“No shit.”
We sit in silence. The hum of the laptop sounds louder than it should.
“Do you think Johnny knows?” Nik asks.
I drag a hand down my face. “You think he doesn’t?”
His jaw flexes. “Exactly.”
I hesitate, the words sticking in my throat.
“Funny we’re talking about Johnny,” I say finally. “I tried to visit him today.”
Nik’s head snaps toward me. “And?”
“I was denied. My access to his building was pulled.”
He frowns. “Since when?”
I shrug. “Dunno. I haven’t tried to see him since last week. I didn’t even make it out of the lobby. Something’s changed.”
Nik sits back, eyes narrowing. The lines are connecting in both our heads now.
“That can’t be a coincidence,” he mutters.
“It’s not.”
A moment passes between us. Then, Nik leans forward, voice low and sure. “You know what we need to do?”
I meet his eyes.
“Stake out?” I half joke.
“Stake out,” he confirms, dead serious.
And just like that, we’ve got a plan. It’s reckless. It’sprobably fucking stupid. But there’s no way in hell I’m sitting on my hands another damn day while Lina’s less than five hours away, wrapped up in this mess.
This time, we finish what we started. We’re going to get her back.
∞∞∞
Fuck stakeouts.
My legs are cramped. I ate all my snacks. I’m pissing in a goddamn Coke bottle.
This isn’t anything like the movies.
“Nik…” I groan.
“What?”
“It’s been six hours. Nothing’s happened.”
We’re parked in a borrowed Bratva car, courtesy of Volk — don’t even get me started on that — half a block from Johnny’s building. The windows are cracked just enough to breathe. The air’s gone stale anyway.
“Axel,” Nik says patiently, eyes still on the building. “If you need a break, go. Grab some burgers or something. I’ve got this.”
God, he’s perfect. What did I do to deserve him?
