The car took a right and veered in a different direction.
Mikhail pressed the pad to Clarice’s wound while he made her more comfortable on his lap.“Clarice.”
Her blue eyes flickered open, and they held pain, conflict, and a dozen other emotions he’d never witnessed from her before.
“Clarice,” Mikhail repeated.“Tell me about those people tonight.Who were they?How did you become involved with them?”
Clarice closed her eyes again, seeming smaller than usual.“They took my son.They threatened to kill him if I didn’t follow instructions.”
“What did they want you to do?”
“They wanted me to get you to the party.”
“Why?”
“It’s the Bratva.They want you.Your business.”
“Then why didn’t they shoot me?I’m never agreeing to do business with them.”
“From what I deduced, they need your business expertise.Those in charge of the Bratva businesses can’t do what you do.”
He’d focus on that later, but this recent development meant greater danger for Edwina.He… He’d need to tell her because he refused to lie again.She’d had enough of that from her grandmother.
“Tell me about your son,” Mikhail said.“You didn’t mention you had a child.”He and Clarice had been together off and on for three years.He’d liked her—still enjoyed her company when she didn’t pull crap like this.“How old is he?”
Was the child his, and she hadn’t told him for some unfathomable reason?No, hiding a pregnancy from him would’ve been impossible.Relief swept through him because he didn’t want a child with anyone except Edwina.The young woman—gods, he still didn’t understand how she’d swept him and his tiger into her heart.It was Edwina he wanted, and crazily, she returned the sentiment.She’d been brave to mark him when he’d cowered and balked at that level of commitment.
“My son is six years old,” she sobbed.“They have him.”
“Are you positive?”Mikhail asked, wondering why she’d kept her child a secret.“They might have lied to you.”
Another sob broke from Clarice, and her entire body shook.“Oh, no.They’re not lying.I get a weekly report from the woman they hired to supervise him.”Tears rolled down her cheeks.“They mean every threat.Last week, they told me they were tired of my lackluster results, and if I didn’t follow their directions, they’d send me my son in pieces.”
“Who are they?”Mikhail asked, except he already knew.He couldn’t believe the depths they’d sunk to just to control him.
“The Bratva.”Clarice pressed her fingers to her face and wailed.
“Who in particular?”Mikhail insisted.
He wanted names—people to aim at and destroy.His grandfather’s business style and his father’s attempts at reform had left an impact.He was tired of people pushing him to follow their path, their needs when he was simply a shifter, gifted with business matters, and unafraid of hard work.His grandfather’s bully tactics didn’t get the best from workers.A man or woman never excelled at their job if they were terrified.
“Clarice?”
“No, they’ll kill my son.”
A threat rose to Mikhail’s lips, but he couldn’t treat her like these criminals.“I’ll tell you this—it’s the truth, and it will hurt, but this is what your son’s captives will do.They will kill your son, or not.These people without principles will do anything to achieve their goals.Clarice, your best bet is to tell me everything.Everything.I can’t help if I don’t understand the situation.”
An image flickered through his mind of his wife as he’d last seen her.Her pale face and strong determination as she’d told him she’d be safe with Ivan and Gregory.They’d protect her, and she’d kick anyone in the balls who got through his friends.Someone called Isabella had taught her how to defend herself, and Edwina had been an excellent student.
He and his friends had exchanged startled glances.His friends hadn’t believed her brave talk.Mikhail hadn’t been so skeptical because his new wife might be years younger, but she was a warrior in disguise.
Clarice wiped the tears from her face.“I know this, but what if they keep their word?”
“I’ll do my best to find your son, but I require information.”Another question came to mind.“How long have they been putting pressure on you?”
Clarice pulled a face.“They set up a meeting and instructed me to get close to you.”
Mikhail’s brows rose as shock punched him in the solar plexus.“That was three years ago.”Slowly, he’d trusted her but never discussed business because he preferred to separate his business and personal lives.“Why didn’t they act sooner?”
