Chapter 148: Hell?

It had been quite some time since Sasha last heard from her brother. His summons was rare and always carried a weighty significance. She had a faint idea of why he had called her—news of Nikolai's lethal act against Alexander had spread far and wide. The air was thick with speculation and gossip, and Sasha, despite her best efforts to stay uninvolved, felt the ripples of the turmoil. Entering the dimly lit study, Sasha's eyes adjusted to the gloom. The only source of light was a solitary candle flickering on the table where her brother, Pavel, sat. His face was etched with concern, and Sasha felt a pang of sympathy at the sight. She walked over and shut the door behind her with a soft click. "Brother," she greeted, offering a courteous bow. Pavel’s gaze, heavy with authority, shifted to her. "Where is Vladmir?" Sasha hesitated, her mind racing. "Oh, I didn't realize you had called him too. He’s probably been at one of his private brothel palaces. He’s been out of reach for a while.