Page 78 of The Bratva's Hostage Bride

We carefully pick our way through the house. There’s a shout behind us. “He wasn’t out for long,” Penny comments. “Hurry, come this way.”

We hurry downstairs, and a guard shoots at us. Penny aims and shoots back at him, but he ducks. We run toward the back of the house and into the kitchen. The kitchen staff start screaming when they see Penny has a gun. She points it to one of them. “Where’s the exit?”

A woman points to a door, and Asher checks it. “It’s the garage, let’s go.”

We hurry through the various cars, and Asher stops at a box, which she opens. She wiggles her fingers and grabs a key. “Audi. We’re looking for an Audi.”

Penny presses a button on the wall, and we scan the cars quickly. “There,” I say. “There’s an Audi there.”

Asher presses the button, and the lights flash. “That’s the one.”

We run to the car and hear shouting coming from the kitchen. We climb into the vehicle, and Asher turns the ignition. She slams into reverse and speeds backward before she slams into drive and speeds down the driveway.

The back window makes a weird noise, and I see it’s bulletproof, and a bullet strikes it. We keep down as Asher drives down the driveway and out into traffic. She takes the turn so fast that all three of us scream as we think that the car is going to roll.

As the car rights itself, I look back to see other cars coming down the driveway. “Go! Go! Go!!”

Chapter 26 - Luka

I text Asher for what feels like the millionth time. They should be done by the clinic now, and she promised to give me an update on the sly. Now, she’s not answering at all.

I try to call her, but her phone’s off, so I dial Penny. Also off.

I get an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I hurry to my car and drive to the clinic, where a crowd has formed. I push through them and find my two guards sitting up with their backs against the wall, blood leaking from the back of their heads.

Leon looks up at me. “They hit us from behind.”

“Where are the girls, Leon?” I ask, squatting next to him.

“I don’t know. They knocked us out. When we came to, these people were around us, and the girls were gone.”

“Pacheco,” I whisper. “That dirty rat bastard.”

I stand up. “Get inside the clinic and get checked up, both of you.”

I dial Kervyn’s number.

“Luka.”

“Pacheco’s taken the girls, all three of them. Outside the clinic.” I walk toward my car. “The guys are all right, just dazed from being knocked out.”

“No one but the clinic knew that appointment was today. It’s someone from there that’s ratting us out to Pacheco,” Kervyn growls. “I’ll set Arseny on them. Come here. Let’s see if I can reach this scumbag and see what it is that he wants in exchange for the girls.”

I hang up and get into my car. I pull off quickly and drive straight to Afantasy. I rush up the stairs to Kervyn’s office, where Danil is pacing the floor.

“Has there been any contact?” I ask.

Kervyn looks up, and I see he’s on his phone. “You will regret touching what’s mine, Pacheco.”

I stand there, watching Kervyn. I am frozen to the spot.

“What do you want in exchange for our wives?” he asks, pulling a face. “Why are you so obsessed with this casino?”

They want my casino. I step forward. “Give it to them, Kervyn. It’s not worth the girls' lives.”

Kervyn glares at me, and I fall silent. Danil pulls me back. “Remember your place.”

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