“WHAT THE FUCK, MAKS?” I roar.
“The car is abandoned outside Lowell. Emma is gone, and so is Patrick O’Brien. The two guards we sent with her this morning are dead in the front seat.”
“What aren’t you saying, Maksim?”
“I found Emma’s bracelet…” Maksim adds. “It looks like it was cut off her wrist and left in the car.”
“Fucking hell. Call a crew and get it cleaned up. Get to the house now and bring Emma’s bracelet with you,” I tell my brother before hanging up the phone.
I turn towards the window of my office and look out over the lawn. Security has increased since we arrived and is walking the grounds.
Grigory moved his things into the main house before leaving to pick up Lidiya from the airport. Our private jet is landing in half an hour with her on board.
I pour myself another drink and take a long sip. If something happens to Emma, I’ll never forgive myself.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
IVAN
TWO DAYS. IT’S been two fucking days since Emma was taken by Patrick O’Brien, and I’m about to lose my fucking shit. I haven’t slept since she was taken, refusing to close my eyes unless she’s warm in my bed beside me.
The fury that rages within my bones is about to boil over. Declan Callaghan…that son-of-a-bitch will not know what hit him when I bring the entire force of the Kiselyov Bratva down on top of him.
I’m running my hands through my hair, tugging hard on the strands to feel something other than anger and fear, when Maksim runs in.
“We found her,” he says as he rushes to the desk.
“Where is she?”
“We were able to track some of Callaghan’s men to a house just outside Salisbury. It’s tucked back in the woods,” Maksim answers. “It’s also guarded by Irish soldiers and some of Zaytsev’s men.”
“They’re all dead,” I vow.
“Understood,” Maksim acknowledges. “We think Emma is inside somewhere, possibly in a basement room. Callaghan’s too smart to let her roam free in the house.”
“And yet he’s dumb enough to take my woman and come after our territory,” I snap.
“What’s the plan?” Dmitri asks.
“We take half of our trusted men and go get Emma?” Grigory offers.
“That’s exactly what we do,” I tell my brothers. “We keep the other half here to protect Lidiya and the house. We also send in some of Alexei and Denis’ men. This is their chance to prove their loyalty to us with more than just words.”
“What else?” Dmitri asks.
“One of you needs to stay here with Lidiya,” I say to my brothers.
“Fuck that, Ivan,” Grigory says. “Lidiya has half of thebratvato protect her here. You love Emma, which means I love Emma. That means we go get her together.”
“He’s right,” Lidiya says, unexpectedly opening the door and walking into the office. “I’ll stay here with Mrs. Ivanova and get everything ready for you to bring Emma home.”
“Somebody needs to stay with you,” Dmitri says. “I’ll do it.”
“Dmitri, you need to help Ivan get Emma back. He needs your input and security knowledge for getting into that house. I can take care of things here,” Lidiya insists.
“Fine,” I tell her, placing a kiss on her cheek. “But you stay inside the house with Mrs. Ivanova, no matter what happens outside.”
“Always.” Lidiya places kisses on all of our cheeks before leaving. “Come home safe.”
