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“Or she was just trying to torment you?” I offer.
Eve shrugs. “Maybe, but if that was the case, why wouldn’t she tell me Milaya had been sold or killed?”
The idea makes both of us shiver with dread, and then Eve shakes her head. “No, I think she let a little bit of her plan slip. I think they still have Milaya.”
I want to believe Eve more than anything. I want to believe that Milaya is fine and well, simply being looked after by strangers. But that kind of hopeful thinking is dangerous. If I let myself or Eve believe Milaya is perfectly unharmed, it will make it even more devastating if something has happened to her.
Still, I can’t bring myself to question Eve’s theory. “Maybe.”
Eve sits up a bit straighter. “Rian’s comment makes it seem like she has direct say over what happens to Milaya, but she is far too busy to take care of her herself. There is no way Rian would bring Milaya with her to the auction. So, someone else has to be watching her. Someone close to Rian.”
I nod along, growing slightly more convinced the more she explains. “So, Milaya would be near Rian, but being taken care of by someone else? Maybe someone within the Irish?”
“Maybe,” Eve nods, leaning forward, elbows on her knees as she thinks. Then, suddenly, she sits bolt upright and turns to me, brown eyes wide. “I know where she is.”
“Okay, hold on.” I lay a hand on her back. “We can’t jump to conclusions. I have my guys out looking for any signs of her. If you have a theory, I’ll pass it along and have someone else follow up on it. Then, we can go from there.”
Eve shakes her head firmly. “No, I know where she is, Luka.”
Again, I don’t want her to get her hopes up, but I also can’t bear to douse the fire I see in her eyes. “Where is she?”
“Rian would have wanted Milaya close to her, but wouldn’t want to take care of her,” Eve repeated. “Well, when I was being held before the auction, I was kept in the Morrisons’ ranch. Rian and her father both came in at different times to give me water and drugs, but I never saw her mother.”
“Rian’s mother?” I ask.
Eve nods. “I asked about her once, but Rian’s father told me it wasn’t any of my business. Well, what if she’s the one taking care of Milaya?”
I think about it for a few seconds, but Eve leans over and grabs my arm. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s a theory,” I admit. “Not flawless, but we aren’t exactly spoiled for good ideas right now.”
“It’s a good one,” Eve says. She squeezes my arm harder. “Are we going to go there now?”
I sigh and turn towards her, wincing as my leg twinges. “I think you should let the Bratva handle it from here. You’ve been through a lot and—”
“And my daughter is still out there with our enemies,” she says, face blank. “She is being held prisoner, and I am going to be the one to save her.”
I want to argue. I want to tell Eve that she should go home and wait for word. That she should sit back and let me and the other men handle it.
But then I remember how fierce she was at the inn. How in control and calm under pressure she was. How ruthless she was towards our enemies.
I can’t deny her the opportunity to save her daughter. I certainly wouldn’t allow myself to be locked away in our house while she or anyone else went to find Milaya. I can’t ask Eve to do the same thing.
Finally, I nod.
“Yes?” Eve asks, sitting at the edge of her seat.
“Yes,” I say. “You are an asset, and I want you there with me.”
Before I can finish the sentence, Eve throws her arms around my neck. Then, she collapses against my chest and begins to shake with sobs. “We are going to get our daughter back.”
I rub her back and hope to God she is right.
23
Eve
Cole’s parents wanted grandchildren.
