Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“I’m sure there will be men stationed outside wherever they’re holding Aurora,” Armani says as he swerves through the other cars on the road.
“I fucking hope so.” I glance at my friends. “We’re about five minutes out. Are you ready?”
“Yeah, let’s kill the motherfuckers,” Alek replies, sounding bored as fuck.
I hope we’ll be in time.
The live location cuts out, telling me they found her phone.
“Fuck, hurry,” I snap, and it has Armani flooring the gas.
A wave of intense fear hits. If the fuckers kill the love of my life, I’ll lose my mind. There’s no living without her.
She’s strong. They’re going to make her suffer, so focus on the job. Every second you take to find her is a second where they’re hurting her.
Focus.
I’m coming, moy malen'kiy olen'.
Aurora
Another man climbs into the container, and this time I recognize him.
Kazuo Jirocho.
The fucker. I should’ve known. He’s been looking for trouble with Misha every chance he could get.
Shit. I kneed him in the groin.
My eyes narrow on the man as he walks toward me. A cruel sneer tugs at his lips. “Are you comfortable?”
“Fuck you,” I spit.
Even though I know it’s no use, I struggle against my restraints.
“I have news,” he says as he changes direction toward the workbench. He picks up a case I didn’t notice and sets it down on the worn wood. “I called your father, and you can imagine his surprise when I told him you’re fucking Petrov.” Kazuo chuckles. “He didn’t take it too well.”
Jesus. No.
Kazuo grabs pliers from the case before he turns to face me. “Your father is on his way, so we don’t have a lot of time.”
Intense terror tightens my muscles, and my mouth grows horribly dry.
What would Misha do?
Kazuo walks toward me, and with every step he takes, my heartbeat speeds up until I’m dizzy from the blood rushing to my head.
“So while your father and Petrov fight…” He checks the time on his watch, “which should give me roughly ten minutes, we’re going to have some fun.”
“Go to hell,” I growl. I hate when my fear bleeds through my voice.
The man who told me he killed Abbie leaves the room, and the one by the camera presses a button.
They’re recording my death. Jesus.
My breaths burst over my dry lips as Kazuo walks closer. Just reacting, I kick my leg out, but he catches it with a chuckle.
“Hold her,” he instructs the other two men, and they instantly come closer. One grabs my thigh, and the other takes hold of my free leg.
I wiggle and struggle like a possessed person as Kazuo brings the pliers to my manicured small toe.
“No,” I scream. Overwhelming frustration and hopelessness pour into me as he grips hold of the nail.
I press my lips together, and shutting my eyes, I try to find a safe space.
My mind goes to Misha and me sitting in a crate and everything he’s taught me, but it’s too late for the memory to take hold, and an agonizing scream rips from me as my nail is torn off.
My mind reels from the cruelty and pain, and I desperately gasp for air as icy chills rush over my skin.
Kazuo lets out an amused chuckle before he moves on to the next toe.
My muscles clench, and I try so freaking hard to pry my foot from his brutal hold, but it only makes his fingers dig into my skin.
I clench my jaw as hard as I can to keep from screaming. The pain is too much when he rips the second nail off and sobs explode from me.
I must’ve bitten my tongue because the taste of blood fills my mouth.
Misha! I can’t hold out for much longer. I’m going to lose my mind.
Chapter 37
Misha
Just as we pull up to the bottom end of the trainyard and climb out of the SUVs, another motor brigade speeds toward us.
“Khristos,” Alek mumbles as he raises his submachine gun, taking aim.
“Wait,” I mutter. Stepping forward, I hold my weapon ready as I watch the first vehicle come to a skidding stop.
Caruso D’Angelo and Emilio Sartori climb out of the backseats, their weapons in their hands.
Blyadʹ, just what I fucking need right now.
“I’m here for Aurora,” I yell. “We can face off after the girls are safe.”
It takes a second too long before he nods. “Our daughters come first.”
Reluctantly, I nod.
When the women are safe, I’ll have to deal with the two men. Today there will either be a truce or bodies will drop.
I glance at Armani. “Take two men and stay behind D’Angelo and Sartori. If they make a move on us, kill them.”
He nods, and gesturing at two guards, he heads toward the enemy.
D’Angelo walks closer. “One wrong move, and you’re dead.”
Is that supposed to scare me?
“Same counts for you,” I mutter as I turn around and head toward the parked wagons and carriages.