Page 35 of The Bratva Bosses' Surrogate

But the stakes are too high for coincidences. I can’t afford to dismiss anything, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.

My heart races, anxiety building up. This could be a lead, or it could be nothing. But I can’t ignore it. I need to follow up, investigate every possibility. Because if there’s even the slightest chance that this red car is linked to Kayla…

I’m pacing, phone pressed to my ear, my mind spinning. “You think it’s her? Kayla?”

“Sounds like her.”

I stop in my tracks, the pieces beginning to fit together in a dangerous puzzle. “You know what to do. In one hour. I’ll take Sofia out of there. Got it?”

Ivan’s response is immediate, a simple affirmation laced with determination. “Mhm. We’ll be there.”

“Keep an eye out for any red cars, unusual activity. Anything,” I tell Ivan, my voice tense. “We can’t risk overlooking this.”

I end the call, my mind racing with possibilities, with potential threats. This is more than just a mission now. It’s personal. And I won’t rest until I’ve unraveled this mystery.

It takes me more than an hour to reach to the mansion where Sofia is. Finding her asleep, I pause for a moment, taking in the sight of her. Gently, almost instinctively, I brush her hair back from her face. She looks peaceful.

But there’s no time for this. I need to get her to safety.

“Sofia,” I whisper, nudging her awake.

Her eyes flutter open, confusion and fear quickly clouding them. “What’s going on?” she asks.

“We need to get you out of here,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. It’s hard not to notice how she looks, lying there half-naked and vulnerable. She’s gorgeous, and it’s taking all my self-control to focus on what’s important.

“Why? What’s happening?” Her voice is filled with urgency now.

“No time to explain. Let’s go,” I urge her.

Sofia quickly throws on clothes, her movements frantic, fueled by the fear and urgency in my voice. She’s smart enough not to bombard me with questions just yet, sensing the gravityof the situation. We move swiftly out of the mansion. She’s hurrying to keep up with my long strides. We don’t speak as we walk.

We reach the private jet, where Ivan and Viktor are already waiting. As we board, Sofia’s restraint breaks, and the questions pour out. “Come on, you have to tell me. I deserve to know!”

Ivan, usually the quiet one, speaks up, his voice serious. “You were right.”

Sofia’s confusion is evident. “Right? Right about what?”

Viktor, ever the straight shooter, cuts right to it. “It was Kayla. The red car following us, everything.”

Sofia’s face is a picture of shock and disbelief. “H-how? What? How did you find out?”

“The shooter we caught, he spoke. About a woman in a red car,” I explain, watching her process the information.

Ivan chimes in, his tone matter-of-fact. “I found Kayla’s whereabouts about an hour ago. She has a red car. It’s likely it was her.”

Sofia trembles, visibly shaken. “What will you do to her?”

Ivan’s response is calm but firm. “Nothing. We’ll punish her by ensuring she never gets to see us again.”

“By leaving?” Sofia asks, her voice quivering.

“Yes, and by making her leave,” Ivan adds.

“Leave where?” Sofia’s frustration is evident. “Can’t you guys just tell me the whole thing without me having to ask?”

I take a deep breath, knowing she deserves the full story. “Kayla was an illegal immigrant when we took her in. She was grateful, loyal. All we had to do was report her to the authorities. She’s being sent back to her country now.”

Sofia’s response is mixed, a tangle of emotions. “She had it coming. But where are we going now?”

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