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I remember them mentioning it the first time I was at their house.
Rian is so busy, I’m not sure she’ll ever settle down and give us grandchildren, his mother said.But I knew our Cole would find himself a pretty wife to start a family with.
That is why his family could sell me off to the Cartel the way they did. To them, I was nothing more than a pretty woman meant to bear children. And even worse, I failed to do that for their family, so why not chain me up and strip me of my freedom? I deserved it in their eyes.
Rian’s dad mentioned something about grandchildren when I was at the ranch before being taken to the inn.You could have given us the grandchildren we always wanted.
The more I think about it, the more obvious it is.
Of course, Rian’s parents would take Milaya. While I disappointed them and disrespected them and took their son away from them, Milaya was innocent and perfect and beautiful. Of course they would take her from me as payment for what Luka and I did to Cole.
Luka has the driver of the SUV pull over so he can organize our men. He sends every Bratva member we have to the ranch, and I can’t express how grateful I am to him for taking me seriously. For letting me come with him.
If anything good came out of the last week at the inn, it is that I feel more capable now than ever to stand up to the villains in my life.
I spent my entire childhood and most of my adulthood being terrified of my father’s wrath. Being afraid of disappointing him or earning his anger. Now, however, I am free.
I believe in myself. I trust my own mind and opinions. And more than anything, I trust my own strength—both mental and physical.
I am capable of more than my father ever thought possible. More than I ever thought possible.
And I don’t intend to ever be held back again.
When Luka gets off the phone, he turns towards me, and I see the flare of pain in his face as his leg shifts.
I’m worried about him.
About infection, about whether he will be able to walk into the ranch and walk out again with injuries so extensive.
But just as he isn’t doubting me, I have no intention of doubting him. Our relationship has to be built on mutual trust or it will never last.
“What is the plan?” I ask.
“Everyone is on board,” Luka says. “They’ve been looking since the minute I left for the auction. But they didn’t find anything. Not even a whisper. They agree that your idea has the most merit.”
“So, we are going now?” I ask, leg bouncing with nervous energy.
Luka told me I should go back to the mansion and rest, but there is no way I could sleep.
I’m exhausted. I feel it deep down in my bones in a way I’ve never felt tired before. But there is no way I could sleep. Not when my baby is far away from me and with strangers.
I won’t be able to sleep until she is home.
Luka nods. “We are going now. Everyone is headed there. We are going to meet on the old highway just outside the ranch and just like they did at the inn, we are all going to approach together. The Morrisons won’t have time to run even if they do see us coming.”
I reach across the seat and squeeze his hand, gripping his fingers to help ground myself as we drive towards the ranch. Towards the place where we will hopefully find out daughter.
The mission is rushed and disorganized, but there isn’t time for more.
Rian could be receiving word right this minute that the Cartel at the inn was decimated. She might guess that Luka and I have escaped and are coming for her. There is no time to waste formulating a plan of attack. If we do, we might get there to find the Morrisons and Milaya are already gone.
I pray they are still there.
I pray Milaya is with them.
As we drive towards the meeting spot, I squeeze Luka’s hand and offer up one more prayer to whoever is listening:
I pray that my family will make it back together.
