Page 27 of The Bratva King's Pregnant Bride

Not waiting to let him catch his breath, I ordered, “Speak.”

Igor took in three deep breaths, stood erect, and said, “I was out getting things for Maya, as directed. I made my way to her place and honked several times, but she didn’t respond.”

He looked up, then continued when he saw my nod. “I thought, maybe she has guests, or maybe, she has stepped out? But seeing as I didn’t get a call from you about her not being there, I decided to go up with four of the guys to find out if everything was okay, and…”

My heart sank, and I found myself holding my breath.

“Her apartment was empty,” Igor continued. “We looked around and noticed signs of a struggle. Instantly, I feared the worst, so we left and came to report.”

More words were said, but a buildup of anger caused me to rise from my seat. Maya, kidnapped? Who would have the audacity?

My thoughts raced, a list of potential suspects forming quickly in my mind.

“I’ll contact the guys,” Artem said, furrowing his brow as he turned to me.

Just then, my phone rang; I looked to see Unknown Caller displayed on the screen.

I had an idea who it might be, but I needed to be sure. I snatched the phone up and put it speaker, quietly waiting for whoever it was to introduce themselves.

“You’re awfully quiet,” came Mike’s distinct voice. “Good. That means you’ve heard. That means I was right to make this move. I didn’t know if you’d remember me, considering how many enemies you have.”

I could hear the smirk in his voice, and I imagined punching that smug smile off his face as he continued.

“Still, I like to leave my fangs deep in the skin of my adversaries to let them know the pain I once felt. I guess you feel it, too—the pain I felt when you chased me away.”

“Just to be clear,” I snarled, “you have no fangs. You’re like the riffraff at the street corner, struggling to stay relevant, yet unaware that he’s just a punk.”

“Yes. Yes. Big words from the big man.”

I narrowed my eyes. “At least that’s what I am.”

Mike’s tone grew almost whiny. “All I needed was a little bit of territory. I thought you’d understand, but no! You barely even acknowledged my existence.” He laughed. “And now, I hold all the cards. Tell me, Dominik—how does it feel to know that you can be this vulnerable? No lies, now.”

I glanced at Artem and Igor, then turned my focus to the window.

“This doesn’t make you a man,” I growled. “Taking a pregnant woman instead of coming to face me like a man? Come on, Mike. That’s beneath you. You are a fucking coward.”

“If I’d extended an invitation to you to come have a face-to-face chat with me, you wouldn’t have accepted,” Mike retorted. “This is me ensuring you do as I say.”

“You think you can command me?” My voice sounded low and dangerous, even to my ears.

“No, Dominik. I know I can. Anyway, enough posturing—will you let her die at my hands, too? That’s what I want to know. If you don’t want to see your precious baby mama—or whatever she is to you—dead, come down to the old factory, and make sure you come alone. Cops aren’t your style, anyway, so no going to cry to the police. Don’t forget: the old factory.”

The old factory. How fitting that this should go down right where I killed all Mike’s men—and lost one of mine during the exchange of fire.

“And if I fail to meet to your demands?” I asked, raising a brow.

“Maya dies.”

The line went dead, and I found my grip on the phone grow tighter and tighter as I pictured Mike’s neck in my grasp. I would kill him, the bastard. Fucking gut that bitch.

Artem looked at me warily. “It’s obviously a trap.” When I just stared at him, he looked at Igor. “Assemble the guys.”

As Igor left the office, I held up a hand, turning to Artem. “I will be doing this alone, Artem.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Doing nothing on my part places your life in danger. Surely you don’t intend submitting to this fool without a fight? He knows if he kills Maya without any provocation, his life will be forfeit—he would never be able to return here, and wherever he went, we would haunt him till he is tired of running. You know we can make this happen.”

Laying a hand on his shoulder, I nodded. “Still, I must do this alone. She’s carrying the heir to this empire. I can’t let anything happen to her. I can’t let anything happen to my blood.”

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