Page 56 of Deadly Knight (The Bratva’s Elite #2)

“Okay, I called you a few times. Thank you for your help. We have a fairly good idea who has him, and we’ll take it from here.”

Just like that, she’ll let me go? Reel me in with the fact he’s been captured and is probably injured and who knows what else, and that’s it? I’m supposed to move on and live my life while he’s out there being harmed?

Not happening.

He wouldn’t, if I was taken. He never has.

From the moment I left after graduation, he’s been protecting me from afar.

What would have happened if he wasn’t in Toronto this whole time, and his father grabbed me from what’s now known as my worst date in my life?

If he wasn’t close and didn’t get to me in time.

Or worse, respected my decision and stayed in Moscow. But knowing his feelings lingered, Ivan followed through regardless. He’d come for me, no matter where on the planet he was.

Running helped nothing. Not then, and not a month ago. I ran a month ago because I was convinced I needed my walls. That people would come for us and I couldn’t handle it…

They have come. For him.

And I’m still not handling it, but for different reasons than I ever considered.

“No—wait. What will you do?”

“After this call, I’ll be gathering forces and flying out there.”

“I want to help.”

There’s a beat of tense silence on the other end before she murmurs in a tone similar to how children are spoken to when being let down.

“Katya…I get it, I do. But I have no idea where they’re keeping him.

I won’t know what we’re walking into. Dimitri would slaughter me if I brought you in and you got harmed.

Actually—forget that. He’ll kill me if I bring you with me. Period.”

“He’d come after me.” And he has, numerous times.

“He’s trained. He knows what he’s doing. I don’t have the time to teach you how to shoot a gun.”

“I can fight.”

Just two days ago, Bailey told me she believed I could hold my own in a worst-case scenario.

It’s time to test her theory and save Dimitri.

Will I be successful against a mobster who has infinitely more experience than I do?

Perhaps not, but I won’t be able to sit here, to go on with my life while knowing he’s out there, hurt.

“Vanessa…please.

She sighs heavily. “Look. Let me do what I need to on my end. Lev’s going through a bunch of my father’s men to source who’d be behind this, so we figure out where they’re keeping him.

I’m about to bring a small army into territory owned by another mafia family, which probably means I’m about to have another uncomfortable phone call.

For now, don’t do anything half-cocked because if I have to hunt for you as well, I’ll be pissed.

You want to help? Stay there until I arrive. We’ll make a plan when I do.”

“You promise?” Her response could do a whole lot to gain my compliance.

“I do. I understand how you feel. I’ve been in your place, knowing I was walking into sure death but not caring because saving him mattered more.”

“Zeno?”

“Mhm. You gonna be okay?”

My breath travels deeply through my lungs as I stare at the note resting on the couch from where I dropped it. Feeling okay hasn’t been possible since reading it, but understanding Vanessa has more important stuff to deal with, I lie, “Yeah.”

“Go home. Don’t stay in his apartment, in case someone comes back. I don’t think they will, but just in case. I’ll come by as soon as we land.”

“Okay.” Vanessa hangs up, leaving silence on the other end. The device feels heavier now. Or maybe it’s the lack of energy that has left me suddenly depleted at the proof of Dimitri’s fight.

Ignoring Vanessa’s demands, though not unreasonable, I tread into the bedroom, gathering Dimitri’s clothes as I go. They smell like him, and it causes a wave of sadness that nearly topples me onto the bed.

There’s no sign of life, other than a duffle bag in the corner with more clothes strewn out. I drop what’s in my arms into it, but not without keeping a shirt, bringing it up to my face to suck in as much of Dimitri as I’m able to.

Before it’s too late.

“No,” I counter aloud, banishing the inner voice trying to take me down. Dimitri is alive. He’ll be fine. Vanessa will come and we’ll find him.

I’d know if he wasn’t okay. If he was…dead.

Shirt in hand, I head for Dimitri’s bed; a double-sized mattress with black sheets and a black comforter. The material, though soft, is plain cotton and nothing like the large bed he has at home.

If he’s been living beneath me for years, why didn’t he make the place more of a home? It feels so temporary.

I roll, pushing my face into his pillow and imagine him here with me. His frame, much too large for the small bed, curled around me, his arm around my waist as he vows to never let me go.

He hasn’t. Not once. Not ever. Not until I forced him to. When I ran away again .

He’s right. It’s all I ever do. I run when things get hard.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper into the empty room, to the man—the owner—who’s not here and is going through who knows what, all the while alone.

Alone…when he should be here with me.