Page 2 of Deadly Vows

As the van slowed and finally stopped, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. “Listen to me,” I said, turning to the kids. “When they open the doors, I need you to hide behind me, okay? Don’t let go of my hands.”

Their nods were the only response I needed. The back doors swung open, and bright light flooded the van.

“Get out,” Vic ordered, waving the gun to emphasize his command.

I shielded Sasha and Maxim with my body as we climbed out. The sight that greeted us was grim. It was an abandoned house with the windows boarded up and the paint peeling. To make matters worse were in the middle of nowhere.

“Inside,” Vic barked, shoving us toward the house. His accomplices followed close behind, guns drawn.

The interior of the house was just as bleak as the exterior. Dust and decay filled the air, and the faint light seeping through the cracks created long shadows on the floor. Vic pushed us into a small room without furniture except for a rickety table and a few chairs.

“Sit,” he commanded.

I guided the kids to the chairs, positioning myself between them and our captors. Vic’s eyes were dark, filled with a twisted satisfaction. He enjoyed our fear and reveled in our helplessness.

“What do you want, Vic?” I asked.

He smirked, leaning against the wall. “You know exactly what I want, Talia. Aleksandr. He’s caused me enough trouble, and now he will pay.”

“You don’t need the kids,” I said, strengthening my voice. “Let them go. You have me.”

Vic’s laughter was cold, devoid of any humor. “Nice try, but no. They’re the perfect bait. Aleksandr will come for them, and when he does, I’ll be ready.”

Sasha choked on a sob, the sound of it tearing at my heart. Maxim reached over to hold her hand, his face set in a determined scowl. I had to get them out of here.

“Please,” I begged. “They’re just children. They don’t deserve this.”

Vic’s accomplices shifted uneasily, their grips on their guns tightening. But Vic was unmoved. “Save your breath, Talia. There’s no way out of this.”

He was wrong. There had to be a way. I couldn’t let the children become pawns in this deadly game. I had to find a way to protect them, myself, and my baby.

Chapter 2

Aleksandr

My fingers drummed against the polished mahogany desk, each tap marking the situation’s urgency. The air felt thick as molasses, which made it hard to breathe, let alone think. Across from me, Olga and Lev sat with the world’s weight on their shoulders. Olga’s eyes were red-rimmed, her hands trembling slightly as she twisted a handkerchief. A loose strand of grey hair fell out of her usually perfect bun. Lev looked pale, his jaw clenched so tightly I feared it might shatter.

“Tell me again,” I said, my voice low but with the authority of beingpakhan.“Tell me everything you remember about the park.”

Olga swallowed hard, her eyes darting to Lev for reassurance before she spoke. “We arrived at the park around eleven. The children were excited. Talia took them to the carousel while Lev, Josh, and I stayed nearby.” At the mention of Josh, a tear rolled down Olga’s plump cheek. “We didn’t see anyone suspicious, Mr. Avilov. Just families and children.”

Lev nodded in agreement. “It was a normal day. Nothing stood out. Josh and I kept watch, but there was nothing unusual. When I left to escort Olga to the restrooms, Josh was just a few feet away from Talia and the kids.”

I leaned back, frustration gnawing at my insides. “Did you see anyone near them before you left? Anyone at all?”

Olga shook her head, tears welled up in her dark blue eyes. “No one. Just the ride operator, other children, and their parents.”

Dimitri, who had been pacing the length of the room, stopped and turned to me. His coffee-colored eyes were sharp and calculating. “We need to call Denis. He might have more information.”

I nodded, signaling Anton to get Denis on the line. Anton, the head of my security, was a man of action and few words. He embodied reliability with his tall, athletic frame and perpetually calm demeanor. He moved swiftly, dialing Denis’s number and putting the call on speaker.

“Denis,” I said as soon as he picked up. “We need an update.”

Denis’s voice crackled through the phone. “We have something. Street cameras picked up a suspicious white vanleaving the park and heading upstate. We lost the trail a few miles from the city, but we’re working on it.”

“Upstate where?” I demanded, my patience wearing thin. My knuckles whitened as I gripped the edge of the desk.

“We’re not sure yet. The trail went cold. But we’re looking into all possible routes and locations.”

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