Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
My world tilted. “What did you say?”
“He’s going to be a father,” she whispered again, the truth spilling out through trembling lips. For a heartbeat, the storm seemed to pause around us.
Surprise was not my predominant reaction. Fury was. Not at her, but at the world that dared to rip Pavel away from his wife and unborn child.
“I’m getting him back.” My jaw tightened, a muscle ticking as I bit out a curse. “No matter what it takes.”
I moved around to her side of the car and tore the door completely off its hinges. Making sure to soften my grip, my hands framed her face as I leaned in and tilted her chin, examining the damage. “Are you hurt?” I asked, my voice deceptively quiet. This was as close to gentle as I could manage.
She swallowed hard, clearly overwhelmed. “Pavel—”
“I know.” My expression turned murderous. “I'm going after him. But first, I need to make sure you're okay. I'm not rescuing him just to have him put a bullet in my head for abandoning you.”
“I'm fine,” she said, struggling to sit up and fumbling with her seat belt. I gave her a curt nod before straightening and drawing a gun from my coat, checking the chamber with the fluid precision of a man who lived by violence.
When our eyes met again, her desperation was reflected in hers. “You're his now,” I reminded her. “That makes you family. And no one fucking touches what belongs to the Ivanovs.”
She stood by the wreckage, one hand clutching torn pieces of Pavel's shirt, the other pressed protectively over her stomach.
I knew exactly what was at stake now. And I knew what that child would face if Pavel didn’t come home. After losing both of my parents, I was raised by my paternal grandmother, a bitter, cold woman who never let me forget I was only half of what she thought I was supposed to be.
Pavel’s child wouldn’t grow up like I did, without a father to provide protection from our cold, violent world. Not on my fucking watch.
I had my mission.
And I would burn down the goddamned world to bring him home.
No child of Pavel’s was growing up fatherless.
Not while I still drew breath.
CHAPTER 2
ROMAN
Iholstered my gun.
Shame pressed down on my shoulders.
I failed him.
My eyes slid closed.
One deep breath.
That was all I allowed myself.
Pavel needed me focused.
On the hunt.
I didn’t even know who took him.
I knew they worked for the Colombians, but I had no idea who was in the helicopter, who that woman was, or where they would take him. But I would find out.
The only way to make this up to him was to get him back.
To do that, I needed to figure out who took him, and where.
I didn’t give a fuck why.
Their motivations were none of my concern.
That was going to be a conversation between them and their god, one that I would be happy to facilitate.
Carefully, I looked Alina over as she stood there by the wreckage. A large cut marred her forehead. Blood dripped down her face.
A branch cracked in the distance, and I stood up straight, drawing my gun. When I turned back toward Alina, she had a Glock aimed at my chest. She must’ve gotten it from the car without me noticing.
Women were just surprising me left and right tonight.
I raised my arms and took a step back, but she moved with me. Pavel’s wife was fierce. Strong. I approved.
“Toss the gun,” she demanded.
“Alina, my name is Roman Yegor Ivanov. I’m your husband’s cousin.”
“No.” Her hand shook as she took another step forward and pressed the gun against my flesh. “You’re lying. Toss the gun.”
“How would you like me to prove it to you?” I asked, tossing my gun on the ground a few feet away.
Her eyes scanned me, head to toe. “I’ve met his brothers, his cousins, all the Ivanovs. You don’t look like them.”
A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Story of my life.
“You’re just going to have to trust me on this one.”
I took another step back. She followed, slipping a little on the wet leaves.
“Yeah, well, the only man I trust was just taken from me, so back off.” The bite in her words was impressive, but her movements worsened the bleeding.
She was bleeding. Pregnant. In shock. I had to get her help. She needed a doctor. Soon.
And she was wasting time I didn’t have.
The longer this took, the further away Pavel got. With every second, I fell further behind.
I reached into my back pocket, and she raised the gun. The muzzle shook. She was going to shoot me without even meaning to at this rate.
“I’m just getting my phone,” I said, pausing and raising my hands again. “I need to let the others know where we are so they can make sure you’re okay.”