew waves goodbye and leaves.

“It’s you!” Lacey shoots back.

“What the hell am I doing?” Deep down, I already sense where this conversation is headed, and the tension in the air feels almost palpable.

Lacey’s eyes narrow, filled with determination, and I welcome the challenge. “You walk around with that brand on your throat, the Brigadier’s initial, as if you’re in some sort of relationship.” She lets her voice fade as she scrutinizes my neck.

“And what if I am?” I reply, trying to remain relaxed and in control. “Who fucking cares?”

“We’re supposed to be finding Petrov,” Lacey says, a note of tension in her voice.

“I am looking for him!” I counter. “The Brigadier is helping us.”

“Wake up, Lexi. Do you really think Valentin doesn’t know where one of his top weapons distributors is?” She shakes her head, as if she pities me. “Valentin gave the order to hurt you and Ruby.”

“No, he didn’t.” I snap, my voice broken and desperate. Valentin would never hurt me. “I know him. He didn’t know Petrov hurt us.”

I could see in his eyes that he had no clue who I was or the torment Petrov had inflicted on me. His dark gaze turned fierce and intense when he asked if Petrov had hurt me, as if the very thought of my suffering could compel him to inflict upon Petrov the very pain that had been dealt to me.

Her expression shifts as she takes a step back. “I would offer you a ride home, but clearly you don’t live with us anymore.” With that, she snatches her purse and storms out through the door.

“Wow, someone’s on her period,” I mumble under my breath.

“Just hurry and find him,” Robyn tells me as she stands up and heads toward the exit.