Chapter 36
Nikolai
As I stop in front of the castle, worry is gnawing my insides raw because I haven’t been able to reach Abigail. I keep getting her voicemail and have left messages for her to call me as soon as possible.
It’s been too long since I last spoke to her.
After I had her to myself for a week, the past thirty hours felt like a lifetime. I don’t know how I’m going to survive two weeks. That’s if she doesn’t decide to complete her four years’ training at St. Monarch’s.
Fuck, four years will kill me.
When I enter the castle’s foyer, Uncle Carson is waiting for me. “Do you miss us already?” he chuckles.
“Hell no,” I grumble playfully. “Have you seen Abigail? She’s not answering her phone.”
My uncle frowns at me. “I thought Abigail told you she won’t be attending St. Monarch’s any longer. She checked out on Sunday.”
Shock shudders through me as I shake my head, “She did what?” “Actually, her father checked her out. They cleared the suite late Sunday
afternoon.”
There’s no way Abigail would leave St. Monarch’s without telling me, and she didn’t speak kindly of her father.
“I want to see the security footage. There’s no way she would leave St.
Monarch’s without telling me.”
“You were traveling halfway across the world. Maybe she couldn’t reach you?”
We walk toward the security room, and dread curdles in my gut. “When I finally had cellphone reception, there was no message from Abigail.”
She wouldn’t just leave without letting me know. The past week Abigail became part of the family. I even caught her and Mom training one day. Mom was showing her how to knee a man so he won’t get up afterward.
She was happy, and I’m certain she loves me. This is not like the Abigail I know, which tells me something is very wrong.
We enter the security room, and I order the guard, “Bring up the security feed for Sunday afternoon.”
It takes a couple of minutes before he finds the footage where Abigail arrives at St. Monarch’s. Just seeing her makes the tension in my body ease up a little.
The camera feed switches from the foyer to the staircase to the hallway, and I see a smile curves her lips.
Is she thinking of the week we spent together?
When she steps into her suite, we lose sight of her. It takes five minutes before the door opens, and a man carries a struggling Abigail out of her suite. The horror is back on her face, and instantly anger floods my body, tensing every muscle.
More men follow along with Emilio Sartori.
“Christ,” I growl as I watch my woman try to free herself from the soldier’s grasp.
I’m going to fucking kill them all.
The security feed changes as they move through the castle until I see them shoving her into an SUV.
“She was taken by force,” Uncle Carson mutters the obvious.
I turn an enraged glare at him. “Why the fuck was this allowed?”
He shakes his head at me. “You know the rules of St. Monarch’s, Nikolai. Emilio is her father. He brought her here. He paid for her stay. She was his to take.”
“Bullshit,” I shout, my entire body shaking with anger. “She’s mine!” “Why didn’t you inform me of this?” He takes a step closer to me.
“How was I to know you’ve claimed her and weren’t just fucking her for fun?”
I hold up my pointer finger for him to stop talking while I try to breathe through the inferno wreaking havoc in my chest. “Don’t. Abigail belongs to me.” I lock eyes with him. “Consider this me informing you.”
Stalking out of the office so I can go get my woman, Uncle Carson calls out, “Where are you going?”
“To war,” I growl.
I walk to Aurora’s suite and bang on the door. When she opens, surprise flutters over her face. “Oh…hi.”
Unable to keep the anger from simmering in my voice, I demand, “Have you spoken to Abigail today?”
“No, but I saw her father on Sunday, and he said she was going home.”
I can hear the worry in her voice and ask, “Is Abigail in danger? Would her father hurt her?”
She quickly shakes her head, “I don’t think so. He’s never abused her if that’s what you’re asking.”
Thank fuck.
“Will she be safe at her family home?”
“Oh yes. Definitely. The Sartoris have an army.” She pauses for a moment. “Haven’t you heard from her?”
“No, that’s why I’m talking to you.”
“Do you want me to check in on her and get back to you?” “Please. I’d appreciate that.”
“Just give me a minute.” She disappears into her suite.
I can see Aurora in her living room as she picks up her phone and makes a call. When there’s no answer, she indicates for me to wait as she tries a different number.
“Hi, Aunt Greta, it’s Aurora,” she says into the line. “I’m well, and you?” A couple of seconds pass. “Oh yes, I’m very excited about the wedding. Ah…is it possible to speak to Abby?” I watch as Aurora listens, then her eyes flick to my face, and I see the worry tightening her features. “Oh…okay. Uhm…yeah, of course, I’ll be there.”
When she ends the call, I ask, “Was that Abigail’s mother? What did she say?”
Looking nervous as fuck, Aurora walks to me. “There’s no easy way to say this.” She sucks in a deep breath of air. “I’m just the messenger.”
Losing the little patience I have, I roar, “Fucking tell me!” Aurora flinches, and I quickly take a couple of breaths to calm down. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I can see you’re worried,” she says before she drops the bomb, “There’s an engagement party tonight. For Abbie and Antonio Vittori.”
I swear I see red as Aurora’s word sink in, and it takes me a moment to process everything.
“Her parents are forcing her into an arranged marriage?” I ask to make sure I heard right.
“Yes.” Aurora gives me a compassionate look. “It was bound to happen.
I’m sorry, Mr. Vetrov.”
Over. My. Dead. And. Rotting. Corpse.
I take a step back, my mind racing as it forms a plan of action.
When I stalk down the hallway, Aurora calls out, “Should I give Abbie a message?”
I stop to glance over my shoulder, and not knowing if I can trust Aurora, I mutter, “No.” Then I think to ask, “Will Misha be your plus one to the engagement?”
“Yes.”
Good. I’ll have a bratva enforcer on the inside. This can work in my favor.
“Thank you for the help, Aurora,” I say before I head toward the stairs.
Tonight I’ll burn down the whole of Italy because, so help me God, I will get my woman back.
Stalking into Uncle Carson’s office, I lock eyes with him. “Have the guards bring Misha here. I need to talk to him.”
“Nikolai, think before you act,” he warns me.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial Viktor’s number. “I’m getting my woman back today if it’s the last thing I do.”
Accepting that Abigail is the one for me, Uncle Carson nods and instructs a guard to find Misha.
The call goes through, and it doesn’t take long before Viktor answers, “It’s been a while. How’s the family?”
“We’re all alive,” I mutter. “I’m calling to inform you that I’m planning an attack against Emilio Sartori.”
“I just got the man to yield to me. Why are you attacking?” “He took Abigail.”
There’s a moment’s silence before my cousin asks, “Do you love her?” “More than life itself. I’ve claimed her.”
“And Emilio took her? Why?”
I let out a growl. “He’s forcing her into an arranged marriage with Antonio Vittori.”
Victor sighs before he mutters, “What do you need from me?”
“I plan on killing one of your allies. It will probably piss off D’Angelo.
Your blessing will do.”
“Is there any way to prevent bloodshed? Their businesses are lucrative and bring in a large sum to the bratva.”
Christ, that’s like asking a starved wolf not to devour a carcass.
“I can’t make any promises.”
“Emilio is Abigail’s father. Try to keep this in mind before you kill her father right in front of her. It took Rosalie years to heal, and I almost lost her because of it.”
I close my eyes, trying to find some way to calm down so I can think clearly. “There’s no love between Abigail and her father, but if there’s a way to avoid bloodshed, I won’t kill him.”
“Good. I’d hate to lose the money, but I understand you must fight for your woman. It’s a tricky situation.”
“Misha will be at the engagement party tonight. Can I use him to tell me what’s happening inside the mansion?”
“Yes, but he’s not to take part in the attack. l might agree that you have a right to defend your woman, but the bratva can’t be a part of the attack.”
“I understand. My parents and I will handle the situation.” “I’m sorry this happened, Nikolai. I hope you get her back.” “Thank you.”
I end the call as Misha comes into the office. “Sir?” he asks.
“You’re going to an engagement party tonight.” He nods. “Aurora just told me.”
“Viktor is aware of everything, so you won’t get in trouble. I need you to be my inside man,” I inform him. “You’re not to take part in the attack. As soon as I hit, you take Aurora and get out of there. Understood.”
“Yes, sir.”
I give him my phone number, then order, “I want to know how many guards there are and where they’re situated.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll give you a minute to escape with Aurora before I attack,” I warn him.
“Thank you, sir,” Misha says before leaving the office.
I turn my attention to Uncle Carson, who comes to stand in front of me. “How can I help?”
I shake my head. “As the director of St. Monarch’s, you need to stay out of this.”
We quickly hug before I rush out of the castle so I can get home and gather my army. When I climb into the armored SUV, I pull my phone out.
I know the chances that Abigail will answer are slim, and her phone has probably been confiscated, but still, I dial her number.
‘Hi, you’ve reached Abigail. I can’t come to the phone right now, but if you leave a message, I’ll call you back. Bye.’
I dial the number again so I can just listen to her voice while the SUV drives to the airfield where my private jet is waiting.
When the phone beeps for me to leave a message, I growl, “I’m coming for you, moya lyubov’.”