I stop dead at that, the words flooring me every time.
She ran.
Again.
At the first opportunity that arose, she escaped me.
After what happened just before the attack, can I blame her? I dragged her out of the house and forced her into the car. I told her I’d make her tell me where she hid that necklace. I didn’t elaborate on the threat, but a person’s imagination could run wild with the insinuations.
Still, something feels off. Tatiana would never leave Noah behind. Maybe she’s planning on stealing him back later.
My chest tightens at the thought of my son. He cried himself to sleep last night, asking for his mommy. Remembering the oath I’d made to never lie to him or betray his trust, I had no choice but to tell him I’d lost her. I promised him in the same breath that I’d find her, and that’s what I’ll do.
Reino takes a gulp of his coffee. “We checked other street cameras, but none of them had an angle on our position.”
Which is why our attackers had chosen that spot to hit. They opened fire but quickly scattered when we gained ground on them. My men chased them to an underground tunnel with multiple exits where they lost track of them.
When the pilot got my drone to the location, they’d been long gone. If they’re worth their salt, they would’ve changed the number plates and spray-painted the vehicles in a few minutes. Trying to find the SUVs is pointless.
Forcing myself to focus and not to give in to the violence churning inside me, I turn to Ulysses. “Have you made any leeway on the identity of the attackers?”
I haven’t eliminated the possibility that Tatiana could’ve been their target.
He crosses his arms over his sleeveless jacket. “We still don’t have a trace on those fake number plates. The combat gear is available from any tactical supply outlet. So, no. I’m afraid we don’t have any leads there.”
Motherfucker.
The motive for the attack is still unclear. It could’ve been a rival organization, but they’d have to be damn stupid to hit on me without expecting to be crushed. Unless they’re some clueless rookies trying their luck. The city doesn’t lack idiots who think they can come in and steal some lucrative territory.
It wasn’t one of the drug lords running their produce through the state either. They wouldn’t have hesitated to claim responsibility before throwing a deal at me. That’s their modus operandi for opening negotiations. But none of them are idiotic enough to fuck with me when they know Saverio De Luca and I work on the same side. Together, we’re too powerful.
If someone took Tatiana for ransom, I would’ve received a body part by now. The thought makes me lose all rationality, so I push it away with mental violence.
I’ll find those motherfuckers. It’s only a matter of time. When I do, I’ll make them pay. But I first have to find Tatiana and bring her home. If she ran, it’s paramount that I get to her before someone else does.
Despite my intention of keeping a level head, having lost her again is fucking with my mind. I can’t think straight. A headache hammers between my temples. My eyes burn from a lack of sleep, and I’m about to lose what little sanity I have left in a bad fucking way.
“Boss?” Reino says.
I look at the men, who’ve gone quiet. A palpable tension hangs in the air as they wait for my instructions.
I scrub a hand over my face as if that could clear the rage obscuring my reason.
“You look like shit.” Ulysses watches me with unblinking eyes. “Respectfully. Maybe you should catch a few hours of sleep. And eat something.”
I’m so fucking close to bashing his head in after all. The only thing that stops me is the way they all stare at me with fear, expecting the worst.
The stubble under my palm is long overdue for a shave. I haven’t eaten a proper meal since the attack. I can’t. I won’t be able to eat or rest until I find my wife. I’ll tear this goddamn city apart and burn the whole country to the ground if that’s what it takes.
Tatiana could be in danger. I can think of a million and one horrors that can befall a woman alone out in the streets. She has no money, phone, or weapon. Her purse with her credit card is here in the house. Her new ID card with her married name is in the safe. I dragged her out of the house straight after our wedding night in the sleeveless dress she was wearing for the visit to her son-of-a-bitch brother. She doesn’t even have a jacket for when it gets cold.
Fuck.
One of her shoes is sitting like a big fat accusation on the bench at the foot end of the bed. I picked it up on the stairs when I got home after searching the streets for hours for any sign of her.
A hand falls on my shoulder.
I spin around, ready to deck the bastard who’s foolish enough to get in my way, but it’s only Jasper.
