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There’s only a short pause. “How many do you need?”

I give him the number, and we go over the details, and how quickly his men can get there.

“I’ll have them moving within the hour,” Luciano says.

“Thank you.”

I end the call, and my phone rings almost immediately. Maxim.

“Sergei just told me what happened. What the fuck is going on?” he asks, the moment I answer.

“Calm down.”

His voice is furious. “Your estate was attacked and Aurora was taken!”

“I know where she is. I tracked her ring.”

“What about the men? I was told most of yours are injured.”

“I’ve already contacted Luciano. His men are on their way.”

Maxim exhales sharply. “Those motherfuckers.” His voice drops into something darker. “When you get them, Roman, don’t spare any of them.”

“You sure bet I won’t.”

He falls silent for a moment, breathing heavily. “This is exactly why I wanted to stay in Chicago.”

“I’ve got it under control.”

“Roman—”

“If I need you here, I’ll call you.”

Another pause. “Fine.”

I end the call and look back at the blinking dot on my screen. Aurora is out there. Alive. I have to believe she’s alive.

❦ ❦ ❦

Luciano’s men arrive within the hour. I gather the few of my men who are still standing. The ones who can barely move are left behind to help secure the estate and get the wounded to the Clinic. Everyone else comes with me.

The convoy moves through the darkness, headlights cutting across empty stretches of road until we reach the outskirts of the city.

I check my phone. The tracker is still blinking. She’s there. That tiny pulsing dot is the only thing keeping me from losing my mind.

I want to storm the fucking place. I want to tear through every door until I find her. But charging in blindly could get her killed. So I force myself to think.

“Kill the headlights.”

The vehicles roll to a stop several yards from the property.

We get out quietly, keeping low as we study the building ahead. It’s heavily guarded. Men patrol the perimeter, weapons visible beneath their jackets.

I point toward the left side. “You take that side.”

Another group moves toward the rear. I look at the remaining men. “Wait for my signal.”

Everyone nods. We move quietly. Two guards appear near the entrance. They barely have time to raise their weapons before I fire. Both men drop.