He’s wearing a mask. It’s the same mask the others were wearing. Which tells me this man belongs to Igor.
He shoves me into the back of his car before I can make a scene.
I’m too busy freaking out about my blood being everywhere to realize where I am. And what this means.
Shit.I promised Mom and Lila I’d be back.
And now I’ve lied to them. Again.
22
VALERIAN
“Anything?”
Niko closes the front door, the sound echoing through the high ceilings. He shakes his head. “No. Not yet.”
“Where the fuck is she?” I run a hand through my hair.
I’m on the verge of pulling it out. I finish walking down the stairs.
Since Joy escaped, the estate feels more echoey. More hollow.
I don’t know what the fuck she’s thinking. Igor and his men are using her to get to me. And she’s falling right into their trap.
She’s a smart girl. She knows this. But she chose to leave anyway.
I make it down into the lobby, approaching Niko. I know why she left. I’m too much for her. The killing isn’t an issue. It’s something else.
To date, she’s the only woman who has ever run away from me.
“Did you check Venice Beach? I think she was staying there with her friend before the marriage.”
“Checked the area. There wasn’t anything.”
Nikolai is very meticulous. He caught her in the ocean the first time I sent him after her. He knows what he’s fucking doing.
The fact that he can’t find her is very concerning.
“You look worried.”
“They’re going to use her to get to me.”
“That shouldn’t be an issue.” Niko stares at me harder. “But it is. Because you feel something for her.”
“I shouldn’t.”
Niko raises his brow. “I never thought you’d actually admit that aloud.”
“It doesn’t matter. The feeling won’t be around much longer. When I have her back under my roof, safe, I’m sure things will go back to the way they were before.”
More lines appear between Niko’s brow. “What do you mean by that?”
“My cock can’t get enough of her.”
“Are you sure it’s just your cock?” Niko looks at me pointedly, stepping away. “Shower, since it looks like you haven’t done that yet today and meet me in your office.”
Mudak.
