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How bloody will this fight get?
It should have been me.
If it had been, this never would have happened. Because I wouldn’t have let Lucian take me alive. Either he would be dead now, or I would be just another sad sap lost in battle. I would have seen to it that he would have no choice but to kill me. He wouldn’t have spared me for negotiations anyhow.
Natasha, on the other hand, is an invaluable bargaining chip.
And we just let her waltz right into his hands.
I should have thought of that. Because I know Killian.
And there’s not a doubt in my mind that he will rip this world apart to save Natasha. The same goes for Tatiana. And that leaves us all at Lucian’s mercy because he holds all the cards.
Our only chance of surviving this is if we can crush him completely. And in the meantime, I can only hope we can get to Natasha in time.
30
QUINN
Heart breaking into a sprint, I jolt awake at the shrill voice that carries to my ears. And for a moment, I don’t know where I am as I bolt upright to look around. I must have fallen asleep and someone carried me to my room. I feel bad for having dozed off when I know how worried Killian is about Natasha.
But the raised cadence of a woman’s voice chases away that guilt as I recognize who it is. My heart stutters to a halt. Because I can think of only one reason why Tatiana Sokolov would be here, talking like that right now.
Flinging the blanket off me, I scramble to my feet and race downstairs.
“We are going to make that Italian bastard pay for taking my sister,” she thunders, her body quivering in her rage as she and Killian face off.
Only my brother doesn’t look like he’s ready to argue. He looks like he’s ready to fight. “I have all my forces on their way here right now. I suggest you call your men in as well. I don’t care if it brings the entire NYPD down on our heads. I’m ready to make whatever display of force is necessary to get her out. Butthe priority is Natasha’s safety. After we can guarantee that, I intend to raze Lucian Agosti’s empire to the ground.”
“Agreed,” Tatiana says, her phone already in her hand.
And all the while, I stand frozen in the doorway, my hand raised to cover my mouth in horror. Lucian must be holding Natasha prisoner. How Killian and Tatiana found out, I don’t know. But that hardly matters right now.
My mind is working a mile a minute as I listen to my brother strategize with Lance on the best way to break through Lucian’s defenses based on what Lance knows of the compound.
Tatiana speaks in Russian to someone over the phone, her voice authoritative and concise in whatever directive she’s giving. And as soon as she hangs up, she reengages with my brother.
“My men are on their way,” she says. “We can gather and coordinate here. This is as close as we’ll get before crossing into Lucian’s territory.”
Killian gives a curt nod. “How many armored cars do you have? Lance said the front gate is going to be Lucian’s weak point. If we can ram through it, we may be able to flood the estate before he has a chance to organize a defense.”
“As many as we need,” Tatiana says. “I have thirty on their way right now. But I wonder if Lucian has his eyes on this place. If so, he’ll know we’re coming. That could jeopardize Natasha.”
Killian nods, his brows pressing together in deep thought.
“Send your men straight into Queens,” Lance suggests. “Tell them to pick a spot within five minutes of the compound and hold tight. We can coordinate with our men, give them the plan, then have one of our cars meet up with each of yours.”
“I like it,” Tatiana agrees. And she’s back on the phone a moment later.
I’ve never seen my brother and the Sokolovpakhanshawork so well together as they amass their forces and form a strategyto crush the Italians and rescue Natasha. And I’m amazed by Killian’s ability to collaborate and coordinate when it really matters. For months, I’ve watched him and Tatiana butt heads. But today, when Natasha’s life is on the line, he’s another man completely.
“We still have the problem of gathering the men here if Lucian is watching,” Killian says to Lance.
“It might be dangerous to communicate over the phone as well,” he points out.
“Send them on circuitous routes,” Tatiana suggests, covering the mouthpiece of her phone with one hand.
Killian shakes his head. “I don’t want to waste the time if it isn’t absolutely necessary. Every minute we leave her in Lucian’s hands, he could be hurting her.”