“I don’t know. Can we focus on what’s happening in the present?” I shook my head and looked up at the seagulls flying around. It was a clear day, uncharacteristic for the Bay Area. Usually there was fog and it would burn off after lunch.
We entered the building and my eyes landed on Wolf tied to a chair next to his brother, who was also tied to a chair. My brother-in-law glared at me. He wasn’t gagged so that was good.
“What the fuck is this?” I asked Fabio. “Untie Wolf.”
“Sorry, no can do. He was being a problem.”
“Jesus Christ.” I went over to the brothers. “If Rosa knew you were tied up, she’d have my head.”
“And mine. I don’t appreciate you forcing me to come, when she could go into labor at any moment.” His upper lip curled and he glared at his brother. “But then if you hadn’t fucked with Zotov, Ciro’s baby would be with her mother.”
Kira tried to talk but he was gagged.
I looked at one of the soldiers guarding him and motioned for him to remove the gag so I could hear what he was trying to say.
Kira coughed and cleared his throat.
“Speak,” I barked.
“I would never harm an innocent baby.” With his thick and phlegmy Russian accent, it made understanding him difficult. Especially because he was so obviously scared. “Zotov wanted a woman of value to pay my debt.”
I clamped down on my back molars. “And you were going to give him my woman?” When I’d spoken to Zotov, he’d apologized for taking Pippa. His men couldn’t tell the difference between Isla and her sister, Elsie. I understood.Both were blondes, similar height and facial features. But my Isla was the woman of value compared to her sister.
The blood drained out of his face as he realized what he’d confessed.
“Did you not think to ask us for help before causing this mess?”
“I try to fix it myself,” Kira said.
“You helped them get my woman and child!” I slapped him across the face. “My baby is with strangers!” I backhanded him, hitting his nose and making it bleed.
Wolf’s breathing increased but he didn’t tell me to stop.
“Please. I beg. Don’t take me to Zotov. Please. I run away and never come back,” Kira said.
“No,” I replied flatly.
“No?” Kira asked.
“No,” I repeated.
“Brother.” He turned toward Wolf. “Please. Please help me. Ciro will listen to you.”
“No!” I shouted in Kira’s face. “Zotov will kill my baby! You’re nothing but a filthy, selfish cockroach!”
“We can try?—”
“No.” I cut off Wolf. “Say good-bye to your brother. He fucked with the wrong man.” I hit my hand against my chest.
“You’re doing the right thing,” Fabio whispered at my side.
“Let this be a lesson to all of you.” I turned around to face the others in the warehouse. “You betray me and my family, you will die!”
“How much time does he have?” Wolf asked.
“I’m waiting to hear from Zotov with a time and location,” I said. “If I have them release you, will you be a problem?” I didn’t like seeing him tied up like his brother. Butif he tried to stop me from rescuing my baby, I would put a bullet in him.
“I don’t know,” he replied honestly.
