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“Pakhan needs a meeting with you,” he says, the smile at my annoyance present in his voice.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I ask, “When?”

I may not answer to Machislav directly or any of the acting Pakhans, but I do have a job to do. So, if Orel is calling to let me know that a meeting is requested, then I have to at least show up.

“He said tomorrow and to pack a bag for a few days.” Orel’s smugness causes my irritation to grow.

“I have a situation here, so that’s not possible right now.” I know telling him this will fall on deaf ears.

“This isn’t a meeting that can be missed. Pack for four days and be here tomorrow at eleven thirty a.m.,” he says just before hanging up the phone.

“Goddamn it,” I snap to an empty room.

Sighing, I lean forward, opening my laptop. I pick up the files on my desk and start sifting through them as my laptop boots up. I review the information, looking for any hint of the missing baby. My frustration grows when I find absolutely nothing. I set the file aside, grabbing my laptop to order LeeAnn a phone so she isn’t completely cut off from the outside world. Once that’s done and I’ve paid the outrageous amount of money for it to be here before I leave tomorrow, I send some feelers out to get my men to dig into her further, and to focus more on Miles and her friend Lottie she mentioned.

I get so lost in answering messages and putting out fires that I lose all track of time, and before I know it, it's after midnight and I’m ready to go find LeeAnn and go to bed. I dread the fact that I have to tell her I’ll be away for a few days. Coming out of my office, I spot LeeAnn on the couch, passed out.

I walk over to her, grabbing the remote and turning the TV off before picking her up and carrying her to the bedroom. Surprised by the fact that the bed was made and turned down, ready for us to climb in, I laid her in the bed and pulled the covers over her, kissing her forehead before going to take a quick shower and get ready for bed.

I slide into bed, pulling her to my side so that I know she is safe in my arms, and between one blink and the next I’m asleep.

Ten

LeeAnn

Nikolay has been gone for three days, and I’ve missed him more than I ever thought was possible. I was so excited when during breakfast my new phone was delivered. Nikolay grinned at my excitement. After we finished breakfast, I sat on his bed, setting up my phone while he packed for the trip. I was completely surprised when he gave me his credit card to use for any and everything I wanted while he was gone.

We talked about the expectations we both had of each other. If I am honest with myself, I was shocked when he told me that I was free to come and go as I pleased but I was to stay away from my father and his men, and if at any time I felt like I was in danger to come straight back here or call one for the four numbers he programmed in my phone. We were sitting on the couch going over some last-minute plans when there was a knock on the door.

Nikolay stood, pulling me into his arms and kissing me with more passion than I thought was possible after this morning's round of sex. There is another knock on the door, and Nikolay pulls away, groaning. We make our way to the door, and he pulls it open, revealing Miles and Lottie standing on the other side. I squeal with excitement as I pull her into a tight hug before doing the same with Miles. He holds me tight, as if trying to reassure himself that I’m here and alive.

“Shit, Babygirl, I thought I lost you,” he whispers into my hair, causing tears to prick the corners of my eyes.

He lets me go, and I immediately turn into Nikolay’s arms, hugging him tight before letting him go to look up at him. “Thank you for this.”

Nikolay cups my cheek before kissing me on the forehead, then placing his against mine. “I’ve been telling you I would do anything for you.”

“You keep showing me that and I’ll always say thank you,” I whisper, hugging him one more time before he picks up his bag and walks out the door.

Turning to two of my favorite people in the world, I ask, “What do you want to do first?”

Lottie smiles, spinning around in the entry. “First thing I want is a tour of this place and for you to fill in all the details.”

I spent those first two days with them laughing, eating, and even shopping with Lottie before she had to leave. Miles, on the other hand, didn’t leave. He stayed at the house and with me the entire time, warming my heart.

On day three, Nikolay called me to let me know he was going to be gone another two days and Miles had agreed to stay with me until he got back. Thankfully, the stuff that I had ordered to brighten up the place and the clothes I needed that Lottie and I didn’t get on our shopping day had started coming in and kept me busy putting it all away.

I wake up the day he is supposed to come home to my phone buzzing on the nightstand. Reaching out, I answer it without looking, my eyes half-closed.

“Hello?” I grumble.

“LeeLee,” Lottie’s voice is small and scared. My eyes snap open and I’m instantly awake.

“Lottie? What’s wrong?” I speak clearly and quickly as I climb out of bed and go to look for Miles.

“I’m sorry,” she starts between sobs. “They grabbed me as I was leaving the other night. I’m so scared, LeeLee.”

Rushing down the hallway in search of Miles, I work to keep Lottie talking. “Who took you?”