Page 158 of Konstantin

Konstantin would do anything for me. He’sdoneeverything for me, even when I didn’t deserve it. And now I have to return the favor. I can’t let him or Nate die.

“I’ll call them now, but they’re not as close as I am.”

But first, I have to go back to my house. There’s a stash of weapons there I’ll have to grab.

“You’re crazy,” she mutters. “You need to understand that if you do this, you may not come back.”

“I will come back, Riley.”

And I mean every word, even as fear grips me tighter. Not for me, but for our baby.

“I’ll talk to you soon.” I end the call, and my thoughts flicker to Konstantin again.

This man—this ruthless, dangerous man—has somehow become family to me. He’s saved me, he’s protected me, and now I need to do the same for him.

Even if he decides he doesn’t want me or this baby, I have to get him out of there. And most of all, I can’t leave without letting him know how much I’m falling in love with him, as scary as that is.

I take one last breath as I make it to my home, jumping out of the car in a hurry.

I’ll save him. I’ll save Nate.

And once I do, nothing will ever be the same. Not for me. Not for Konstantin. And certainly not for Gerardo.

Because for the first time in my life, all the cards are on the table, and I know exactly what I’m fighting for.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

KONSTANTIN

Every secondwithout her feels like an eternity, a blade digging deeper into my chest.

This is on me. I caused it all. If I hadn’t locked her up, she wouldn’t have had to run. She would’ve been safe.

But now she’s out there, in danger, and I don’t know where the hell she is. I’ve been hunting for her alone, using every resource at my disposal, keeping it quiet from my brothers. But she’s vanished.

The SUV she stole? Abandoned in the middle of nowhere. No cameras, no trace. She’s smart. Of course she is.

Teeth clenched, I fight to control the storm raging inside me. Finding her is the only thing that matters now before it’s too late.

Her face won’t leave my mind. The way she looked at me, that raw vulnerability in her eyes when she spoke about her brother. And like a bastard, I walked away. Left her alone when she needed me most.

My phone buzzes, ripping me out of my thoughts. I grab it fromthe cupholder, my fingers tightening around it as the screen lights up with a text from an unknown number.

When I read it, my blood boils. Tires screech as I rev the engine while two of my men trailing in a separate SUV try to catch up.

The message contains a photo. Of her.

Emilia.

Her eyes are shut, face pale. It’s clear she’s been drugged. The words beneath the photo burn into my mind.

Unknown

If you ever want to see her alive, come alone.

“Blyat! Net!”Fuck! No!

A primal growl rips from my chest, my fist slamming into the wheel with enough force to rattle my bones. My vision narrows as my eyes lock on the address.