Page 166 of The Bratva King

I lower my gun slowly. “If you’re lying…”

“I’m not lying,” Tony says. “I got no love for Matteo. He’s brought nothing but heat on all of us.”

Don Castellano steps forward again. “Sokolov. When you find him, you do what you need to do. After tonight, we’re done. You want to build your casino, build it. We stay out of each other’s way.”

I stare at him. This is a peace offering I didn’t expect.

Sergei glances at me, waiting for my objection. I give him none.

“Agreed,” he says. “No more conflict.”

“Then we have an understanding.” The don looks directly at me. “I hope you find your boy.”

I don’t thank him. I turn, head back to the SUV, and get in.

“Back to the estate,” I order. “Gabby needs to hear this from me.”

“And we need a better plan than throwing grenades,” Pasha says. “If Luke is in there, we can’t hit the same way.”

I want to shoot everyone who touched that boy. But that would only traumatize Luke more.

Ya idu za toboi, syn.

I'm coming for you, son.

41

Gabby

The radios of the guards standing in the doorway of the living room crackle to life.

They’re back. I jump up and race toward the front door.

Nikolai comes through the front door first, his face unreadable. Behind him, Sergei, Maksim, Pasha, and everyone else file in like soldiers returning from war.

“We have a location,” Nikolai says.

The relief is so sharp that it almost brings me to my knees. “Where?”

He tells me. A building near an old rail yard. They’re planning the approach. Talking about entry points and contingencies and how many men to bring.

“I’m coming,” I say.

Every head in the room turns toward me.

“No.” Nikolai’s voice is final.

“He’s my son. I’m coming.”

“Gabby, this could get dangerous.”

“Which is exactly why I’m going.” I step forward, meeting his eyes. “He’s going to be terrified. He needs me there when you bring him out.”

“It’s too dangerous.”

“I don’t care.” My voice cracks. “He needs me, Nikolai.”

He steps closer. “I will not come home without Luke in my arms, Gabby.”