Page 55

CHAPTER 54

MIKHAIL

“Come here.” I pat my thigh for Ana to sit on.

She pushes a dark curl behind her ear, picks up her hot cup of tea, and slides her tight ass onto my leg.

Hades lies on the floor beneath the table, lightly snoring in the warm sliver of sun that spills there from the window.

“Did you want to go to the office with me today? We can catch a concert afterwards.” My hand falls to her growing belly as I sip my coffee.

There’s a part of me that doesn’t want to let her out of my sight now that I know she’s pregnant. I want to bubble wrap her and strap her to my back to carry her everywhere.

“Who’s babysitting Zoya then? Doesn’t she demand all of your time?” Ana’s nose wrinkles and she wiggles on my lap.

I shrug and pull her tighter. “Niki or Lara can take care of her, too. Lara would be the best choice, Zoya apparently can’t stand Alexei.”

Ana laughs. “I believe that. He doesn’t even acknowledge she’s in the room.” Her small hands cup my cheeks, running her thumb over my scars. “You’re too nice. My big softy, trying to be the good guy.”

I growl, pulling her palm to my lips. “I am not.”

She gives me a wide smile. “Liar.” She drops down hard onto my lap, nearly crushing my left nut.

“My little iskorka, I’m going to show you just how horrible I can be.” I flip her over so she’s lying across my knee.

Damn her for giggling. She’s making me grin along with her.

“Mikhail!” Zoya’s cry shatters our moment before she bursts into the room.

“Of fucking course.” Ana pushes herself up and smooths her hair back with a glower darkening her features.

I take a deep breath, and tug up my balaclava. If nothing else, it will hide just how absolutely furious I am that Zoya keeps barging in.

“What the hell do you want? And how did you find out the code for the doors?” I bellow loudly enough that Ana winces.

Zoya rushes in, panic flaring her eyes. “She’s gone! He took her!”

“Who? Galena? Are you sure she didn’t sneak away from you?” It wouldn’t be the first time. My little sister seems to hate staying with Zoya.

I can’t say I blame her.

“He took her. She isn’t hiding, I looked everywhere. I just know he did. Get Enzo to check the cameras!” Zoya clutches her dress at the neck, and collapses into the chair next to the table.

“How does he keep finding you all of the sudden?” Ana asks, then turns towards me and wrinkles her nose.

“I don’t know. He wants me, wants Galena. What am I going to do?” Zoya sobs, covering her face.

I pull out my phone and call Enzo.

“Pull up the feed on Zoya’s house,” I grunt before he says a word.

“What the hell did she do now? he sighs.

But I can hear his keyboard clicking in the background.

“She’s saying Galena has been taken. I need to know who did it.” I stare hard at Zoya.

“Of course she’s been taken! I can’t believe you’re sitting there, not offering any comfort.” She bites her lower lip and looks at me through her lashes.

Her pranks for attention have been escalating. There are some days I hate that I made a promise to protect her.

“Shit.” Enzo stops making background noise. “Yea, she’s telling the truth. It’s one of the same fucking goons that took Anastasia. It has to be Ivan.”

“Fuck.” I drop my forehead to Ana’s shoulder. “See if you can catch them at an intersection.”

“Not gonna happen.” He pauses. “This is from, um, six hours ago.”

My jaw ticks watching Zoya.

She purses her mouth and blows me a kiss before Ana can see her.

What the hell has she been doing for six hours?

“We have to get her back.” Zoya stands and moves next to me. “Please? Take me to Russia, I’ll talk to Ivan. Galena isn’t safe with him.”

“She isn’t safe with you either.” Ana pouts, then leans on my chest to put her body between Zoya and I. “You should go yourself and get her back,” she snaps at Zoya.

“You know, Ivan had me first. He only took you because he couldn’t find me.” Zoya flips her wrist, shooing Ana as if she’s a nuisance.

“Gross.” Ana makes a gagging face.

It’s like when she’s choking on my cock. It makes blood rush to my crotch seeing her do it.

“You can have that dirty old man. He’s a creep.” Ana pushes off my lap

“You’re just mad because you’ll always be a second choice. I could have had your man too, if I had wanted him.” Zoya sets her hand on my shoulder, but before I can protest, she pivots on her heel and moves towards the door. “Please, Mikhail. I do need your help. I want my baby back,” she says before she leaves.

Ana cups her own belly, and rubs her hands over the budding life growing there. “I feel for her, I really do. But why does it have to be you?”

I rise to pull her close. “I hate this, too. Let me find out what Enzo says, and I’ll see if I can set up a team. There’s a chance I’ll need to go, though. Galena is my responsibility, as the leader of this organization, it will always be mine.” Tugging down my mask, I kiss the top of her head.

“Go get ready. You can still come with me to the office, I just don’t think I can promise the concert until this gets figured out.”