Page 102 of Dark Desires

“And that’s your ride,” he says. “Go on.”

“What? Go on? What about you?”

“I need to stick around, sort out some things with my men. I’ll be there. Don’t worry.”

I glance at my father’s still form, my heart breaking all over again. Seeing him lying there, dead… I don’t know what to say or do.

Suddenly, the world begins to spin. I feel lightheaded. It’s hard to stand.

“Isa?” Alexei asks.

With that, I fall into his arms, the world going black.

I wake up to the low hum of a jet engine and a stiff ache in my back.

Blinking against the soft light of the cabin, I glance around, groggy and disoriented. It’s not long before I realize I’m on a private plane.

I sit up, taking in the other passengers. There’s a small group of people, none of whom I recognize immediately.

“Where’s Alexei?” My voice cuts through the quiet. “He said he’d be here. And where are you taking me?”

A young, pretty woman with sharp features and an air of authority rises from her seat and approaches me. She’s striking, her long, dark hair pinned back neatly, her posture confident.

“You must be Isabella,” she says. “I’m Elena, Alexei’s sister.”

“What happened? I was with Alexei, then…”

“You got a little overwhelmed,” she says with a small smile. “The battle, your pregnancy, and your loss. You passed out for a bit.”

I blink at her, trying to process.

“Where’s my dad? I can’t just leave him there.”

Her expression turns serious. “Your father is being transported home by the FBI. Everything’s being taken care of. And, I’m sorry about your father. We all are.”

She exchanges a glance with the man next to her, a handsome, hulking figure with a stern expression.

“This is Grigori, my husband,” she says, gesturing, then nods toward another man seated a few rows away. “And that’s Luk, one of my brothers, and the head of the Bratva.” Lev, not turning around, raises his hand.

“A pleasure,” Grigori says, his voice low, deep enough to feel in my bones. “And we’re all sorry about your father. He was as good a man as you’ll find in this world of ours.”

“Thank you, but where’s Alexei? He said he’d be here.”

Elena sighs. “He’s off the radar for now. Agent Patterson may have worked with him to take down De la Rosa, but other agentswill see the connection and try to tie him to the cartel. It’s not safe for him to be out in the open.”

I stare at her, my chest tightening. “What does that mean? Is he on the run?”

Luk chimes in from up ahead. “He’s fine. He just can’t be in contact right now.”

“That’s not fine,” I snap. “I want to see him.”

“That’s not possible,” Elena says firmly but kindly. “Our priority is getting you home safely. Alexei would never forgive us if we didn’t.”

I slump back in my seat, my frustration boiling. “I need to see him, to talk to him, I need to know he’s alright.”

“He’s alright,” Elana says, but does not elaborate.

I’m frustrated, but I know arguing won’t get me anywhere. I grit my teeth, staring out the window as, far below, Chicago slowly comes into view.