My body goes rigid instantly, every nerve firing at once.
I slip out of bed as carefully as I can, easing my arm out from under Elena's head and replacing it with a pillow. She shifts slightly, murmuring something unintelligible, but she doesn't wake.
I grab my gun from the nightstand and move toward the door, my feet silent on the wood floor.
The hallway is dim, the morning light not quite reaching this far, and I press my back against the wall, gun raised, my pulse steady and controlled.
I hear another sound, a soft rustle, like fabric moving, and I step into the living room, weapon aimed at the figure standing near the table.
Victor turns, one eyebrow raised, a paper bag in his hand.
"Jesus, brother," I say, lowering the gun.
Victor smiles. "Good morning to you, too."
I exhale, setting the gun on the counter, and Victor's gaze flicks past me, down the hallway toward the bedroom.
"Seems you two are rekindling things then?" he asks, his tone light.
"Something like that," I say, moving to a chair and sitting down.
Victor sets the bag on the table, and I catch the scent of fresh bread.
"Hey," I say, leaning back in the chair. "Does the name Cornel Lupu mean anything to you?"
Victor's hand stills over the bag, and he looks up at me, his expression shifting from casual to focused.
"Sure," he says slowly. "Lupu is a wealthy, politically connected businessman based out of Cluj."
I nod, leaning forward. "Go on."
Victor leans against the wall, crossing his arms.
"He's been in the game for years," Victor says. "Real estate, logistics, shipping. On paper, he's clean, of course. Off paper, he moves product for a lot of people, drugs, weapons, assets."
My pulse quickens. "Assets?"
"Sure," Victor says. "But not like that. He's not a trafficker. He's a facilitator. He provides logistics, transportation, safe routes. He doesn't touch the merchandise himself. He just makes sure it gets where it needs to go."
I stare at him, my mind racing.
Elena heard Maxim mention Lupu's name. Over and over. Especially in the beginning.
Which means Lupu could have helped move her.
Which also means he's dead.
Victor's voice interrupts my thoughts. "Why are you asking about him?"
I meet his gaze. "Elena thinks he's involved."
Victor's expression shifts, and he arches an eyebrow. "Involved how?"
"Like he's the one responsible for everything. She heard Maxim mention his name," I say. "Multiple times. She herself met him during her kidnapping."
Victor's brow furrows, and he shakes his head slowly.
"Adrian, that's not possible."