Page 24

My phone buzzes, and I grab it, my heart skipping a beat when I see Quinn's name flash across the screen. I answer immediately, a smile playing on my lips. “Hey, Beautiful. I’m waiting to see you. How far?”

“Hello, Mark.” The voice on the other end is distinctly male and definitely not Quinn's.

I clench my fists as the blood gushes to my ears.

Charlie fucking Letvin.

“What the fuck are you doing with Quinn's phone?” I demand, my voice low and dangerous. Fear claws at my throat, threatening to choke me.

Charlie chuckles, the sound sending a chill down my spine. “Now, now, is that any way to greet an old friend?”

“Cut the bullshit, Charlie. Where is Quinn?” My hand clenches the phone so hard my knuckles turn white.

“She's...indisposed at the moment. But don't worry, she's still breathing. For now .” He pauses, letting the threat hang in the air. “I think it's time for a little chat, Mark. Just you and me. I'll text you the address. Come alone, or the next time you see your precious Quinn, she'll be in pieces.”

The line goes dead, and I'm left standing there, my heart pounding against my ribs like a caged animal. Fuck.

I wait for Charlie to text me the address, and in the meantime, I conference call my siblings. They should know where to go if something happens to me.

Abram is the first to speak. “What's up?”

“Charlie has Quinn.” The words taste like acid on my tongue.

Lara screams through the phone in shock. “What? How? I just saw her!”

“You were together?” I ask.

“Doesn’t matter now,” Denis adds. “Tell us what happened.”

“I don't know,” I grit out. “Charlie called from her phone and threatened to kill her if I didn’t show up to meet him alone. So I'm going to get her back.”

Vladimir interrupts. “We're coming with you.”

“No,” I say vehemently. “He said to come alone. I'm not risking Quinn's life.”

“You can't go by yourself, Mark. It's too dangerous,” Denis argues.

“I don't have a choice!” My voice rises, desperation clawing at my insides. “He'll kill her if I don't play by his rules.”

Abram’s voice rings through. “Okay, let's think about this strategically. We can't send you in there without backup.”

“I'll wear a wire,” I say impatiently. “But I have to go alone. At least initially. You can come for me if you don’t hear from me within a few hours.”

“No, Mark, stop!” Lara screeches so loudly that we’re all forced to listen. “Listen. You can go today and bring her back, sure. But chances are Letvin won’t let you walk out. Even if he does, he’ll pull a stunt like that again when he discovers how much Quinn means to you. If you let him win this time, he’ll always win.”

“She’s right,” Abram sounds impressed.

“So what do you suggest?” I ask, through gritted teeth.

“I say we bring him down once and for all,” Vladimir speaks.

“How?”

“By going through on our last threat. To make him fear us, there must be consequences.”

“You’re saying—”

“The Letvins. It’s time that bastard’s family knows what their precious Charlie is up to. Please, Mark. Let’s call for an urgent meeting with the Letvins. It’ll only take an hour at the most and who knows? They might know just how to help,” Abram insists.

“Yes, Mark. You can’t do this alone,” Lara whispers.

I close my eyes and think about their proposition. Last time, we had cornered Charlie and told him we’d go straight to his family if he ever laid a hand on Quinn. If we don’t follow through on our threat, then they’re right, he’d think us weak and pull a stunt like today’s all over again.

“Deal. See you at the Letvins,” I end the call.

***

I drive to the Letvins’ territory, my heart pounding against my ribs. The air is thick with tension as I approach the meeting spot, a double-storied house fifteen minutes from where I am. My brothers are already here. I told Lara to stay back and call the Orlovs if she does not hear from us within the hour.

I park my car and catch up with Abram, Vladimir, and Denis. Together, we walk up the stairs and ring the bell. A man opens the door, leading us to a living room.

We spot Gavril and Maksim Letvin, Charlie’s younger cousins, waiting for us. Their faces are grim.

“Gentlemen.” Gavril nods curtly. “Welcome.”

“Cut the bullshit, Gavril,” I snap. “You know your precious brother Charlie has Quinn.”

Maksim shifts uncomfortably. “We don't want any part of this, you all know that. Charlie's gone too far this time.”

“Not just this time,” Gavril adds. “He’s a loose cannon and the entire clan is always watching their back, always waiting for him to make one more mistake.”

Abram steps closer, his voice a command as the head of our unit. “Then help us get her back.”

“What can we possibly do?” Gavril says, giving his cousin a worried look.

“You’re worried about upsetting Charlie?” my voice booms through the room. Beside me, Denis places a calming hand on my shoulder. In a calmer tone, I add, “You said yourself he’s a loose cannon. He'll burn you at the first chance he gets.”

I see a flicker of doubt in Gavril's eyes. I press on, my tone persuasive. “Look, I know we've had our differences in the past. But this isn't about that. This is about an innocent woman's life. Not just any innocent woman. My woman.”

There’s a tense silence in the air, an unspoken understanding of what that means. Kill the Bratva, leave the women and children. There are rules, even amongst thieves.

Finally, Maksim nods. “We’ll do everything we can, knowing how much she means to you. You know we can't risk becoming enemies with the Zolotovs and Orlovs. It's bad for business, and we don’t want to face the consequences for something we had no part in.”

Gavril's jaw clenches. “What do you need from us?”

Relief surges through me. “I need to get into Charlie's compound undetected. I have a plan, but I need your help to pull it off.”

They exchange a glance. “What's the plan?” Gavril asks.

“You need to call Charlie and ask to meet. Maksim and you. I’ll join you. The only thing is, he won’t know who I am. Remember, gentlemen, what we need most is the element of surprise. I’ll disguise myself as one of your bodyguards.”

Maksim nods slowly. “We can do that. But Mark, if this goes sideways...”

“It won't,” I say firmly. “I'll get Quinn out, and we'll deal with Charlie once and for all.”

We shake on it, a tense understanding passing between us.

***

I change into the bodyguard uniform provided by the Letvins as quickly as I can. Every second counts.

Abram helps me strap on a bulletproof vest. “You sure about this, Mark?”

“I have to be.” I meet his gaze, my eyes blazing with resolve. “I can't lose her, Abram. I won't.”

He nods, understanding in his eyes. “We'll be right behind you. Just give the signal, and we'll come in guns blazing.”

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what's to come. I picture Quinn alone and afraid in Charlie's clutches.

Hang on, Baby. I'm coming for you.

With one last nod to my family, I slip out of the room and join the ranks of the Letvin men. My brothers can’t risk infiltrating so soon; too many of us could give ourselves away. But I know they’ll be watching from a safe distance, ready to come if we need them.

My heart hammers in my chest as we get into a G-wagon and drive towards the warehouse where Charlie has asked his cousins to come to for a meeting. It’s the same location he had sent me.

Quinn needs me, and I'll move heaven and earth to bring her back safely. Even if it means staring down the barrel of Charlie's gun myself.

***

We reach the nondescript warehouse and exit the vehicles. I walk with the other bodyguards behind Maksim and Gavril. They flash their IDs on the monitor, and once we enter, Gavril looks at me and gives me one final nod before we continue walking.

The warehouse has a dampness to it, a dinginess and darkness. My blood roars in my ears at imagining that Quinn is down here in this filth. Charlie Letvin is about to learn a lesson he should have learned years ago.

I keep my eyes open for doors, exits, and turns in the hallways. If by chance Quinn isn’t with Letvin, I’ll need to sneak out and find her. For any door that is ajar, I look inside, and when I find it devoid of Quinn’s presence, I make a mental note not to use that one if I have to return down this route in search of her.

At last, we reach a door at the end of a hallway to the right of where we entered from. It’s wide open, a light spilling out. Maksim and Gavril exchange looks and motion at us to follow them into a large, circular room.

I hear Charlie before I see him.

“Cousins,” he says, stepping out from the darkness with his arms outstretched to his brothers. “What gives me the pleasure of seeing you today?”

In typical narcissist fashion, Charlie doesn’t even bother looking in the direction of the bodyguards. In the direction of where I stand.

The bodyguards and I spread out across the room, allowing us to move as we wish without being noticed. I scan the room, and my heart nearly stops when I finally catch sight of Quinn. She's tied to a chair, her head drooping to the side, her once vibrant strawberry-blonde hair matted with blood. Even from a distance, I can see the bruises marring her delicate skin, and a white-hot rage surges through my veins.

I want to rush to her, to gather her in my arms and shield her from any further harm. But I force myself to remain still, my muscles coiled with tension. I can't risk making a move, not yet, not when Charlie's men are watching my every breath.

Quinn stirs, her green eyes fluttering open, and for a moment, our gazes lock. In that brief exchange, I try to convey everything I can't say aloud—my love, my determination, my promise to get her out of this hell.

She blinks, a flicker of recognition and hope dancing across her face before she slumps forward once again, her energy depleted.

I turn my attention back to Charlie's men, my mind racing with possible scenarios. I know we are outnumbered and outgunned, but I refuse to let that stop me. Quinn's life hangs in the balance, and I'll be damned if I let her slip away.

“Charlie,” I hear Gavril speak first. “We hear you crossed the Zolotovs. Let the girl go.”

I watch as Charlie's face twists in anger, his eyes darting toward Quinn, who is bound in the corner. His cousins follow his gaze, and I watch as they recoil in horror at her condition.

I can see the panic flicker in Charlie’s expression before he puts on a mask of false bravado. He’s nervous that his cousins have found out, that they might not agree with his actions. Good.

“It's none of your business, Gavril. This is between me and Mark,” Charlie sneers, his voice dripping with arrogance.

But I can see the fear lurking behind his bravado, the way his eyes keep darting towards the exit. He knows he's trapped, cornered by a group he never expected to turn against him.

As Gavril and Maksim buy time, asking Charlie about his motivations for taking such an unnecessary step, the guards and I quickly pull out our silent dart guns. By my calculations, Charlie and his guards total ten. Maksim, Gavril, and we bodyguards add up to six. Each of our guns carries six needles that deliver instant unconsciousness to those shot.

I nod at the men, and we each take aim.

“Three, two, one,” I scream, and the darts fly. Six guards fall to the ground, their bodies thumping.

Now that’s what I call the element of surprise.

“What the hell?” Charlie screams.

Chaos erupts among the three remaining bodyguards as they draw their guns. I make my move, my body surging forward with a burst of adrenaline. I slam my elbow into the nearest guard's face, feeling the satisfying crunch of bone beneath my strike. He crumples to the ground, but I don't have time to savor the victory.

“Him!” Charlie points in my direction, realizing who I am and that his cousins plotted against him. The remaining two men rush towards me, their shouts echoing off the concrete walls.

I dodge a fist aimed at my head, retaliating with a swift kick to my attacker's knee. He howls in pain, but I'm already moving, my eyes locked on Quinn's tired form. I have to reach her to get her out of this nightmare.

I'm a whirlwind of motion, my fists and feet striking with deadly precision. The bodyguards join in, and together, we bring down the remaining three guards by darting them with the drug.

Good. They’ll all be out for the next hour.

As I finally leap over two fallen bodies and rush toward Quinn, I hear a slow clap echoing through the room. I turn to see Charlie stepping out from the shadows behind Quinn’s chair, a twisted grin on his face.

“Bravo, Mark,” he sneers, his eyes glinting with malice. “I must say, I'm impressed. But you didn't really think it would be that easy, did you?”

I clench my fists, my body trembling with barely contained rage. “Let her go, Charlie. This is between you and me.”

He throws his head back and laughs, the sound chilling me to the bone. “Oh, but where's the fun in that? You see, I've been waiting a long time for this moment. To see the great Mark Zolotov brought to his knees.”

He pulls out a gun and points it directly at Quinn’s head.

“Come on now, Charlie,” Maksim tries to interfere. “Don’t do anything stupid now, will you?”

I take a step forward, my voice low and dangerous. “If you hurt her, I swear to God, I'll—”

“You'll what?” Charlie cuts me off, his tone mocking. “You'll kill me? Go ahead, try. But know this: if I die, she dies with me.”

My heart clenches at his words, and I feel the true depth of his madness hit me like a physical blow. I know he's not bluffing. Charlie is a man with nothing left to lose, and that makes him all the more dangerous.

“Oh. I won’t kill you if anything happens to her,” I say, through gritted teeth. “Death is easy. If I catch you, I’ll hang you by your legs, ice you every single day, lash you, break each finger, and keep you alive just enough to make you beg for death.”

As I speak, I watch Charlie’s eyes widen with fear. Despite all the bravado, there’s nothing Charlie fears more than pain.

I inch closer. “My brothers are right outside, Letvin. Run if you can. If they catch you…”

From behind Charlie, one of Gavril’s guards reaches for Charlie’s hand and seizes it, twisting his wrist up. Charlie howls as the gun goes off and hits the roof, careening off into a corner.

I lunge forward, my fist connecting with Charlie's jaw with a satisfying crack. He stumbles back, momentarily stunned, and I seize the opportunity to close the distance between us. We grapple, trading blows, as Quinn's muffled cries echo in the background.

“Mark!” she screams, her voice laced with terror.

I can feel my strength fading, the toll of the past few hours catching up to me, but I refuse to give in. With a surge of adrenaline, I wrap my hands around Charlie's throat, squeezing with all the force I can muster.

His eyes bulge, and his face turns a sickly shade of purple, but he manages a twisted smile. “You'll never win,” he rasps, his words barely audible. I'll always be one step ahead.”

Suddenly, the room plunges into darkness, and I feel Charlie slip from my grasp. I spin around, my heart pounding, trying to gather my bearings in the pitch black. “Quinn!” I yell, my voice raw with desperation.

But there's no response, only the sound of retreating footsteps and a door slamming shut. I fumble for my phone, my hands shaking, and turn on the flashlight. The beam illuminates the empty room, and my stomach drops as I realize the truth.

Charlie is gone, and he's taken Quinn with him.

With a roar of frustration, I push myself to my feet and direct the guards to head into the hallways. I need to find them now. Maksim and Gavril split up with their men. I will find her at any cost. I will make Charlie pay for what he's done.

And when I do, there will be no mercy.

I rush through the dark hallways, my heart pounding as I search for any sign of Quinn or Charlie. The sound of a muffled cry catches my attention, and I race towards it, my feet pounding against the concrete floor.

As I round the corner, I freeze, my breath catching in my throat. Quinn lies crumpled on the ground, her strawberry-blonde hair matted with blood. I drop to my knees beside her, my hands trembling as I gather her into my arms.

“Quinn, , Baby, I'm here,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “I've got you.”

She looks up at me, her green eyes glazed with pain. “Mark,” she breathes, her voice barely audible. “I'm sorry, he tried to make me run faster, but I couldn’t keep up. I was slowing him down, and he pulled me along, dragging me across the ground. I-I tried to fight him off, and then he kicked and left—”

“Shh, it's not your fault,” I assure her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You're safe now, I promise.”

As I cradle her against my chest, I notice the growing red stain on her skirt. My heart clenches with fear as I realize she's bleeding from between her legs. Why is she bleeding between her legs? What the hell is happening?

“Quinn, we need to get you to a hospital,” I say urgently, trying to suppress my panic.

She nods weakly, her face pale and drawn. I lift her into my arms, holding her close as I hurry towards the exit. “Quinn? Quinn?”

Her eyes roll shut. That bastard hurt her hard enough to make her lose consciousness. The bruises under her eyes, the blood on her head, between her legs—she’s been through hell. I put her into the back of the waiting car.

“Hospital, now!” I shout, cradling her in my arms in the backseat. My mind races with worry, the thought of losing her threatening to overwhelm me.

But I push those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the woman in my arms. She's alive, and that's all that matters. Once we get to the hospital, everything will be okay.