Page 37 of The Bratva's Hostage

“See how easily she forgets her roots and brags about another family as if she had always belonged. You can’t believe she’s telling the truth. She has turned against us and must pay for it. Take her away.”

I opened my mouth to speak just as hands clamped around mine, forcing them behind my back as I was escorted out of Lucas’s office.

I turned around, resisting their push as I got to the door and faced him, glaring at him, while he stood there with a victorious smirk.

“You will pay for this,” I promised and with that, I allowed myself to be shoved out of the room.

Chapter 19 - Maksim

Goddammit, Elena, I hope you are okay!

I glanced at my phone as I pinpointed Elena’s location, thankful that I had installed a tracker in her phone to monitor her activities. I didn’t know how useful it would be until now, when I ran after her, hoping she was all right and not hurt.

My foot pressed down on the gas pedal and the car responded eagerly as it sped forward, devouring the open highway beneath its wheels. I pressed the horn incessantly, warning cars to get out of my way as I drove as fast as I could to her location.

My eyes flickered over the screen once more as I tried to gauge how far I was from my goal. As I pulled into the parking lot of the Moretti commercial building, my jaw ticked, and rage pulsed through my veins.

There was only one reason why she would be there and not answering her phone. My suspicions were correct, and she was being sent on a wild goose chase by someone from her clan, my guess being Lucas.

I jumped out of the car, Fyodor and the rest of my men joining me as they lined the perimeter of the building.

My brows shot up when men marched out of the building heading our way. Their weapons were hidden, probably on Lucas' instructions, so as not to attract attention.

I sighed, a little insulted to have to speak with them instead of the one calling the shots. “Where is your boss? Judging by your numbers, I assume he is expecting me. Why don’t you come out, Lucas, and we'll sort this out here and now,” I shouted the last part and snatched the earpiece of one of the men to speak directly into it.

“Mr. Lucas doesn’t want to talk with you. You must leave the building now,” one of the guards said, his face twisted in disgust.

I grinned, unperturbed by their insult. “It’s a good thing I don’t wish to speak with him then. I’m here to take my wife home. Bring her to me and we can all be on our merry way as if this never happened.”

The men looked amongst themselves, their eyes confirming what I already knew. I watched impatiently as one of the men spoke into an earpiece, nodding. I looked up at the cameras, smiling straight at them. It was clear Lucas was watching from the safety of his office.

“You cannot be here. You have trespassed and we will force you if you do not leave of your own accord,” he said, hands reaching behind his back.

My men cocked their guns, stopping him and the rest of them in their tracks. “Fuck off! Bring me my wife and I’ll leave!” I growled into the man’s face, and he squirmed.

I smiled a sinister smile that had them backing off. I had a reputation for not being the nicest person to mess with, but the last thing Elena wanted was for me to kill her men especially since they were only following orders.

“She- she isn’t here. We don’t know where she is,” the guard stuttered, surreptitiously looking up at the camera.

“That is too bad. You damn liar! I will not leave here without my wife; I will finish you all off to get to her. That’s a threat you can bet it ain’t empty. You can decide between you and your coward of a boss which way you’d rather go,” I said, glaring at them.

I sighed as the men rushed at us, holding back as my men charged at them, kicking and punching. I had to commend them for their courage in being loyal to a man who hid behind the shadows while they did his dirty work.

I punched a guard who pushed past my men in the throat and watched with a satisfied smile as his eyes widened and he coughed and gasped for air before his eyes rolled behind his lids.

Advancing towards them, I avoided a blow to my side, kicking his leg from underneath him and clocking his jaw with my knee.

Fyodor and the others had overtaken the guards, knocking them unconscious or sending them groaning and gasping for air as they tried to crawl away. I sighed. They were only doing their jobs and their loyalty was commendable, but I was on a mission, and I would not leave until I accomplished it.

I pushed forward, past the bodies on the ground, fuelled by my determination, I hurried into the building, some of my men following behind me.

“Elena!” My shouts were greeted with silence as I moved through the building, kicking doors open, my gun in hand, preparing for what would await me when I found her.

I hurried up the stairs and stopped when I saw an office with Lucas Moretti’s name on it. Muffled screams reached my ears as I heard him shouting at her to shut up.

I pushed open the door, my gun cocked and ready to fire when I saw her, her hands bound, Lucas’s hand on her mouth, the other with a gun pointed at her head.

He chuckled as I walked in, looking behind the door and around the room as I prepared for a surprise attack.

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