Page 30 of Twisted Vows

I glared at him, my eyes filled with defiance. “I won’t,” I said, somehow keeping my voice strong and steady. “I’ll never betray them.”

Terzian’s laugh echoed through the room. “We’ll see about that,” he said, his voice low and menacing.

As he turned to leave, I had a moment of pride and hope. I had endured the psychological and physical torment of captivity thus far and had remained loyal to Malachi and Rurik. They would come for me, and I would be ready. I just had to survive until then.

Chapter Thirteen – Malachi

The aroma of the beef stroganoff wafted through the apartment, mingling with the scent of freshly baked bread. I had prepared Nika’s favorite meal, eager to spend a cozy evening with her. Rurik lounged on the couch, scrolling through his tablet as we awaited her arrival.

Minutes ticked by, and my gaze kept drifting toward the door, expecting her bright smile to appear at any moment. An uneasy feeling crept over me when the agreed-upon time came and went without a word from her.

“She’s late.” Rurik’s voice cut through the silence, his brow furrowed with concern.

I nodded, trying to push away the nagging sense of unease. “Maybe she got held up at work, or class ran late.”

Rurik shook his head. “Nika’s not one to be inconsiderate without letting us know.”

My fingers tightened around the stem of the wine glass I held. He was right. Punctuality was one of Nika’s virtues. Sudden possibilities raced through my mind, each more unsettling than the last.

Valentina’s theory that Nika might be the target came to mind. Viktor had declared it made no sense for Petrosian or Terzien to target her, but my instincts were screaming now. I wish I’d listened to them and stuck by her side like Rurik and I’d wanted, but we had duties to which we must attend, and it had seemed safe enough to let her go to work and class. She was spending her nights with us, and I hadn’t imagined the Armenians would take her in broad daylight.

Without a word, I strode toward the desk. I pulled up the tracking app on my laptop, inputting Nika’s phone number. Seconds later, a blinking dot appeared on the map, unmoving in a location neither of us recognized.

Our gazes met, a silent conversation passing between us. He rose to his feet, already reaching for his sidearm. I mirrored his actions, grinding my teeth to keep from screaming. No words were necessary as we moved in sync, gathering our gear and arming ourselves to the teeth. Within minutes, we were speeding through the city streets, the powerful engine of the SUV roaring beneath us.

My knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel, my focus laser-sharp. Rurik’s attention was on his laptop, clicking rapidly on the keyboard as he accessed security feeds, scouring for any clues that might lead us to Nika’s location.

The blinking dot remained stationary, taunting us with its stillness. My mind raced, considering the possibilities. I was certain the Armenians were behind it, but what was their plan? Would they let her go once they got whatever information they could from her? They weren’t known for mercy, and the thought sent a pang through my chest.

Gritting my teeth, I pushed the accelerator harder, weaving through traffic with reckless abandon. Every second felt like an eternity, each minute increasing the chances of a worst-case scenario.

As we neared the location, Rurik’s voice cut through the tension. “I’ve got eyes on the building. Looks like an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts. I’ve texted Viktor to send reinforcements, and they should arrive about the same time as us.”

My jaw tightened, and I nodded, already formulating a plan of attack. We would go in hard and fast, leaving no room for negotiation or compromise. Nika’s safety was our only priority.

The SUV screeched to a halt when we reached our destination, and we spilled out, weapons drawn. Rurik signaled to the team of bratva soldiers pouring out of another SUV. They all looked grim but determined. With a silent nod, we advanced, moving like shadows through the night.

The warehouse had a metal façade that looked rusted, and the sign on it had long since faded to be illegible. I took point, heart pounding as I approached the rusted door. Rurik flanked me.

I held up a fist, signaling the team to hold position. With a swift kick, the door flew open, revealing a cavernous space. We moved in slowly.

Moonlight filtered through the grimy windows, casting an eerie glow across the abandoned machinery and scattered debris. I scanned the room, searching for any sign of Nika or her captors.

Rurik’s voice crackled through the earpiece. “Clear left.”

“Clear right,” I said, tightening my grip on the Glock.

We pushed deeper into the warehouse, clearing each section with practiced efficiency. The air was thick with the scent of dust and neglect, indicating it hadn’t been used for a long time. I was becoming more convinced by the second that this was a diversion, and she’d never been here.

As we reached the far end of the space, my heart sank at confirmation. There, beneath a flickering fluorescent light, lay Nika’s backpack. Its contents, including her phone, were strewn across the floor. I crouched down, my fingers brushing against the soft fabric. “She was here.”

“Or they left her backpack here to throw us off.” Rurik’s words were hard to make out through his clenched jaw. “We’ll find her, Malachi. I promise you that.”

“Da.”

We regrouped with the team, who looked as uneasy as I felt. The night stretched before us, a daunting task ahead. We had to find Nika, and we had no solid leads now.

“We hit the Armenian hideouts,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. “Leave no stone unturned. We don’t rest until we have her back.”

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