Page 3 of Deadly Vows

I clenched my fists, anger simmering just below the surface. “Keep working with Anton. I want every possible lead.”

Denis agreed, and I ended the call, returning my attention to the room. “Anton, coordinate with Denis. I want updates every hour.”

Anton nodded, already moving to his next task. I had to focus. I couldn’t let my emotions cloud my judgment.

“Olga, Lev,” I said, my voice softer but no less firm. “You’re sure there’s nothing else? No detail too small.”

Olga shook her head, tears streaming down her weary face now. “I’m sorry, Mr. Avilov. I wish I could remember more.”

Lev placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We’ll keep thinking,pakhan. If we remember anything, we’ll tell you right away.”

I dismissed them with a nod, watching as they left the room. The door closed behind them with a heavy thud, leaving me with Dimitri and my thoughts.

Dimitri approached, concern etched on his face. “What’s our next move?”

I rubbed my temples, the weight of the situation threatening to suffocate me. “We need more information. I’mgoing to call Tommy Lansky. He might have an idea where Vic took them.”

Dimitri nodded. “I’ll leave you to it.” He hesitated, then added, “We’ll find them,brat. We always do.”

As he exited the room, I picked up the phone and dialed Tommy’s number. It rang a few times before he answered, his voice gruff and impatient.

“Aleksandr,” he said. “What do you need?”

“Vic has Talia and my niece and nephew,” I replied, cutting straight to the point. “I need to know where he might have taken them. I have information that it is somewhere upstate.”

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a low curse. “That son of a bitch. He crossed the line. I’ll ask my men. Give me some time.”

“Hurry,” I urged. “Every minute counts.”

“If I find him first, I’ll make sure he doesn’t live to see another day,” Tommy promised and hung up. I placed the phone down, the room’s silence closing in around me. My thoughts drifted to Talia and the children. Sasha and Maxim, their innocent faces filled with joy and laughter, were now in the hands of a madman. And Talia… My feelings for her and my unborn child were complicated, a tangled web of love, desire, and something deeper, something primal.

I stood and walked to the window, staring at the sprawling estate. The gardens, usually a source of tranquility, offered no peace today. My mind raced with scenarios, each more dire than the last. I couldn’t lose them. Iwouldn’t.

Hours passed in a blur of phone calls and dead ends. Anton and Denis worked tirelessly, chasing every lead, no matter how small. But the trail remained cold. My frustration grew with each passing minute, the helplessness gnawing at my insides.

Finally, as the sun slipped below the horizon, my phone rang. It was Tommy.

“Aleksandr,” he said, his voice tense. “I’ve got something. One of my men heard chatter about a cabin Vic owns upstate. It’s a long shot, but it’s our best lead.”

I grabbed a pen and scribbled down the details. “Thank you, Tommy. I owe you.”

“Just find them,” he replied, his voice softer. “And make Vic pay.”

I ended the call and immediately dialed Anton. “We have a lead. A cabin upstate. Get a team ready. We leave now.”

Anton didn’t need more instructions. Within minutes, my vors were assembled and ready to move. I grabbed my coat, my mind set on one thing, bringing Talia and the children home safely.

The drive was long and tense, the silence in the car heavy with anticipation. My thoughts kept drifting to Talia, her smile, her laugh. The way she looked at me, with love and defiance. I couldn’t bear the thought of her in Vic’s hands.

As we neared the location, Dimitri spoke up. “We should approach quietly. No need to alert them.”

I nodded, my focus narrowing to a single point. “Let’s go.”

We moved through the trees, the cabin coming into view. It was small and isolated, the perfect place to hide. My heart pounded as we approached.

Anton signaled for us to spread out, surrounding the cabin. I moved to the front, my gun drawn, every sense on high alert. With a nod from Anton, we moved in.

The door burst open under the force of my kick, and we stormed inside. The cabin was deserted, with nothing but dust and discarded furniture.

---