“I know. But panicking won’t help.”
He’s right. I force myself to breathe. To think clearly. To plan instead of just reacting.
The Petrovs took her for a reason. They want leverage or information or both. They won’t kill her immediately. They’ll use her first.
That thought should be comforting. Instead it makes the rage burn hotter.
We pull up to the estate and security lets us through without question. Inside, the house is organized chaos. People on phones. Maps spread across tables. Julian’s study has become a command center.
Nadia sees me first. She’s standing near the window, arms crossed, face pale. “You,” she says, and her voice is pure venom. “This is your fault.”
“Nadia—”
“She was safe for six years. Hidden away where no one could find her. Then you showed up and dragged her back into this world and now she’s been taken by people who want to torture her because she’s connected to you!”
Julian appears in the doorway. “Nadia. Outside.”
“No. He needs to hear this. She wouldn’t be in danger if it wasn’t for him.”
“I know that.” My voice comes out hoarse. “You think I don’t know that?”
“Then why are you here? Why aren’t you out there finding her?”
“That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.”
Julian crosses the room and puts himself between us. “Nadia. Go check on the boys. Make sure they don’t hear any of this.”
She glares at me for another three seconds, then leaves.
The moment she’s gone, Julian turns on me. “Get out.”
“No.”
“This is my sister. My family. You’ve done enough damage.”
“She’s also the mother of my sons. And I’m not leaving until we find her.”
“You want to help? Then stay the hell away from us. You’re the reason the Petrovs took her in the first place.”
He’s right. Every word is right. But hearing it doesn’t change what needs to happen.
“Blame me later,” I say. “Right now we need to focus on finding her.”
“We are finding her. Without you.”
“You need my resources. My people. My contacts in the Russian community. You can hate me all you want but you need me to get her back.”
Julian’s hands clench into fists at his sides. “If she dies because of you?—”
“She won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I won’t let it happen.”
He moves so fast I barely see it coming. His fist connects with my jaw and I go down hard. Hit the floor and taste blood. My instinct is to get up swinging. To fight back. But I force myself to stay down. Let him have this.
Julian’s standing over me, breathing hard. “Bring her back alive.”
