Page 7 of Kidnapped By the Bratva

Henry shifts in his seat, clearly uncomfortable under the weight of my stare. “Kace rented the car from me. He paid extra to keep the rental quiet, even told me not to register it under his name in the official records. I thought it was strange at the time, but… well, I didn’t ask questions. People like him… you don’t get involved.”

My fingers tighten around the edge of the desk, the wood creaking under the pressure. Everything clicks into place, and the pieces I’ve been chasing for months finally form a clearpicture. Kace wasn’t just involved—he orchestrated this. The extra money, the secrecy, the timeline… it all fits.

Henry looks at me, his eyes wide, waiting for my response. “That’s all I know,” he adds quickly. “You have to understand, I’m risking my life telling you this.”

I stand, towering over him as the rage simmers just beneath the surface. I want to put my fist through the wall, but I hold it back. Kace. Thatbastard.

“Don’t worry, Henry,” I say slowly, my voice dark and dangerous. “You’ll get your money.”

I slide the flash drive into my pocket and walk around the desk, stopping just beside him. He flinches slightly as I lean in close, my voice low. “If you’re lying to me, or if this leads nowhere….”

He gulps, his whole body tense. “I’m not. I swear.”

I straighten up, signaling to Artem with a nod. “Get him out of here. He’s done.”

Artem grabs Henry by the arm, pulling him up from his chair. As they leave, I’m left alone in the office, the weight of the revelation settling over me. Kace Preston. The man who had a hand in my father’s murder is closer than ever, and this time, I have proof.

The storm inside me grows, the desire for revenge fueling every thought.

Kace Preston will pay for this.

I lean back in my chair, my mind racing as I stare at the photograph of the car, the proof of Kace Preston’s betrayal. We’ve always had our issues with the American Mafia, but this? This is different. He crossed a line when he took my father’s life.There’s no going back from that. The weight of it presses down on me, the rage bubbling under the surface like a storm waiting to break.

Revenge can’t come suddenly. Dominik was right. Charging in, guns blazing, would only give Kace the upper hand. He’s powerful, and he’ll see it coming if I make a reckless move. No, I need to be smarter than that. I need to strike when he least expects it—when it will hurt the most.

I take a deep breath, the sound harsh in the quiet of the office. My grip tightens on the pen in my hand without realizing it, and it snaps under the pressure, the ink bleeding onto my palm. The small break in my focus draws me back, and I curse under my breath, tossing the broken pieces aside.

Before I can wipe the ink from my hand, my phone buzzes on the desk. I glance at the screen. Ivan.

I answer immediately, “Ivan.”

“Maxim.” Ivan’s voice is steady, calm, as always. “You spoke with Henry?”

“Yes,” I reply, leaning forward. “He brought me the proof we needed. Kace rented the car used in my father’s murder. Four months ago. Paid extra to keep it off the books.”

There’s a pause on the other end, and I can almost hear Ivan’s mind working through the information. “That son of a bitch,” he finally says, his voice dark with disgust. “So it was him.”

I nod, though he can’t see me. “It was. This isn’t something we can act on right away. I need to be careful, Ivan. We both know Kace isn’t stupid. If we move too soon, he’ll see it coming. We need to hit him where it hurts—when he’s vulnerable.”

Ivan’s silence stretches for a moment before he speaks again. “You’re right. Dominik will want us to play this strategically. Kace is too powerful in New York. The American Mafia is already on edge, and if we make the wrong move, it could start a war we’re not ready for.”

I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. I’ve never been good at waiting. Patience isn’t my strength. But this… this isn’t just about revenge. It’s about doing it right. Ensuring that Kace’s downfall isn’t just brutal—it’s permanent.

“I know,” I say quietly. “It’s hard to sit here knowing he’s out there, living his life while my father’s in the ground.”

Ivan’s voice softens, the sharp edge of his words easing slightly. “We’ll get him, Maxim. I swear it. We’ll do it smart. We’ll gather the intel, build our strategy, and when the time comes, Kace won’t see it coming.”

The promise in Ivan’s words helps, but it doesn’t extinguish the fire burning inside me. I can still see Kace’s face in my mind, smug and untouched by the chaos he’s created. The idea of letting him go about his business, thinking he’s safe, makes my blood boil.

“I want him to suffer, Ivan,” I admit, my voice low and filled with barely contained fury. “Not just for my father, but for all the shit he’s done over the years. The way he toys with people, uses them, and discards them when they’re no longer useful. He doesn’t get to walk away from this.”

“None of them do,” Ivan replies, his tone darker now. “We’ll make sure of that.”

I close my eyes for a moment, trying to calm the storm inside me. “I’ll keep working on it from here. See if I can dig upmore connections to Kace. If there’s anything we can use against him, I’ll find it.”

“Good,” Ivan says. “Keep me updated. In the meantime, I’ll talk to Dominik, make sure we’re all on the same page.”

I grip the phone tighter, the need for action clawing at me. “I’ll be in touch.”

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