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“Would Grigory hurt our daughter?” I asked her, meeting her eye again.
It would only make sense for him to use Kat as a power play of some sort, but if he was as despicable as Mila claimed, then I had to be prepared for anything.
“I have no idea what he wants, but we can’t be sure of anything,” Mila whispered, likely feeling the full weight of everything all over again. I sure did. “He bashed my head and left me for dead, after all. His only child and heir.”
The exhaustion got the better of her, and Mila laid back down on the pillows, refusing to look at me. I watched as the fight seemed to dribble out of her, and the color drained from her face.
The guilt only flared up more at the sight of her, after not believing her despite what had happened. I nearly lost her, yet I spent that time doubting everything she said.
I wanted to apologize to her, to let her know I was on her side, but the words refused to form. They jammed in the back of my throat, and I was forced to swallow hard around it. I couldn’t promise her everything would be fine, either.
No other situation had ever made me feel quite so lost and out of control.
I had no footing at that moment. I had no idea where Grigory was, or where he was keeping Kat. Our men were out there searching, but we didn’t have any hits yet.
My wife was injured, upset, and had no choice but to lay there and heal. Aiding with that was the least I could do.
Poking my head into the hall, I called out for the nurse to hook Mila back up to the IV again.
Soon enough, the nurse scrambled in and got to work. Mila only looked at the ceiling with tear tracks down her cheeks, not uttering another word to me. I gave her one last look before I left the room.
Pacing back and forth through Ivan’s living room with my phone pressed against my ear, I barked my commands at Aleksei, running out of patience.
“Why haven’t they checked that sector yet? Tell your men to get a move on before I force their hands into a blender. Got it?”
Aleksei grumbled from the other end, “They’ve checked everywhere around there first, now they’re moving in. If you want help finding your child and the creep who took her, then you better not threaten the ones looking.”
“This isn’t a game, Aleksei,” I seethed, as boiling anger entered my tone. “That is my flesh and blood out there, and we don’t know why Grigory took her. I will do anything I have to if it means getting her back. Become a father yourself and then see what it’s like.”
Knowing I had him there, Aleksei huffed, and the sound of him honking his horn blared through the phone. “Assholes. I get it, brother. That’s why I’m out here looking too—why we’re all looking.”
“That reminds me. Is Yuri out there?” I demanded, pausing in my place as I waited for Aleksei’s response. “Tell me he could take a moment from his busy schedule to at least act like part of this family.”
“I’m not sure. I’ll reach out to him.”
“No, I will. Focus on the search, and don’t let the men stop for even a moment,” I barked at him, feeling like a caged lion as I paced.
“Alright, I’m on it,” Aleksei said finally before I disconnected.
Quick to find Yuri’s contact, I rang him and waited a moment until he picked up.
“What’s wrong now?” Yuri droned, likely from behind his desk in his accounting firm.
My blood boiled. “Where are you right now?”
“At work. Keeping everything clean. Why?” Yuri asked, blissfully unaware of the emotional turmoil I was in.
“My child is missing, and you are looking atnumbers? What the hell is wrong with you!” I snapped, so close to throwing my phone across the room. Maybe that would be for the best. “Nobody thought to tell you this? We need every man we have out there looking for her.”
There was a moment of silence from Yuri, then his voice returned, exasperated. “I—I had no idea, Nik. I’ll be out there as soon as I can. Where’s Aleks?”
“He’s leading one search group while Ivan has the other. Mila’s hurt, and Grigory Lukin has Kat somewhere. I’ll grind his skull myself if I get the chance.” Running a hand over my face, everything grated against my nerves. “Just get out there now!”
Finishing another restless lap of the room, I paused the moment I found Reina walking by, only to back up and meet my eye again. She furrowed her brows at me and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Why aren’t you with Mila?”
The disbelief in her tone made guilt drip into my chest again, but I shook it off and pulled the phone away from my ear. I ended the call.
