There was a knock at the door, and I knew it had to be Roman. Storming towards it without thought or control, I swung the door open as the first tears of rage escaped my eyes. My mind was tumbling, trying to get a grip on reality as darkness started taking over.

“Sergei,” Roman said stepping in and placing a hand on my shoulder. “Brother, you have to calm down.”

Pulling back forcefully, I glared at him. “I don’t have to do anything but get Irina back.” I spat at him, feeling my heart being crushed in my chest. I turned and stomped back to the kitchen with Roman, Karine, Ivan, Ashan, and Aleksei all in tow.

Walking into my mess, I stopped and turned to them. Roman froze looking around. “Brother,” he started.

“Don’t you brother me, Roman.” I spat pointing at him. “Where is she? She should have been here with me, not out there.”

Karine stepped past Roman and started picking up some of the mess as she spoke to me. “Sergei, we are sure that Caleb is trying to lure us out. He will not harm Irina. It’s us he wants,” she said sternly, tossing the food and pieces of glass into the bin.

Roman stepped closer and reached out for me. “Sergei, you must calm down. We will get her back even if we have to take her back by force.”

Retreating back as he moved closer, I looked around the room at the faces before me. They were a blur as my vision started to fade in and out.

“Sergei,” Ivan added as he joined Roman stepping up to my side. “Evelina will let us know shortly where they have taken her. I assure you she will not be harmed.”

“After everything that has happened, how can any of you be sure, how can you all be so calm?” I shouted at them.

“I think you should wait here,” Roman said as he squeezed my shoulder. “You need to reel in this anger and calm down.”

Turning out of his grip as my wrath explodes, I storm towards the living area. “No,” I yell. “Like hell, I will get her myself. She is my woman.” I breathe out as I pull the big screen from its bracket on the wall and chuck it at them.

“Caleb will pay for what he's done.” I hiss barely noticing the look on my family’s faces. I turned to the bar and was about to clear the top when I felt Roman’s arms closing in around mine.

Roman grabbed me around the shoulders and turned with me as he tried to calm my rage. “Sergei, rope it in, brother.” He breathed over my shoulder. “If you want to go with us, you have to bury these feelings deep down for a little longer.”

I tried to turn out of his grip, but he only tightened his clasp around me as I pushed and shoved. “Calm down,” Roman said as we turned in a circle.

His words finally sinking through the darkness, struck me. I stopped fighting him and breathed in deeply. “Okay,” I replied. “Okay, let go.”

Roman eased his hold and stepped back carefully. “If you can just manage your feelings for now. I promise once we get her, you can do what you please to that bastard.”

I surveyed the room, everyone just stood staring at me. “Okay,” I agreed. I pushed my hair back with my hands and straightened out my shirt. Turning to Roman, I held my hand out. Pushing everything within me down, we shook on it.

Still burning inside, I quickly assisted Karine in cleaning up the mess I made as we waited for Evelina’s call. It felt like an eternity, but I had to stay calm if I wanted to go with them. Once the place was reasonable Karine and I joined the rest in the living area.

Roman shoved a glass of Whiskey in my hand and smiled softly at me. “We’ll get her. Don’t worry, we will.” He added as I sat down on a bar stool.

I barely took two sips from my glass when the doorbell chimed again. I jumped off the stool and practically ran to the door. I swung it open and there stood Evelina. My instincts were to pull her in and hug her, but I controlled my emotions as Roman had asked.

Evelina walked in and we joined the family in the living area. She handed Ivan a note, which he studied for a second. Glancing up Ivan nodded, “Let’s get going,” he said.

Everyone exited the house and piled into the cars. Roman and Ivan each made some calls as we drove. All I wanted to do was tell the driver to step on it. I needed to reach our destination immediately but knew I had to stay calm.

It was killing me not to burst out in rage. I felt my fingers closing over my thumbs as I squashed them in my fists. Controlling such brute anger was not something I have learned to do. I found myself sweating from the effort of keeping the rage encaged.

Roman started explaining to me how operations such as this one functioned as we drove. “Each of us has a place,” he said.

“Once we arrive, the bodyguards will surround the place. The made men then enter the building and do a sweep.” He said, taking a deep breath.

I felt Evelina and Ivan’s eyes focused on me as I listened.

“Once we enter, allow us to go first and make a path. You can’t just storm in and get yourself, and most likely Irina killed. Do you understand?” Roman finally asked.

‘Yes,” I answered nodding my head.

“Once inside, if the path is clear, you can go and rescue her. We are all in this together, remember that.” Roman added as he sat back.