81
IVAN
Yasha and I approach the building from the rear. Guns are concealed under my shirt, at my waist, and tucked at my ankle. Bratva men are stationed in a perimeter around the building, but they’re further out than I’d like. If someone is inside the building with Francia, I don’t want them to see us coming.
“Do you think anyone is in her apartment?” Yasha asks quietly.
I scan the windows and balconies. There are potted plants on ledges and lights hanging from rafters. A black cat sits in front of a screen on the second floor, watching us closely.
“I don’t know. It depends who is doing this. It could be a small outfit—people looking for a ransom or to boost their credibility. But if it’s anything organized—”
“The Sokolovs, you mean.”
“They’re the most likely. But we don’t know until we get in there.” I see an emergency door propped open to our right and turn towards it. “It’s time to find out.”
Yasha and I position ourselves on either side of the door. But just as he grabs the handle, my phone vibrates.
I pull it out, expecting to ignore it. But it’s Cora.
“Hold on,” I grumble. I turn away and answer the call. “I’ll call as soon as I have an update. Just stay at Jorden’s and wait for—”
“Ivan,” Cora whispers. I can barely hear her, but she’s sniffling. Her breathing is coming fast and heavy in the speaker.
I go rigid. Every cell in my body is on high alert. “Cora, tell me what’s happening.”
Distantly, I hear banging. Loud, echoing sounds coming from her end of the phone.
“Cora,” I growl. “What is—”
“I don’t know,” she quietly sobs. “Someone is—I think someone is inside the—”
Sound explodes through the speaker. It’s like a bomb went off in her room.
Then the screaming starts.
I can’t tell whether it’s Cora or Jorden or both of them, but there is so much fucking screaming. Yasha is next to me, his gaze murderous as we’re forced to stand here and listen to it.
Then the noise fades. The sounds move further and further away…
Until all is quiet.
I’m electrified with rage. My body is trembling and Yasha has to pry the phone out of my hands before I can turn to him.
“Trap,” I growl.
His eyes close as he shakes his head. “Was it—”
“It was Cora,” I grit out, my voice growing louder with every word, “and we fell into a fucking trap.”
I spin around and kick the emergency door closed. The metal door bangs back into the frame, and I don’t feel an ounce better.
I won’t feel better until I see Cora. Until I’m holding her—warm and alive—in my arms.
And I will. I have to believe that will happen. Otherwise, I won’t be able to put one foot in front of the other.
“What’s the plan now?” Yasha asks.
I snatch my phone out of his hand and stomp down the sidewalk. I hear him walking along behind me. “We find whoever took them and we eradicate each and every one of them from the face of the fucking Earth.”