"I'm gonna bury you alive," he says. "I've got a bit of a poetic streak and a foundation that needs pouring tonight. Morozov is never going to find your body, but I'll be sure to send him a nice, clear video."
Finishing his drink, Will slams it on his expensive walnut conference table. "You think you were suffering in your fancy new apartment, with your pretty clothes and expensive lifestyle? Ungrateful little bitch." He leans in, the bourbon on his breath is sour smelling and my stomach heaves.
Oh. Morning sickness.
Morning sickness isn't just in the morning, of course. Priya kept asking me about it.
The baby. My hand moves to cover my stomach again and I pull it back.
At four months, the baby is developing rapidly.I think.About six inches long. They have distinct fingerprints on their tinystarfish hands. At four months in utero, they can yawn, and suck their thumbs.
I will kill him first. He's not hurting my baby.
My baby, and Dmitri's. Why didn't I tell him? He would have been so happy. I can picture Roman making some joke about their parents being pleased Dmitri 'got a ring on it' first, Ella immediately launching into a discussion about the best OB/GYN in the tri-state area. When we were alone, Dmitri would kiss my stomach and promise to keep our baby safe.
"Do y'all think she's in shock?" Two fingers flick dismissively against my forehead. "Hell, girl. You can't lose it already. This next step? Pouring the concrete. I want you wide awake for that."
Chapter Thirty-Nine
In which there is desperation, darkness, and death. Also, concrete.
Dmitri…
There's a blare of horns as Demid shoots through a red light.
"Luka. It was Luka," Matvey says. "Someone in Grand's orbit turned him. I don't know when, but he took the opportunity."
"He was one of our most trusted lieutenants." I stare at the pulsing red dot on my screen.
"Two other men moved in, they shot Rurik in the chest. Your mother had to be held down by her guards until they made sure it was safe to bring him in. She's working on him now, he's in critical condition."
I have to be sure Ava didn't choose this.
"Demid…" I close my eyes. "Was her bye-bye briefcase still in the closet?"
"Yes sir," he said. "She didn't get into the car with it."
Of course I've known about the bye-bye briefcase. The guest room is wired. I played back every word of their conversation, more than once. I had Matvey check every time they took her out, and the contents of the briefcase were undisturbed. The factthat she had it and chose not to use it had stupidly given me so much hope.
The Aston Martin goes up on two wheels as Demid takes another corner.
"Where are you now, sir?"
"There's a tracker in her wedding ring." My eyes don't leave the screen. "It's been stationary since I pulled it up, so they have to be holding her there." I pull up the address. "It's one of Grand's office buildings." I send him the address, copying Roman and Alexsey on the text.
"Pull together everyone you have as quickly as you can," I say. "Notify my father."
"On it," he says, hanging up.
My phone buzzes instantly and it's Roman. "I heard," he says. "Does she have the tracker in her wedding ring?"
"Yes," I say, "it's operational."
"Thank fuck," he says. "Alexsey is here, Uncle Yuri is sending Nikandr and Andrey. We can meet you there within twenty minutes. If we can get her out safely first, I have a long-range missile I've really been looking forward to trying out. We could tie him to a chair in front of his big office window, so he can watch it come right at the building." He sounds dreamy, almost orgasmic.
"He's going to move her," I say impatiently. "We have to get there before that happens."
"Brother, youwillget her back," he says. "You'll have plenty of time to make up for being an asshole after that."
