Page 260 of Sexting His Assistant

“He’s behind it?”

“Kirill?” I say.

She nods. “Him too. They’re both in on it.”

“Luka dismissed them like they were annoying insects,” I say.

“Oleg hired me. At first, I didn’t know exactly who was behind him. I only knew he had money, contacts, and information he should not have had. I was supposed to lure Luka, make him trust me, and pass along whatever I could.”

“And the assassination attempt?”

She closes her eyes.

My skin goes cold. “You were involved,” I say.

“I gave them information,” Alina says. “I didn’t know they were going to shoot him.”

“Don’t.”

Her eyes open. “It’s true.”

“Men died,” I say. “Luka was shot. I was there.”

“I know.”

“No, you don’t know,” I say.

Alina flinches. “I thought they wanted pressure,” Alina says. “Business leverage. Something to scare him. I knew it was wrong, but I didn’t know they were trying to kill him.”

“You helped them get close,” I say.

“Yes,” she whispers.

I look away because I might slap her if I keep looking at her face. “Where does Misha come in?”

“He was never part of the plan.”

I turn back. “Then why is his name everywhere?”

“Because someone put it there.”

“That’s convenient.”

“It’s true,” Alina says, and for the first time, her voice becomes firm. “Misha would never betray Luka.”

I stare at her.

She says it with such certainty that it knocks me off balance. “You’re defending him?”

“Yes.”

“After all this?”

“Misha is the most loyal man I have ever met,” Alina says.

I hate hearing that from her. I hate that she sounds like she knows him in a way I don’t. I hate that a stranger who lied to Luka is sitting there telling me about my own brother’s loyalty while carrying his child.

“So Oleg paid you to do what…”