“When did you see Anton last?” he asked without even a hello, the panic laced in every word. “Did he say anything to you about getting in trouble?”
“I saw him a couple of days ago at work. Why? Did something happen?” I was already on alert. I put down the water and grabbed my phone to keep it in place, my eyes now scanning my own surroundings.
“We believe he’s been taken,” Andrey hissed. “His guards were found drugged outside his office, and no one in the family has heard from him.”
“Fuck.” I felt my nails digging into my skin. “Who the hell could be behind this?”
“We have no clue,” Andrey said. “But we’ve got the panic room set up, and they’re scouring through CCTV footage right now. Can you get your guys to help?”
“I’m coming too,” I said. There was no way I’d let Anton be tortured by whoever had him. My family, my brother, they were my life. “Just let me lock down the house and make sure Beatrice is safe. Then I’ll be on my way.”
“Do that,” Andrey said. “And hurry.”
Right after the call ended, I called my head of security and asked him to follow as I went to find Bea. We climbed up the stairs, and I explained the situation to him and told him togather our men to help find Anton. He waited outside, patiently for more instructions, when I strode into Bea’s bedroom.
But she wasn’t there.
“Where is Beatrice?” I exited the room and whirled on him. He looked utterly lost and pulled out his walkie-talkie as I strode through the house, checking space after space. But she was nowhere inside.
“Is she out in the gardens?” I turned to my head of security. His face was pale and ashen as he shook his head and put down the radio.
“Sir…I’m afraid there’s a problem.”
“Tell me what it is,” I roared, knowing in my heart that the news wasn’t good.
“Mrs. Pavlov isn’t here,” he managed to choke out. From how he looked, I could tell he knew he’d fucked up, but my heart wasn’t catching up with the news.
“Did she step out with her guards?”
“Her guards have been home all day, sir. No one knows where she is.”
Fuck. Beatrice was missing too.
The world tunneled into chaos as I pushed him aside and ran down the stairs, issuing orders as I went. “Get the convoy ready. Tell security to check the CCTVs. Call Andrey and tell him what’s happened!”
I ran out of the door and rushed into my car. Behind me, the convoy was already getting prepared. With Anton and Beatrice both missing, my brain scrambled to reach one fucking conclusion.
The god damn Lebedevs had come true on their threat. They pounced on the first chance they got to take back Beatrice, and with that, their revenge by taking my brother. It was too much of a coincidence for my wife and brother both to go missing on the same day, around the same time.
They had no enemies in common, and the only common party with a vested interest in both was the Lebedevs. As I drove, speeding through the streets, I called Andrey and told him what had happened.
“You’re going to the Lebedevs now?” Andrey asked.
“I know Beatrice will be there,” I said, taking a turn toward their street.
“Don’t act wild, Arko,” Andrey bellowed. “You can’t go in there alone!”
“They have my wife!” I roared back in anger. “I bet they’ve got Anton too. Are you telling me not to get my wife?”
“Just…stay calm. We’re going to collect evidence while you go. If there’s any hint of trouble, leave a man outside and tell him to call us if you’re not out within the hour.”
“Done,” I said, ending the call. Caspian Lebedev’s house was armed to the teeth, with guards lining the whole street. But for some reason, none of them stopped me or the convoy as we drove down the compound.
It felt like we were expected. With every passing second, I knew they had my family.
I barely switched off the engine, rage coiling through me as I rushed out of the car, not bothering even to slam the door shut behind me. I ran up the stairs and pushed open the doors, the bell be damned.
“Caspian!” I screamed into the empty foyer. “Where the hell is Beatrice?”
