Page 40 of Baby for the Bratva

“Have you checked his room?” I ask, going back to the basics.

“Yes, we were there. It’s empty.”

“No sign of a fight?” I ask, looking over at Stella again and flashing a reassuring smile.

She doesn’t smile back.

“No sign of foul play, but we can’t get in touch with him. We have men scouting the ship, but so far, they haven’t found him.”

I sigh. “Okay, meet me on the top floor lounge, the one we have closed off to guests. We’ll work our way down if we need to.”

“Right. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

I hang up the phone and shake my head, hardly able to make eye contact with Stella. “I’m sorry,” I mutter, moving toward my closet.

“Sorry about what? What’s happening?” she asks in a tight, fearful voice.

“Chekhov is missing. You’ve met the guy.”

“Your brother?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, he’s not actually my brother. Let’s just say he’s a friend of mine, and he might be in trouble.”

“Does this have something to do with the shooting?” she asks as she grabs the dress from her bed.

Fuck, she knows too much already, and it’s not going to get any better when she sees what I’m fishing out of my closet. A shotgun would risk the lives of other people on this boat, so I pull out a folding rifle instead.

“Holy shit!” Stella exclaims, jumping back when she sees it.

“Relax, I probably won’t have to use it,” I say, slamming a magazine into the bottom and pulling back the slide. I let it go with a loud click. “Or I will, and someone is about to be turned into Swiss cheese.”

Stella puts her hand to her mouth, stifling a yelp as I swing the rifle around onto my back.

I sigh. “I told you to relax. Just stay in my room until I get back. I’ll have someone come down to watch over you while I’m gone.”

“I don’t want other people in here with me!” She leaps in front of me before I can go for the door. She’s not much of an obstacle, but I’d feel bad pushing her out of the way.

“Sorry, angel,” I say, tasting the bitterness of disappointment in my mouth. “I have to go. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Don’t forget what you promised me.”

“I’m not letting you go,” she says, putting her hand on my chest and holding it there firmly. “Tell me what’s really going on. Is someone in danger?”

“Chekhov, perhaps,” I reply with a shrug. “That remains to be seen. I have to go look for him. He’s not where he should be, and that’s concerning.”

“Concerning enough to bring a gun?! Yuri, excuse me if I sound stupid, but why the fuck would you need a gun just because your brother — um, your friend — is missing?”

I flash her a winning smile, hoping to defuse her worry a bit. “Just a precaution. Like I said, it’s probably nothing, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

I don’t leave her time to respond before stepping around her, grabbing my jacket from the hook by the door. I cover the rifle on my back with it and head out the door.

“Stop!” she cries out, grabbing at the end of my jacket.

I spin around, pressing a finger to her lips to silence her. “The world is too dangerous for safe words, princess. Stay in the room until I return. Your life depends on it.”

19

Stella

No, no, a million times no!

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