Andrei (Quintessence Book 7) Read online

  “What’s changed?”

  Sean swallowed. “I forgot about him. Didn’t think anything of it. I was just grateful he’d been there for Sascha when we hadn’t been.” He sucked down a breath. “But when Devon called, it brought certain matters to light, and I’ve been investigating them.”

  “Investigating what?” Andrei demanded.

  “Devon said he. … Well, the guy was called Joseph Santorini.” He quickly swept his hand over his hair again. “Devon said he attacked the guy that day because he thought it was him.”

  Andrei blinked. “Devon said he attacked a stranger because he thought it was the man who’d helped Sascha in Glasgow?”

  “Yes.”

  “But it wasn’t?”

  “No. The man Devon assaulted was a guy called Christopher Horowich.”

  Andrei processed that but failed to put two and two together. “Where are you going with this, Sean?”

  “Devon was due in court, and I also knew you asked Vasily to look into a way of ensuring Devon didn’t walk out with a criminal record.”

  He felt no shame for asking for something illegal from his grandfather. Sometimes things had to slide for the greater good, and Veronia’s economy would falter without Devon at Andrei’s back as he spearheaded the investment drive. “Yes. I did,” he retorted, somewhat bullishly. “I’d get grandfather involved again, too.”

  It wasn’t the first time Andrei had used his grandfather’s many resources, earning Sean’s disapproval with each occasion. Although, in this instance, it sounded like Sean had wanted to make sure Devon wasn’t punished. A fact that had him frowning.

  Yet more uncharacteristic behavior.

  “I wasn’t sure if Vasily would be able to do anything, so I did some looking myself. Then Vasily contacted me,” Sean carried on, his voice hoarser now. “He sent me a picture of Christopher Horowich.”

  “What about it?”

  “He looked just like Joseph Santorini.”

  Andrei blinked. “Similarities or twins?”

  Sean shook his head. “No. No way. Not even close to identical twins. It was him. Santorini.”

  “So, he was using a false name?” Andrei asked.

  “Apparently, so. Devon really did beat the shit out of him, but Vasily sent me a shot before the beating. It was definitely the guy in Sascha’s hospital ward.”

  Andrei thought about the ramifications of that. “Which implies, what? The man’s been stalking us?”

  Sean’s jaw firmed, showing the steely pressure he exerted upon his lips. “The man’s been stalking me.”

  “You?”

  “Yes,” Sean whispered. He pushed some papers forward, and as he did, his voice was thick as he carried on, “After she fell, I don’t know, I had a bad feeling. I called in some favors. Got the footage from the store’s security camera. Then, when I realized what I was seeing, I called in some more.”

  Andrei peered down at what appeared to be a storefront. There was a man in an expensive suit crouched down against the front steps that led to the doorway of a store which sold tartan products. He looked like he was tying his shoes. In another shot, you could just see his face, even though he was half-burrowing into his scarf. “Where is this?”

  “Buchanan Street,” Sean said hoarsely. Then he pushed another picture toward him.

  It was a picture of the same man, still crouched down, but behind him, Andrei saw Sascha and Tin. His eyes widened at the sight, and he straightened when he saw something in the stranger’s hand. “What’s that in his hand?” He tilted his head to the side as he brought the photo near his face.

  “A bottle of sunflower oil,” Sean whispered bleakly.

  Andrei swallowed, but it was hard. His throat couldn’t seem to do it, couldn’t seem to make the natural motion. “No. Sean, no.”

  “Yes, Andrei,” he breathed, his face crumpling. “Santorini made sure Sascha fell.”

  Cupping his hand to his mouth, Andrei shook his head as he gathered the photos together. “No,” he gritted out. “No.”

  Sean’s eyes were wet as he stared at him. Then, Sean closed them, the guilt shredding him from the inside out, and Andrei realized he knew the true meaning of agony.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE:

  December has been a very busy month for me, and it’s only the 7th as I type this.

  Watch out for more releases this month in the form of TRIERNA, book five in the TriAlpha Chronicles. But, January and February are looking to be even busier. Be on the look out for some pre-orders that will be shooting up in Divas, my FB reader group: www.facebook.com/groups/SerenaAkeroydsDivas

  I’m sooo psyched to reveal a brand new series to you. Called THE GODS ARE BACK IN TOWN, it’s a completely different universe to the books you’ve read by me. Book one is called HOTTER THAN HADES, and I can’t wait to reveal the cover to you for this novel and the next book in the Quintessence sequel series!

  For more updates, as always, sign up for my newsletter and grab a free, EXCLUSIVE read. www.serenaakeroyd.com/newsletter

  Love to you all,

  Serena <3