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I stared at Artur, waiting for a reaction from him. When I started toward him, he slowly lifted his head. His face was almost unrecognizable. Swollen, red, a mix of green and purple. Several cuts. Some deep, some barely there.
He stared at me through swollen eyes, and I saw his jaw working. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
He tried again, but it sounded like some gurgling noise. Artur tried to clear his throat and coughed a few times before taking a deep breath.
I saw his throat moving as he swallowed and then tried again. “She…”
My eyes widened, and I stepped forward. “Where is she?” I demanded, my heart accelerating and beating as wildly as a caged bird.
“She…is…” He choked before continuing slowly. “Is…at…my house.”
“Your house?” Viktor growled.
Artur nodded slowly. “That’s…where…Alberto…is hiding.…My house…he u…ses it…hiding…place.”
I raked my fingers through my hair and swiveled around, punching the wall. All this time. She was right under our fucking nose.
“Move out,” I ordered Viktor and Nikolay.
“For your sake, I really hope she’s there,” I told Artur.
He stared at me blankly, but I saw something in his eyes. It almost looked like regret. “She…is…there.”
“Why are you telling us that now? Why wait until you are half dead?” Nikolay questioned.
I wondered the same thing. Artur didn’t answer. He glanced down, and I saw his lips move. No sound was made, but his lips told me what I needed to know.
Maddie.
With a deep breath, I nodded toward my men. They walked out, and with a final glance at Artur, I walked out too.
We met with Phoenix in the hall. He glanced at the closed door, his eyes murderous. “Is he alive?”
“He is. Don’t kill him yet,” I ordered. Just in case he was lying. When Ayla was found, then his death would be signed.
I took a step forward but stopped. “How is Maddie?”
Phoenix let out a pained groan, his face twisting. “Sam took the bullets out. She…is okay.”
Taking a deep breath, he stared at the wall, his eyes filled with so much pain. “But…but the baby didn’t make it.”
Even though I knew the baby wouldn’t make it, hearing the words was still a blow to my chest. I looked down, wishing this wasn’t real. I wanted to tear Artur apart piece by piece.
“Was it yours?” I asked quietly. They thought it wasn’t obvious. But it was. For years, even after whatever happened between them, they still cared. Maybe still loved each other.
Phoenix clenched his fists, and I looked up again. Closing his eyes tightly, he shook his head. “No,” he choked. “No…Maddie…she never…” He paused, taking a deep breath. “Maddie never cheated. She would never do that. The baby was Artur’s.”
With a heavy heart, I nodded at Phoenix. “We found Ayla’s whereabouts.”
He looked at the door. “I can’t leave Maddie.”
“I was never going to ask you to leave Maddie. The rest of us will go.”
He sent me a grateful look, and I walked away. Making my way upstairs, I stopped in the living room when I saw Nina walking into the estate.
She rushed over to us. “Nikolay called.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked, wiping my hands with the towel Viktor handed me.
“He told me Artur is the traitor. That little shit,” she growled, her eyes sparking fire.
“He told us where Ayla is,” Viktor muttered.
Nina’s eyes widened. “He did? Where is she?”
“Artur’s house,” Viktor replied. There was no emotion in his voice. No light. No anger. Nothing. I felt the same way.
“I’m coming,” she announced.
“Seriously? Like this?” Viktor retorted, pointing at Nina’s outfit.
She looked down at herself. “Those heels are killer heels. They might come in handy. Who knows?”
“You will be a liability,” Nikolay argued. “We don’t have time to save your ass.”
Nina cocked her head to the side. “Really?”
It happened fast. But the next thing we knew, Viktor was on the floor with Nina’s legs wrapped around his neck.
“What the fuck was that? I didn’t say anything,” Viktor snapped.
“Still think I’m a liability?” she spat, her voice holding venom.
She got up and looked at me. “Another body to protect Ayla,” she added, raising an eyebrow at me. She knew I couldn’t refuse that. “I think you will need a woman with you when you find her.”
Viktor stood up and glared at Nina’s back. “Bitch,” he mouthed.
Staring at Nina, I saw her resolve and finally nodded. She was right. The more bodies to protect Ayla, the better. And Nina was far from a liability. She was more of an asset. A killer who could easily take anyone.
I walked out, followed by Nikolay, Viktor, and Nina. A few of my men were already waiting next to the cars. I got in without a word while Viktor took the driver’s seat.
The drive to Artur’s house was tense.
When the car came to a stop, I quickly stepped out. This time, Nikolay and Viktor took the lead, while Nina and I stayed in the rear.
