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Chapter 36
Misha
Knowing I only have a small window of time to get to Aurora, I rush into Director Koslov’s office with Alek and Armani right behind me.
Christ, my heart can’t handle this. I need to get to her, and God help the fuckers who attacked her.
“Misha?” Director Koslov asks as he stands up from where he’s sitting behind his desk.
“Aurora was just attacked. I have her live location. I need men.” “Did Viktor sanction this order?” he asks.
“No.” I keep holding my phone to my ear so I can hear what’s happening. Right now, there’s an eerie silence only disrupted by a groan and metal creaking. I’m assuming there’s been an accident, and although I know Aurora might not hear me, I ask, “Aurora, are you okay?”
There’s no answer to my question, and it makes my worry increase tenfold.
Turning my attention back to Director Koslov, I say, “I’m hiring the services of St. Monarch’s.”
He nods. “How many men do you need?” he asks as he walks toward me. “It’s twenty thousand per guard for one hour.”
I don’t give a fuck how much it costs. “Ten men, and we need weapons.”
Looking at the guard stationed by the door, Director Koslov instructs, “Get ten men ready to go in the next ten minutes.” His eyes flick back to me. “You have to make an upfront payment.”
I glance at Alek. “Make the transfer. I don’t want to lose the call.”
Alek nods, and pulling out his phone, he goes into his banking app and transfers the funds.
Director Koslov gestures to the doorway, and we hurry toward the armory, where he allows us to take what we want. For a price, of course.
Each of us grabs a Heckler & Koch submachine gun, a Baretta, and a Glock.
Director Koslov points at armored vests. “Take those as well. Consider it a gift.”
“Thank you, sir,” I mutter as I grab two, tossing them at Alek and Armani. I strap one over my chest, tuck the guns behind my back in the waistband of my pants, and sling the strap of the machine gun over my shoulder.
I strap an ammunition belt on and load it with clips.
Director Koslov’s phone beeps, and he checks it. “Thank fuck,” he mutters before his eyes lock on me. “It’s not the bratva.”
I assumed as much, and I’m ninety percent sure I know who’s responsible.
Director Koslov lets out a sigh. “You’re dealing with the yakuza.” Yeah, that’s what I thought.
“Please hold Kazuo, Seijo, and Takahary until I get back.” He shakes his head. “They left on Thursday.”
“Blyadʹ,” I snap.
I hear shouting come over the line, and my attention focuses on what’s happening to Aurora. I hold up my hand, so everyone remains quiet.
They’re talking Japanese, so I don’t understand a fucking word, but a second later, I hear Abbie cry, ‘NoNoNoNoNooooo!’
My blood runs cold in my veins when I don’t hear anything from Aurora. There’s clothing rustling, a grunt, and two gunshots.
No.
They won’t kill her.
You know how this works. It’s personal. The fuckers want to make you suffer so they won’t give her a quick death.
“Let’s go!” I bark before I run out of the armory.
“Good luck, Misha,” Director Koslov calls after me.
We pile out of the castle, and I’m relieved to see the ten men waiting. I take a second to acknowledge them all.
“Thank you. We’re up against a faction of the yakuza. I have no idea how many men.” I check my phone for Aurora’s location and see as the beacon moves along a road.
“Follow us. The target is moving.”
I take the passenger seat while Armani slides behind the steering wheel. Alek jumps into the back, muttering, “Fucking yakuza.”
I connect my phone to the SUV’s Bluetooth, so the live location is up on the screen for Armani to see.
He takes one look, then starting the engine, he steers the vehicle toward the gates.
The other SUVs follow right behind us, and I check my weapons to make sure I’m ready for action.
“It looks like they stopped,” Armani says, drawing my eyes to the screen.
Leaning forward, I maximize the map to see exactly where they are.
“It looks like a trainyard,” I mutter. “Plenty of fucking places to hide.” I point at the edge of the yard on the map. “Stop here.”
“Like I needed the fucking exercise,” Alek mutters. “How many fucking carriages are there? And there are the outer buildings as well. It’s like looking for a specific straw in a haystack.”
“I’m sure there will be men stationed outside wherever they’re holding Aurora,” Armani says as he swerves through the other cars on the road.
“I fucking hope so.” I glance at my friends. “We’re about five minutes out. Are you ready?”
“Yeah, let’s kill the motherfuckers,” Alek replies, sounding bored as fuck.
I hope we’ll be in time.
The live location cuts out, telling me they found her phone. “Fuck, hurry,” I snap, and it has Armani flooring the gas.
A wave of intense fear hits. If the fuckers kill the love of my life, I’ll lose my mind. There’s no living without her.
She’s strong. They’re going to make her suffer, so focus on the job.
Every second you take to find her is a second where they’re hurting her.
Focus.
I’m coming, moy malen’kiy olen’.
Aurora
Another man climbs into the container, and this time I recognize him.
Kazuo Jirocho.
The fucker. I should’ve known. He’s been looking for trouble with Misha every chance he could get.
Shit. I kneed him in the groin.
My eyes narrow on the man as he walks toward me. A cruel sneer tugs at his lips. “Are you comfortable?”
“Fuck you,” I spit.
Even though I know it’s no use, I struggle against my restraints.
“I have news,” he says as he changes direction toward the workbench. He picks up a case I didn’t notice and sets it down on the worn wood. “I called your father, and you can imagine his surprise when I told him you’re fucking Petrov.” Kazuo chuckles. “He didn’t take it too well.”
Jesus. No.
Kazuo grabs pliers from the case before he turns to face me. “Your father is on his way, so we don’t have a lot of time.”
Intense terror tightens my muscles, and my mouth grows horribly dry.
What would Misha do?
Kazuo walks toward me, and with every step he takes, my heartbeat speeds up until I’m dizzy from the blood rushing to my head.
“So while your father and Petrov fight…” He checks the time on his watch, “which should give me roughly ten minutes, we’re going to have some fun.”
“Go to hell,” I growl. I hate when my fear bleeds through my voice.
The man who told me he killed Abbie leaves the room, and the one by the camera presses a button.
They’re recording my death. Jesus.
My breaths burst over my dry lips as Kazuo walks closer. Just reacting, I kick my leg out, but he catches it with a chuckle.
“Hold her,” he instructs the other two men, and they instantly come closer. One grabs my thigh, and the other takes hold of my free leg.
I wiggle and struggle like a possessed person as Kazuo brings the pliers to my manicured small toe.
“No,” I scream. Overwhelming frustration and hopelessness pour into me as he grips hold of the nail.
I press my lips together, and shutting my eyes, I try to find a safe space.
My mind goes to Misha and me sitting in a crate and everything he’s taught me, but it’s too late for the memory to take hold, and an agonizing scream rips from me as my nail is torn off.
My mind reels from the cruelty and pain, and I desperately gasp for air as icy chills rush over my skin.
Kazuo lets out an amused chuckle before he moves on to the next toe.
My muscles clench, and I try so freaking hard to pry my foot from his brutal hold, but it only makes his fingers dig into my skin.
I clench my jaw as hard as I can to keep from screaming. The pain is too much when he rips the second nail off and sobs explode from me.
I must’ve bitten my tongue because the taste of blood fills my mouth.
Misha! I can’t hold out for much longer. I’m going to lose my mind.