Page 79 of Lord of the Underworld

"The Black Kynigós have learned all the same tricks we have," I say, still staring at the pin dropped on the map, blinking mockingly. "We both know it. You will come with me, and take my wife home. You will guard her safety for the rest of your life."

"Brother -"

"Swear it," I growl

"Vadim, you can't ask me to leave you." Stepan's hands are shaking.

Grabbing his shoulders, I grip him hard. "Swear it to me."

His eyes are wet as he finally forces a nod. "I swear it. I'll guard her with my life."

When our security team moves to follow us, I order them to return home.

"Sir, the Pakhan will gut us if we leave you," Radimir says. He's one of my best men, but he looks ready to disobey a direct order.

"Return. Home." The words come out in a snarl and he nods awkwardly, watching as we leave without them.

The hunters picked a place close to Red Square, knowing that's where we would start. We make it to their location in ten minutes. The neighborhood is pleasant, working-class families would live here. They would have dinner together every night. This is not the place for the soulless fucks who are eagerly preparing to torture an innocent woman to death.

When we pull up to the ordinary-looking brick house, Stepan is sheet white, and he grabs my arm before I can get out of the car. "Don't do it, brother," he pleads. "Not like this."

"You might be able to find me," I say. "We have excellent trackers. They will take me to another location. Somewhere with less scrutiny."

"Your tracking chip-"

"They'll cut it out of me," I say, staring out the windshield at the house. "You'll get Oksana out of here quickly. Carry her if you must. You swore to me that you would protect her."

"Fuck!" he shouts, putting his hands over his face. "I did," he says miserably. "And I will."

The door opens as we walk up the path. It's been neatly shoveled, and the discordance hits me again. A tidy path cleared to my death. Two men are waiting for us. They have olive complexions, blank stares, and they’re clad in black tactical gear. They're not bothering to hide it anymore. Roughly frisking Stepan and me, they find all our weapons, even the blade in my boot.

Oksana is in the kitchen, chained to a sturdy wooden chair. A set of nesting dolls line up on the window sill next to her and a red and white checked dish towel is draped over the oven handle. It shouldn't look like this.

"Vadim!" She sounds relieved and horrified to see me and as if she's not sure which emotion to feel first. A bruise is spreading over her forehead, and my hand is around the throat of the man closest to me. I lift him up, off his feet, slamming him against the wall.

"Who hurt her?" I can hear the unmistakable click of safeties released, and three guns are pointed at my head.

"Vadim, please." I hear her voice. It's usually musical, but there's a ratcheting sound to it now, a discordant note. "Please put him down."

I open my hand, and he drops, knees buckling and coughing.

"You agree to the exchange, then." The man speaking is standing with his hand on Oksana's shoulder. He has the slightest smile on his lips, as if knowing that the sight of him touching my wife is making my vision blur with fury.

"I agree," I say shortly. "My brother takes her out of here first."

"Sweetheart, no, please," Oksana says, frantic. "You can't trust them. These men are fucking pigs. They're…"

I stare at Oksana, red-faced and squirming against her cuffs. My wife just said 'fuck.'

I love her.

Moving over to kneel in front of her, I tell the man who had his hand on her shoulder to release her.

He does without comment and she falls into me, almost knocking me over. "Please, you can't stay here," she says frantically. "Just go, just go now. Okay? Come back with all the Turgenevs. Please don't trade for me. None of this was your fault." The words are ripping out of her, hoarse and desperate.

"Moy svet," I put my hand gently on the back of her head, burying her face in my shoulder so only she can hear my whisper. "Courage. I love you, I always will."

"Please, Vadim," she murmurs. "Please don't stay here. Not for me."