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“I have a couple of people who owe McCall favors but not money. He could have hidden her with them. I’ve been running the surveillance and figured out how our guys didn’t see what happened.” He pauses and I wait. I’m not going to be very patient though. Mikhail looks through the footage on his laptop again. “She was taken out the back of the apartment building through the service exit. I’ve followed the van she was in.” I grit my teeth and raise my brow when he pauses. “She was unconscious. I’m trying to get tighter on the camera to see if she was hurt in any way. I lost the van in an industrial park.” I watch as he swallows. He knows how upset I am over all this. “I’ll find her.” He turns and walks out of the room.
“Boss, he didn’t mean for it to happen, and he definitely didn’t know she meant that much to you.” Dmitri defends him.
“One day he’ll understand. Get some of your soldiers to follow McCall. Maybe he’ll lead us to where he’s hiding her.”
“Da.” He nods his head and walks from my office.
I pick up the mug of coffee on my blotter and throw it at the wall. Glass and liquid explode and fall to the floor.
I have to find her. I can’t allow her to be the collateral for all this.
To take my mind off the current situation, I decide to do some research on Sparrow’s parentage.
CHAPTER FOUR
SPARROW
I don’t know how long I’ve been here. Without windows, I have no concept of time. I’m fairly certain it’s been several days though. I pace and do laps to pass the time and keep my sanity. Brett brings me food once a day but hasn’t let me out of the room. He hasn’t been here yet today. I’m getting concerned he is going to forget me.
The light over my head flickers several times, and I look up at it.
“Please don’t go out,” I beg the world. But the world doesn’t listen. The light blinks out, leaving me in the dark. I stumble to the mattress, sure the critters I hear scurrying around will come closer now under the cover of darkness. I pull off my dirty shirt and tie several knots in it to use as a weapon to scare them away. I sit in the center of the mattress and wait. Scared no one will ever find me. Aware I’ll never see Andrei or Lennon again.
I’ll die here.
The darkness feels like walls closing in on me. It’s been days since the lights went out, I know it has. I talk out loud and scream for help hoping someone will hear me. I’m starving and thirsty. The air stopped circulating. It’s hot in here most hours then becomes cooler, allowing me to determine when it’s day and night outside. I’m chilled. There’s nothing here to cover myself with but what I’m wearing. I feel like I’m getting sick.
The scurrying of rodent feet attract my attention. I look up and meet the rat’s eyes in the darkness. I swing my shirt as forceful as I can, but I’m so weak. I haven’t slept since the lights went out. I’m afraid to sleep. The rats would eat me alive if they could. I pray that when I die it’s quick. I don’t want to feel their sharp teeth tear into my flesh.
“Leave me alone,” I scream at the rat. My voice cracks from dehydration.
I hear a bang and I roll toward the door. The door opens and bright light fills the room. I cover my eyes. I don’t care if it’s Brett or the man he’s saving me for, I just want them to kill me, end this torture.
“Please,” I beg, my tongue thick in my mouth.
“Ptitsa.” I hear his voice. No, it’s got to be a dream. I’m dying.
“I w-wish it was y-you.” I get the words out, then fall into a coughing fit.
“She’s burning up. Get a doctor to the condo.” His arms wrap around me, and I reach up to touch his cheek.
“Are y-you real?” I put my arm over my face as I cough again.
“Yes, ptitsa. I’m here to save you.”
“I’m ready.” My head lolls and the last of my strength leaves my body.
“Ready for what?” he asks.
“Death.” I choke on the word as I cry tearlessly.
Andrei
She falls into unconsciousness, but it doesn’t stop me from trying to reach her.
“No, Sparrow. You’re going to live. I’ll make sure of it.”
Dmitri, who is standing next to me, reaches his arms out. “Boss, let me take her for you,” he growls as he looks around at the dark room she’s been trapped in for three weeks. “I’ll kill him myself.” He looks down at her. She’s lost so much weight, and she’s sick from being left to the elements. He hands me a blanket that we wrap around her body to keep her warm.
