Page 12 of Bound By Longing

SOFIYA

“You didn’t find her?” I ask once Mikhail and Aleksander return. Vik stands up and storms over to them while I remain on the couch. I run my hands over my pregnant belly, thinking of the baby growing inside. Mila was always precious to me, sort of like a baby, and now, she’s gone. I can’t even imagine anything happening to my real baby. I think I would die.

Mikhail shakes his head. “Damien doesn’t have her. We don’t know who could have taken her.”

Vik’s eyes widen. “There was a man who showed up at our house. An older man. But I didn’t know who he was. All she told me was his name was Vladimir.”

“I don’t know any Vladimirs,” Aleksander says. “Do you?”

“No,” Mikhail admits. “Well, yes, I know multiple Vladimirs, but that doesn’t mean any of them took Mila.”

“It’s worth checking in to,” I suggest.

He nods once. Efficient and to the point. “I’ll make some calls and start digging.”

“Whoever took her killed one of my guards,” Aleksander says. “He had this planned. She could be anywhere.”

“Not good enough,” Vik snaps. “We need to find her.”

“How?” I ask. “We’re trying, Vik.”

“Well, not good enough. She’s still missing. It’s been hours now. She could be—” She stops suddenly.

I sit up straighter. “She could be what?” Vik averts her eyes. “Say it, Vik. She could be … what?”

Vik sighs. “She could be dead.”

“Don’t say that. Don’t you dare say that.”

“It’s something we have to consider,” she responds. “You know this.”

“What I do know is you’re not one to give up.”

“And I’m not giving up. I would die for Mila. You know this. I don’t want to fight with you, Sofiya.”

“I don’t want to fight with you either.”

Suddenly, all the fight leaves Vik, and she slumps next to me on the couch. “I just want to find her.”

I take Vik’s hand in my mind. My surly older sister, needing my help. “I want to find her, too. We have to believe she’ll be ok.”

We stare down at our entwined hands. It doesn’t seem right. That’s because we’re missing one other hand. Mila’s hand to complete our sisterly bond.

Without Mila, nothing in this life feels right.

DAMIEN

My club is packed tonight, which is just how I like it. The more people, the more money in my pocket. Life is just so much better with money. Having grown up with it when I was a boy, it was a stark contrast to go into hiding to avoid Mikhail after my father killed his son. I had no money then.

I worked my way back up, and I’m fucking proud of this place.

There’s one other reason I’m glad it’s a packed house. A man I know who deals with black market trafficking of guns is here. If anyone knows anything about the black market, it’s Sergio.

I invite him into my private VIP lounge, where Giselle is dancing again. “Have a seat.”

Sergio nods, looking around with a wicked grin on his face. The life of luxury is nothing new for him. He’s swimming in millions.

“How’s business?” I ask, taking a sip of my vodka. I needed something hard tonight, even though I’m not sure exactly why.

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