Page 48 of Kidnapped By the Bratva

For the second time this morning, it feels like a fist has slammed into my gut. Pain radiates through my body and my mouth drops open.

Cavelleri Correctional is on the other side of the country. It’s known for holding high-value criminals at high risk of fleeing. Sending a cop to Cavelleri is equivalent to signing their death certificate.

Once the inmates in there find out who I am, I’m dead.

The worst of the worst criminals are kept there. Terrorists. Dangerous psychopaths. Those who commit treason. People who would do anything and everything to see the world burn.

I’m so fucked!

“Now, are you going to cooperate, or are you going to jail?” Agent Jones opens the handcuffs and holds them out, ready to snap them around my wrists.

“I know nothing about Nikita Orlov or his business dealings.”

The second the words leave my mouth, I put my wrists in the cuffs. Agent Jones’ eyebrows shoot up his forehead. I sigh and tighten one cuff on myself before snapping the other shut.

“You’re making a mistake.” Agent Ryker stands and rounds the table, reaching out to help me to my feet. “You know that by refusing to comply, you will be going to jail for a long time?”

“How is it refusing to comply if I have no information to give you?” I give him a sweet smile, but my words are pure venom.

“I want to say goodbye.” Tom takes my arm and pulls me away from the agents. “I’ll do it in here, with the cameras, but I want a private goodbye with her before you send her away to her death.”

Agent Jones exchanges a look with Agent Ryker. Both men sigh before nodding and stepping out of the room.

The second the door shuts behind them, Tom pulls me into a tight hug. He sniffles as he holds me. I breathe slowly, trying not to cry. The scent of tobacco and peppermint wraps around me.

“Everything is going to be alright. You’re the best agent I’ve ever trained and it’s a loss to the entire force. I know that you did nothing wrong.”

I smile, blinking rapidly to hold back the tears. “I might have done a couple of things wrong during our time working together. If I’m remembering correctly, you once told me that if you could toss me off a cliff, you would.”

Tom cackles and wipes a tear from his eye. “I still would. You have a good heart, but you can be so fucking stubborn. I know that you’re going to be going through hell for the next few years, but you make sure that you give them hell right back.”

Tom pulls me into another tight hug before letting me go. “Chin up. It’s time to go now, kiddo.”

The door opens and the agents peer into the room. I sigh and clasp my hands together, the metal cuffs scraping against my wrists.

“I hope to see you again one day, Tom.”

“Of course, you will. Stay strong, kiddo.” He winks at me.

Agent Jones grabs me by the bicep and leads me through the station. I keep my head held high, smiling at the officers I pass. The chief stands in the doorway of his office, his face a mask of fury.

The agents march me out of the station and straight to the waiting SUV. The glossy black paint shines with my reflection. Agent Jones opens the back door and waits for me to slide in before slamming the door shut.

I take a last look at the station and peer out the window at the people gathered on the steps. None of them wave or smile. Most of them have looks of disgust on their face.

It’s funny how people can change within split seconds.

Hopefully, I have given Nik enough time to learn of the situation and plan his disappearance. He's a smart man and has connections, he should go to Russia and hide there for a while. Still, I have to smile because I'm not sure it was smart for him to pursue a policewoman. That alone suggests he has a terrible sense of self-preservation.

What a mess for both of us. My heart aches thinking about him, but I wonder, was losing my career over him really worth it? I just hope that one day he’ll find out that I’ve kept my word, I stayed loyal and that he can trust me. That’s all I want him to know.

At least we already said our goodbyes.

I sigh and press my head against the cool window. The city whizzes by and we leave downtown behind. As the car turns onto the highway, a pit opens in the bottom of my stomach.

We’re heading to a private airport. In less than an hour, I’m going to be on a plane. It will be a miracle if I survive the first year at Cavelleri Correctional.

Agent Jones and Agent Ryker sit in the front seat, whispering to each other. Both wear smug smiles as we get further and further from the city.

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