Page 84 of Savage Truce

“Are you sure?” Rosie asks. “Hold up. Andrei’s tracker just flashed eight miles south.”

“Which fucking direction?” I roar.

There’s silence for way too fucking long, then Rosie says, “Either they’re scrambling the signal, or the tracking device is malfunctioning. It’s jumping all over the place.”

I slam on the brakes, and after bringing the SUV to a screeching stop, I hit my fist against the fucking steering wheel. “Blyadʹ!”

“Just give me a few minutes,” Rosie mutters.

As if we have the fucking time.

Iisus Khristos, they’re going to kill him. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Andrei. They know taking my right-hand man out will cripple me severely.

I begin shaking my head, refusing to give up. Glancing up and down the road, I listen to my gut and make a U-turn.

Anastasia sits quietly beside me, her thumb moving fast from fingertip to fingertip.

As I drive back to the road Tim pointed out, I give her hands a quick squeeze and murmur, “We’ll find him. Don’t worry.”

Message after message pops up on the dashboard screen.

Atanas. Constantin. Devrin. Ryo, Enzo.

They’re all letting me know they’re coming to help.

If the fuckers kill Andrei, I will soak the fucking ground with their blood.

No, fuck that. I’m doing it anyway for daring to go after my best friend.

“Rodian,” Rosie says, her tone somber. “The signal is gone. I’m sorry. There’s no telling where they are. Wait for the–”

“I’ll take it from here. Thanks for trying.”

I end the call and dial Sergei’s number.

“Why are we driving in circles?” he asks.

“We think the tracking device malfunctioned. Go get gas and gather the men. I’ll be out here driving around. Maybe I get lucky.”

“You want me to leave you?!” he snaps. “The fuck?”

“It’s an order, Sergei!”

“No. Andrei will kill me. I’ll get men to bring gas, but I’m not leaving you.”

It’s the first time he’s disobeyed me, but he’s right. Andrei won’t hesitate to kill him if he finds out I was left unprotected.

“Fine. Make the calls.”

The line disconnects, and as I reach a fork in the road, I stop the SUV and get out.

“What are you doing?” Anastasia calls from where she’s still sitting in the car.

“Checking for signs.”

I search for anything that will tell me if they passed through here, but there’s nothing.

“Rodian, Atanas is calling,” my wife notifies me.