Page 74 of Cruel Russian Pakhan

It had to be Artyom. That was why Vera and Kira showed up. I was stupid to think he would've just let Katya go. I was stupid to think they were here because they cared about her. I was stupid to think he wasn't tracking them!

I should’ve seen it coming.

She must’ve told them she was pregnant. Hell, the damn sonogram was still on the table. If Katya had left of her own free will, she never would’ve left that behind. No fucking way.

Artyom dared to take her while she was pregnant?

And the fact that no one had been alerted? That meant she was restrained, maybe chloroformed.

If Katya had even one scratch on her when I found her, I was putting a bullet through Artyom’s skull. Consequences be damned.

I tore out of the clinic and jumped into my car without a word to Rocco, who was talking to the guards and who’d just arrived.

As I sped out of the parking lot and punched in a conference call to my brothers.

They answered almost simultaneously.

“Katya's been abducted from the clinic.”

“I'm assuming you know who has her,” Jaroslav’s voice was cold. “Where do you want us to meet you?”

“Kira and Vera visited her. When they left, I checked on her, she was still in the room. I stepped out for a few minutes, and when I came back, she was gone. I’m heading to the Rykovs’ mansion to put a bullet in Artyom’s skull.”

“We’ll be there.”

The line went dead.

I’d torn through the streets like a bat out of hell, arriving in half the time it should’ve taken.

Now, with my headlights off, I coasted to a stop a few houses down from the Rykov mansion, choosing the darkest, most secluded stretch of road I could find.

My heart slammed against my ribs, harder, faster, more brutal than it ever had, as I stepped out of the car.

For the first time…I was afraid.

Afraid to fail.

Afraid to die.

Afraid I’d never see Katya again.

I scanned the area.

Clear.

The only way in was to scale the wall.

I took one last look over my shoulder, and I ran. My hands caught the top of the stone edge, and with one powerful pull, I vaulted over and dropped silently into the yard.

Before my feet even settled, my gun was in hand. Safety off.

I kept to the shadows, moving low and fast, like a phantom. At the back door, I knelt and picked the lock in seconds, slipping inside without a sound.

I listened. Light, careless laughter floated down the hallway, followed by female voices.

Vera and Kira.

My rage boiled over.