Page 108 of Unholy Vows (Original Sin)

Lost.

A vivid memory of the first night we’d met filled my mind. When she’d pleaded for mercy, and that St. Anthony’s medal she wore had caught the light, staying my hand.

“Are you lost, bambina?”

“I’ve always been a lost thing.”

We moved in teams around the neighboring countryside, spreading farther and farther out in circles. My phone rang when dawn was creeping over the horizon.

“I got my brother’s message.” Kirill Chernov’s voice spoke in my ear. “Sounds like you need a little help in the Garden State.”

“What kind of help can you offer?”

“It depends on the situation,” Kirill mused. He sounded far too cool for comfort, compared to the hot and burning storm of emotion inside me.

“The situation is that my wife has been taken-,” I cut off, reining in my pure, undiluted fear. “Something I’ve heard you have experience with.”

Kirill chuckled. “Any chance you have a half-brother waiting in the wings to cause havoc?”

“Unfortunately not,” I snapped. He was talking about the time his brother Nikolai had kidnapped the captive little bride Kirill had been keeping in his penthouse. His childhood sweetheart and lifelong obsession. Kirill had stopped at nothing to get her back. Now, I knew how he felt.

“Then go to your enemy list. I’m confident you have those. No one becomes thecapo dei capiof New Jersey without stepping on a few toes.”

“I know who took her. I just don’t know where.”

“Well, my enemy’s enemy is my friend, isn’t that the saying? I’m sure you’ve done your research on the men who took her, so the question is – who has something to gain from helping them?”

Fuck. I was distracted and unbalanced. Making mistakes I couldn’t afford. This wasn’t like me. Now, when control and precision mattered the most, I was a fucking mess for the first time in my life.

I finished talking to Kirill and dialed Giada, and was immediately surprised to hear Lucy’s voice in my ear.

“Lucy? Are you ok? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just can’t stay in my room anymore. I want to help,” she said quietly.

I nodded, my urgency pushing everything else aside. “Giada already checked out Commissioner Reynolds and Judge Ellens’ residences in the state. I need her to check out more distant connections, exes, siblings, fathers-in-law…everyone.”

“Ok, I’ll tell her.”

It only took Giada five minutes to call me back. She didn’t waste any time.

“700 Riverside Drive, Crestwood – Commissioner Reynold’s ex-wife’s brother-in-law’s place,” she said quickly. “It’s twenty miles from where the rosary was found.”

“Send coordinates to the rest of the men.”

“Done. Ren!” Giada shot out before I could hang up. "Go and bring her home.”

“Just try and stop me.”

37

CHARLIE

Iwoke to a wiggling feeling on my chest. Several wiggling feelings. Screaming, I twisted as much as my cold and stiff body could manage, dislodging several of the rats that had been roaming over my neck and chest, nibbling at the food remains. Panic climbed up my throat and threatened to throttle me. I was powerless. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t run, all I could do was lie here and take it.

Dry tears pressed against my eyelids. I had no liquid left to spare for them. I was so thirsty, the thought of water had started to take over my mind. It had to have been nearly twenty-four hours by now. Light flooded under the door. Dawn lighting up the world. I was so cold, I was shivering uncontrollably now, my arms and my feet numb. My cheek that was pressed against the dirt was also without feeling.

Was I going to die here?

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