Logical.Yet… “You haven’t asked about her state before.Why now?”
With a different man, I could chalk this up to small talk, but Valery Molotov doesn’t make small talk.Everything he says and does has a purpose, however convoluted that purpose may be.
“Because there’s something you’re not telling us.”Valery’s tone is even as we turn the corner onto the street where Alina was last spotted.“Something important.What is it?”
He’s right.I haven’t told them anything about Alina’s pregnancy—because that’s between me and Alina.More importantly, it has no bearing on anything.
“She’s very sick,” I say, ignoring his second question.“She’s dizzy, weak, nauseated, has headaches.Pretty much what you’d expect with fucking brain cancer.What else do you want to know?”
“Did you hurt her?”His voice is still level, his expression unreadable as he glances at me.“Is that why she ran even though she’s so sick?”
So that’s where he’s heading.My molars squeeze together, hard.“I would never fucking hurt her.”
“Then why would she run before a life-saving surgery?Unless being with you is so unbearable that she’d rather die.”
It’s all I can do not to reach for my knife right here, in the middle of a street that’s still crowded despite the late hour.I have to take several deep breaths to control myself, and still, when my voice emerges, it’s harsh and guttural.“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.Shewantsme.She—” I stop because as much as I want to say that she loves me, I know that’s not the case.Not yet.
I need more time with her.
I need to show her that we belong together.
“Sure she does.”Valery’s tone is cool and mocking.“That’s why she avoided you all those years.Because she wants you so fucking much.”
If he weren’t Alina’s brother, he’d already be bleeding out on the pavement.As is, something of what I’m feeling must show on my face because he says matter-of-factly, “You know, a sniper of mine has the two of you in his sights.”
Ruslan catches my gaze, and I nod subtly, giving him my go-ahead.He pulls out his phone, and a second later, a red dot appears on Valery’s chest and travels up his face before settling on his forehead.
Alina’s brother stops and meets my gaze, a cold smirk tugging at his lips.“Touché.”
We have a whole team of snipers stationed in this area, ready to take out the Molotovs and their crew if they make the wrong move.I’m not surprised that they implemented the same measures.Nor will I be surprised if, after we find Alina, our temporary collaboration devolves into the bloodiest battle between our families yet.
But for now, we’re allies.Because we have to find her and soon.I can’t stop thinking about Alina sick and hurt, in the hands of some enemy who sees her as nothing but a tool to be used to gain an edge over me or her brothers.My stomach feels like it’s being clawed to shreds from the inside as I keep picturing the way her abduction could’ve gone down, how they could’ve violently subdued her or drugged her.Or…
No.I refuse to think that they could’ve killed her.That would not benefit anyone.
Except an enemy who wants the ultimate revenge.
I shut down that thought before it can unravel me completely.Reining in my fury at Alina’s brother, I resume walking swiftly, and Ruslan follows my lead.As Valery falls into step next to us, I ask in as steady a voice as I can manage, “Any theories on why we haven’t been contacted yet?”
“They’re buying themselves time to set up the most advantageous exchange,” Valery answers immediately.“The psychological torment inflicted on us as a result is an added bonus.”
Of course he’s already thought this through.I would have as well if I weren’t so fucking sleep deprived.Not to mention, furious and terrified.
If Alina did get taken, whoever has her will pay a price they couldn’t have imagined.No matter how much they plan and plot, I will find them, and I will obliterate them and everything they’ve ever known and loved.
Spotting the turn to the alley, I quicken my pace.Ruslan and Valery do the same.The tourists we pass wisely move out of our way.
I step into the alley first.At a glance, it’s nothing extraordinary.Small and narrow, it houses a dumpster and not much else.There is a faint odor of trash and urine—drunk tourists likely relieve themselves here—and I spot a semi-dry puddle of something that looks like old vomit on the cobblestones near the dumpster.
It’s likely from the drunk tourists as well.Then again… I turn to Valery.“Tell your forensic team to get that”—I point at the puddle—“tested for DNA.Alina’s been getting sick a lot.”
He nods and pulls out his phone to fire off the message.In the meantime, Ruslan and I advance deeper into the alley, using our phones as flashlights to scan the ground and the walls.I’m looking for blood, scuff marks from shoes, strands of hair—anything that could provide a clue as to what happened to my wife.
Which is why when my gaze lands on the door in the middle of the wall, it takes me a second to register what I’m seeing.
Ruslan is already there, ahead of me.“Why didn’t we know about this?”he asks, touching the worn wood of the frame.
Frowning, I approach.“Because this door isn’t supposed to be here.”
