Page 39 of Viktor

“What?” Angel’s gasp caused a grin to break out over his face. He listened to the nurse prattle on about unimportant things, but when Angel demanded to know what was going on, he tuned back in to the conversation.

“You don’t remember what happened earlier?”

“No. I remember going to the bank, then the bar. The contractor wasn’t there. He never showed. His boss came over to do the walkthrough and…” She gasped. “Oh, God. Kade. The pictures. There were pictures.”

“Easy,moye serdste. I know all about the pictures. Lay back and rest, sweetheart. You’re safe.”

The fear in her voice broke his heart. “Youaresafe,sestra. I swear it.”

“Viktor?”

“He’s on speakerphone,” Nik told her. “No one is getting near you or our new niece or nephew. Even if I have to fly you to Russia.”

“Russia? Why would I go to Russia?”

“It’s not a bad idea,” Viktor agreed. “She could stay with Mama and Papa, surrounded by the military. The cartel wouldn’t dare try to get to her there.”

“Slow down,” Angel said. “I need a minute.”

“Nik, why don’t you go find us some coffee and maybe some food for Angel?”

“Sure thing,” Nik agreed. “Don’t scare me like that again, Angel girl.”

“I’ll call you later, Vik, and this time, answer your damn phone.” Kade disconnected the call.

The fucking cartel. As if they didn’t have enough to deal with. If Kade planned on taking on the cartel, he’d need as much military know-how as he could get. There was only one person he trusted to go find their nephew if he couldn’t do it himself.

He had to hit redial six times, but Conner finally picked up the phone.

“This had better be fucking Ed McMahon telling me I won a million fucking dollars.”

“What the hell are you doing asleep at one in the fucking afternoon?”

“I own clubs, motherfucker. I work nights.”

“Well, wake your grouchy ass up. We got a family situation.”

“What’s wrong?” All the sleepiness fled his brother’s voice, and he was as alert as if he’d consumed two full pots of coffee. One of the perks of military training.

“Remember the cartel Kade was undercover in down in Florida?”

“Yeah. Bastards sniffing around again?”

“They have our fucking nephew.”

“What the fuck you talking about?”

He told his brother everything Kade had explained about the kid and his suspicions. Once the DNA tests came back, they’d know for sure.

“Those motherfucking bastards.” Chills raced up his spine at the coldness in his brother’s voice. Darkness might lurk in Viktor, but it lived in Conner. Sometimes Conner scared him. He’d admit it freely only because he was worried he’d never get his brother back from that dark place.

But right now, they all needed that darkness. He had a feeling getting Matthew back from the deadliest cartel in the south would require a heartless bastard with no conscience.

And his twin brother fit the bill.

“I can’t go down there. I’m on a case. Woman’s ex likes to use his fists on her and her kid. If I leave, I’m afraid of what might happen.”

“I got this. You handle that shithead.”