Emeline wrung her hands together as he paced behind her son. “You just got home from your honeymoon!”
“And Carina is in labor.” He said it so nonchalantly that I almost missed it.
His mother stopped pacing and stared at me with wide eyes. She looked back at her son. “Is Audrey at the hospital with her?”
“Yes, that’s why we came home early, and good thing we did! Now Ivan is missing. What happened?”
Don looked over at me, and Alexei turned slowly to follow his line of sight. “What are you doing here?”
Emeline stepped in front of me. “She’s here because she needs someone to look after her and her little sister.”
“Is thisallbecause of her?”
Don ignored the question. “Dimitri is on his way. He has an idea of where Ivan is, but he doesn’t want to go alone or guns blazing without having a plan.”
Alexei made a face. “Since when does Dimitri care about having a plan?”
Don shrugged. “He’s a politician now.”
Alexei sneered. “I always forget that little tidbit, even though he’s been doing this for so long.” He turned his dark eyes back on me, and a shiver raced down my spine. When he was with his wife, he was soft. When he was alone, he was a shark. I could see that clearly now. He approached me like a predator—he was looking for weakness. I held my head high; I’d faced off against worse. I would continue to do so for the rest of my life. Alexei was a good man, even if he was slightly terrifying. “So what did you do? You were wrapped up in my brother at the wedding, and you thought your dear fiancé wouldn’t find out?”
My lips twisted as guilt coated my insides. “Yes. I was naive to think I could have my cake and eat it too.”
He nodded once. “I’ve been there. We’ll get him out of this.”
Hope was a fickle friend of mine as of late. I wanted to believe him, but I wasn’t sure if I could. I wasn’t sure my heart could take any more.
Three hours later, with another brother added into the mix, and the phone in the middle of the coffee table rang. Dimitri answered on the second ring.
The elusive Benson’s voice came over the speaker. “I’ve been able to hack the cameras at the docks. That’s where they’re holding him. It’s not good.” Dimitri was swiping the phone off the table faster than I could blink.
“Send me a pin,” Dimitri barked. “One of my guys hasbeen circling the docks all evening waiting for confirmation.”
Everyone snapped to attention. I watched as Alexei and Dimitri pulled guns from under their shirts and checked to make sure they were loaded before strapping them back in and heading for the door. Don stayed right where he was.
“This could be a trap,” Don looked over at Emeline and shook his head. “I would love to go to Ivan’s aid, but the ladies will need me to cover them here.”
Their mother didn’t even bother with arguing. “Take some of my men with you. They are more than capable.”
Each brother kissed their mother’s cheek as I began tying my shoes. I rolled my shoulders back and followed the guys to the elevator. Dimitri’s eyes narrowed, and Alexei let out a laugh that spoke volumes. “You would be collateral.”
“I don’t care,” I crossed my arms over my chest and got in the elevator as I waited for them.
Dimitri shook his head. “We really don’t have time to argue with her.”
Alexei rolled his eyes. “I’m not getting killed for this, by the way.”
***
The docks were dark—darker than I’d imagined. Rows of decrepit warehouses sagged against the night sky, their patched-in windows reflecting nothing but shadows. A few newer buildings stood scattered among them, out of placelike teeth in a rotting jaw. The scent of saltwater and diesel clung thick in the air.
I was wedged between two massive security guards in the backseat of the blacked-out SUV, practically smothered by their size and tension. I knew—knew down to my bones—that they weren’t going to let me step foot outside this vehicle.
But I didn’t care. I was here. My hands trembled in my lap, adrenaline buzzing under my skin like a live wire. If I had to beg Donovan, plead with him, barter, sell my soul—I would. If getting on my knees would save Ivan, I’d do it. If screaming would get Donovan’s attention, I’d do that too. Whatever it took.
The SUV came skidding to a stop behind a stack of rusted shipping containers. Dimitri killed the lights with a flick of his wrist. The silence that followed was suffocating.
I took a deep breath as the brothers jumped out of the front seat, and I was still stuck between the men. I glared at them both as they didn’t move a muscle. I shook my head before I launched myself over the man to my right and grabbed the door handle. He easily wrapped his huge arms around my waist and kept me from moving, but at least I’d been quick enough to get the door open. Cold night air rushed in and wrapped around me.
