Page 27 of Kidnapped By the Bratva

Kace’s expression hardens, but there’s a flicker of something in his eyes—realization. He knows what’s coming, and yet he doesn’t want to believe it. Doesn’t want to face it.

“I heard about Sophia. Such a shame,” I say, letting the name hang in the air between us, watching as his face twists with a mix of shock and fury. His hand twitches, and for a second, I think he might actually lunge at me. The thought amuses me. He’s powerless here, and he knows it.

“You… you have her,” Kace says through gritted teeth, his voice low and dangerous.

I shrug, my grin widening. “Now, why would I do that?”

His fury boils over. “You son of a—”

Before he can finish, I raise a hand, cutting him off sharply. “Ah, ah, ah,” I warn, my voice cold. “If you want her alive, then shut up and listen.”

Kace freezes, his body rigid, but I can see the fear creeping in behind his anger. He knows I’m not bluffing. The tension in his face tightens as he stares at me, clearly fighting to control himself. He’s scared—scared for Sophia, scared for his own weakness.

“Now,” I continue, keeping my voice low and calm, “you’re going to gather a certain amount of money. Enough to buy her freedom. You get that money, and we’ll talk. It’s simple.” I glance around, keeping my smile in place. “In exchange for Sophia, of course.”

Kace’s hands tremble, the glass in his grip shaking slightly. He swallows hard, his face pale as he struggles to keep control. “How much?”

I lean closer, my grin never faltering. “Ten million.”

His eyes widen slightly. “Ten million? That’s—”

“Not up for negotiation,” I interrupt. “You get the money, or you never see her again. Let me be clear, Preston—if you even think about trying something stupid, she’ll pay the price for it.”

I let that sink in, watching as Kace processes the words, his anger and desperation warring with each other. For a moment, he seems like he might explode, but then he swallows it down, his face tightening with barely concealed rage.

“I’ll get the money,” he finally says, his voice shaking slightly. “Just don’t hurt her. Please. I’ll do whatever you want, just… don’t hurt her.”

I chuckle softly, enjoying his desperation. It’s almost too easy. “She’s fine… for now. It all depends on you, Kace. How much you value your little girl.”

His eyes flash with anger, but he’s too scared to act on it. He knows he can’t afford to lose control right now.

“Why are you doing this?” he demands, his voice a mix of anger and confusion. “What do you want from me?”

I tilt my head, pretending to think about it for a moment. “Revenge,” I say finally, letting the word roll off my tongue withsatisfaction. “This is about more than just money, Preston. You should know that by now.”

His face tightens, and I can see the question forming on his lips, but I don’t give him the chance to ask it. I’ve said enough for now.

“Ten million,” I repeat, my voice low and firm. “I’ll be in touch.”

Without waiting for a response, I turn and walk away, leaving him standing there, stunned and seething. The weight of what just happened hangs in the air, and I can feel his eyes burning into my back as I make my way through the crowd. The power shift is palpable, and I relish it.

Artem falls into step beside me, his expression unreadable as he glances over at Kace, who remains frozen by the corner, his face pale as a ghost.

“What did you tell him?” Artem asks, his tone casual.

I smirk. “Just set a little trap for him. He’ll take the bait.”

“If he doesn’t?”

“Hewill,” I reply confidently, my mind already spinning with the next steps. “He’ll do whatever it takes to get her back. He has no choice.”

Artem nods, but there’s a glint of amusement in his eyes. “You really think he’ll get the money?”

“He’ll try,” I say, my grin widening. “Even if he does… it won’t save him. It’s not about the money, Artem. It never was.”

Artem chuckles softly, shaking his head. “You’re playing with fire, Maxim.”

I glance at him, my smile darkening. “I’m not playing. I’m burning everything down.”

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