Page 94

Satisfaction.

Fear.

Pain.

Seeing the place that has caused so much pain, death, trauma, and bloodshed lying in a heap of smoking rubble, I allow myself to feel the one emotion I’ve been holding back for a long damn time.

Relief.

It’s over. He’s gone. They’re all gone.

Hunter, Reaper, and their teams have confirmed, with proof, that every single member of Pasha’s team is dead, except Valentin. He’s in a tiny cage in the back of the plane heading for Sicily, with a note for Rori. I’ve already had my go-round with him, but he’s alive. He’ll make it to Sicily, where she can have her turn.

That will be the end of my dealings with her if I have any luck.

“The students?” I ask Reaper, who stands next to me, expression grim, but there’s a dark satisfaction in their eyes.

“All heading to their new homes or back to their families if that’s what they chose.”

A small pang twists in my chest. They’ll be dead the moment their families find out what happened. They won’t want that connection ever found out, but that’s the choice they were given and the one they made.

Perhaps to some, death was a better outcome than what they’ve suffered.

“All the files were collected?”

“Oversaw them myself. I’ll have the team go through every one with a fine-tooth comb to find out where any are or might have been disposed of.”

“Some of them will be out on assignment. I’ll find them.” Then dispose of them if they decide not to join us. A few of them will be so indoctrinated into this life, keeping them alive and off leash isn’t an option.

“We’ve found evidence another shipment of children is supposed to leave the port in two days. They may have already left if word of this got out.”

“Send men to the port to find that shipment if it hasn’t. Does it have the location of where it’s going?”

Her lips thin. “A man named Timur Belov was listed. Four hundred children, Assassin. Four fucking hundred kids in some shipping container. Most of them won’t survive before they get there.”

Mishka’s body goes rigid. “Leave it to me.” Then he turns, barking orders.

“What does he mean he’ll see to it?” Reaper asks.

“That he’ll ensure they’re found and returned home or to families that will protect them.” I’m not about to tell them he’s going to handle the shipment because they’re heading to his new territory. That’s not something I’ll trust them with.

Not yet.

They let it drop, but I can see the wheels turning. Let them. Hunter is directing teams, boxes, and equipment to the waiting trucks. It’s one of the only times I’ve been grateful Pasha chose a place as private as this.

Makes it so no nosy neighbors or passersby start asking questions or making calls.

“What about the kids that were due to come in?” I ask. “I’ve gotten word there is another group of up to ten coming.”

“Yeah, Hunter said you sent along that information. We’ve found the location where the Butcher was keeping the women he used as broodmares.” The sneer is thick and cold. I know the feeling. “I’ve got men heading there now to pull them all out. Fuck, those women are going to be horrified.”

You have no fucking idea.

“They may not want to keep any of the younger children,” they add, frowning. “I’m already working on trying to source families that can take them if that’s the case.”

“Keep me updated. I have a few things that I still need to sort.” I walk away, heading for the smoking rubble.

I can feel their eyes boring into my back, but it doesn’t slow me down. I walk around the rubble to the backside. Out of sight of most of them, I slip into the trees, carefully searching.