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He sinks his teeth into his lower lip as he turns to the men. “Well? What's the hold-up?"
"Orders are to take them to the safehouse," the younger man says, almost apologetically.
"The mistress of the house has other plans." Liam's words are clipped, authoritative. "Elena, what do you need?"
"Information. Confirmation. Assurance that Niko is not on death's doorstep." I’m working to ward off panic, but it’s getting harder the longer I go without answers.
“We don’t know where he is or how he is,” one man finally says. “All we know is that Giovanni ambushed him.”
Liam turns to me. “That’s all I’ve heard too. But” —he puts his hand on my arm— “there is a protocol. We’ll know soon. In the meantime?—”
“In the meantime, we secure this place. If he is okay, he’ll come back here, right? This is his most secure location in the city.”
Liam nods. “Right.”
I turn to the three men. “Station men outside the garage and at the elevator. At least two men should be in the hall, and one at the stairwell outside the penthouse. No one, except Niko or his known men, goes in or out without my say-so. And you." I turnto Liam. "Get on the phone. Find out everything you can about Niko’s location and condition.”
“What about Donovan?” Lucia asks. “Niko doesn’t seem to go anywhere without him.”
Liam nods. “I’ll get on it.” He turns to the other men. “You have your orders.”
"Are you sure that's wise?" the man challenges, more out of worry than defiance.
“You are asking Elena, right?” Liam says.
At that moment, I realize what he’s doing, and I could kiss him for it. Especially since Niko might not like it.
The men spring into motion, a testament to Liam's influence, or maybe just the realization that my determination is unbreakable. I watch them, my chest tight as I worry about Niko.
“If Dad killed him…”
“Don’t think of that.” Lucia rubs my back.
One of the men approaches. “We’re following your orders, but the compound is truly the safest place.”
“The last time I was on the road between the compound and here, I was driven off the road and kidnapped by the very man you say has ambushed Niko. I’m staying here.”
As if summoned by our urgency, the door crashes open and Niko strides in. My knees go weak from the relief. Except for the blood.
I start toward him, but he looks at me with the same darkness as he had earlier. "Why are they still here?" His words are a snarl to the men.
Liam steps up to him. “They’ve been taking charge.”
“Taking charge? What the fuck, Liam?” Niko stabs him with his forefinger. “You’re in charge in situations like this.”
He shrugs. “Elena had it under control. She’s the mistress?—”
“She’s leaving, remember? I gave you an order?—”
“Yeah well, that was before you walked into Giovanni’s ambush.”
“Where’s Donovan?” Lucia asks. I look among the men and don’t see him.
“I want them gone,” Niko says, ignoring Lucia. “Now.”
“I’m not going.” I straighten, lifting my chin even though I know I shouldn’t defy him.
His jaw clenches, a muscle ticking in his cheek. He moves closer, and I feel the heat of his anger, the cold of his doubt. But I don't back down. “What do you hope to gain by staying?”
