Page 120 of The Pakhan’s Accidental Bride

"Fine," she finally says. "But you bring Jack. He's a cop. He might see things you miss."

I don't like it, but she has a point. "Agreed."

The brothers are waiting in the library when we arrive. Kevin starts talking the moment we walk in, his voice sharp with anger and fear.

"What the hell is going on? Your men show up at our houses in the middle of the night and tell us we have to come here immediately?"

"Someone threatened to kill one of you if Kiera didn't meet them within the hour," I say bluntly. There's no point in sugar coating it. "She's not going. But I am. With Jack."

All four brothers start talking at once, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of questions and protests. I let them go for a moment, then hold up one hand. The room falls silent.

"Jack, you're with me and Luca. The rest of you stay here with Kiera. My security will keep you safe."

"Like hell," Kevin says. "If someone's threatening us, we have a right to⁠—"

"You have a right to stay alive," I interrupt. "Which is what you'll do by staying here. This isn't a discussion."

Jack steps forward, his expression serious. "Where's the meeting location?"

Kiera gives him the address, and I see recognition flash across his face. "That's an abandoned warehouse district. No cameras, no witnesses. Perfect place for an ambush."

"Which is why we're going prepared." I turn to Luca. "Get the men ready. Full tactical gear. I want snipers on the surrounding buildings and a perimeter established before we go in."

Luca nods and leaves to make the arrangements. I turn back to the brothers, my gaze settling on each of them in turn.

"Stay here. Keep Kiera safe. If anything happens to her while I'm gone, I'll hold each of you personally responsible."

Kevin's jaw tightens, but he nods. Devin and Kaleb exchange glances, then nod as well. Jack is already moving toward the door, his cop training taking over.

"Let's go," he says.

The drive to the warehouse district is fraught with tension. Jack sits in the front passenger seat, silent and tense. Luca drives, his eyes constantly scanning the road and mirrors. I'm in the back, my mind running through scenarios and possibilities.

Who would threaten Kiera's brothers? Someone who knows her well enough to know that's her weakness. Someone who wants to draw her out and make her vulnerable. But why? What's the endgame?

We arrive at the location ten minutes before the deadline. My men are already in position, dark shapes on rooftops and in shadows. Luca parks the SUV a block away, and we approach on foot.

The warehouse is exactly as Jack described. Old, abandoned, and surrounded by empty lots and crumbling buildings. No lights, no signs of life. Just darkness and silence.

We move carefully, weapons drawn. Jack has his service pistol, and I can see his training in every movement. He's good. Better than I expected.

The meeting location is a loading dock at the rear of the warehouse. We approach from three sides, covering each other's angles. When we reach the dock, it's empty.

No one is here.

But there are signs someone was. Cigarette butts scattered on the concrete. Fresh tire tracks in the dirt. A piece of fabric caught on a nail, fluttering in the breeze.

Jack crouches down, examining the cigarette butts with a small flashlight. "These are fresh. Within the last hour."

"Can you use them?" I ask.

"For DNA? Yeah. If they match the DNA from the hoodie, we'll know it's the same person." He carefully collects the butts, placing them in evidence bags he produces from his jacket. "I still haven't gotten the results back from the hoodie yet. The lab is backed up."

I scan the area, my instincts screaming that something is wrong. This was a setup. A test. But for what?

"We should go," Luca says quietly. "This feels wrong."

I agree. We retreat to the SUV, my men falling back from their positions to provide cover. The drive back to the estate is tense, all of us on high alert for any sign of pursuit or ambush.