Page 8 of Deadly Vows

I brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “Yes, he will. He’s on his way right now.”

As we waited, I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me. We had made it out. We were safe. And soon, Aleksandr would be here. The thought of seeing him again, of feeling his strong arms around me, brought a sense of comfort I hadn’t felt in days.

Carol and Richard stayed close, their presence a comforting reminder of the kindness that still existed in the world. Richard spoke softly to Maxim, distracting him with stories of his own childhood. At the same time, Carol kept a watchful eye on the door, ready to alert us when Aleksandr arrived.

The truck stop bustled around us, truckers and travelers moving in and out, oblivious to the drama that had unfolded. My hand rested protectively on my growing belly, the life inside me a reminder of the future I was fighting for.

When the truck stop’s door finally swung open, I saw Aleksandr stride in, his eyes scanning the room frantically until they landed on us. I felt a sob of relief escape my lips.

He rushed over, gathering Sasha and Maxim into his arms. His eyes were filled with relief and fury. “Thank God,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “Thank God you’re safe.”

The children clung to him, their bodies shaking with relief. His gaze softened when he looked at me, and he pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Thank you,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for keeping them safe.”

I buried my face in his chest as he stroked my hair. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

“I’m okay,” I assured him. “I just want to go home.”

Hooking his finger under my chin, he lifted my eyes to his. “Let’s go home,” he said softly, kissing me gently.

Aleksandr thanked Richard and Carol for helping us and then escorted us to the vehicles in the parking lot. After settling the children into the backseat of the SUV, he pulled me to the side. “Can you describe the place where Vic was holding you?” he asked, keeping his voice low.

“Yes,” I answered, narrowing my eyes suspiciously. I told him what the house looked like and where it was located.

“Thank you,kiska,“ he whispered, kissing my forehead. “Go home with the children. I’ll be there soon.”

“No, don’t go,” I begged, tugging on his arm.

“Everything will be alright. Lev and Nikolai will drive you home. You’re safe now,” he assured. “And I’m going to make sure it stays that way.”

Without saying anything else, he got into the car with Anton, Dimitri, and two other vors. I watched as they drove away, a chill creeping up the back of my neck.

“Talia, get in,” Nikolai urged, holding the back passenger door open. “Let’s get the children home.”

“Yes,” I agreed, wrapping my arms around myself. I took one last look at the road, then climbed into the SUV next to the children. “Let’s go home,” I said, forcing a smile for their benefit. Leaning my head back, I sent silent prayers to heaven for Aleksandr to return safely. Then I closed my eyes.

Chapter 5

Aleksandr

The engine roared beneath us as we hurtled through the night. My grip on my gun was iron-tight with the fury coursing through my veins. Talia and the children were safe now, but the mere thought of them in Vic’s clutches was enough to make my vision blur with rage. Beside me, Dimitri sat in tense silence, the air heavy with the promise of violence. Behind us, Anton and two more of my vors, Sergei and Ivan, mirrored our grim determination. We were a convoy of vengeance, heading straight into the heart of darkness.

The abandoned house loomed ahead, a decrepit monument to the madness that had nearly cost me everything. As we approached, I could feel the blood pounding in my ears, arelentless drumbeat of wrath. This place would be Vic’s tomb; I would see to that personally.

As we turned off the main road, the gravel crunched under the tires, a gritty prelude to the storm we were about to unleash. We disembarked in a flurry of motion, weapons drawn, senses on high alert. I curtly nodded to Dimitri, who moved forward to breach the door. The wood splintered under the force, and the door swung open with a bang.

Inside, our enemies hid in the shadows. We moved with lethal precision, our training and resolve turning the tide swiftly in our favor. Anton was a blur of motion beside me as he dispatched one of Vic’s men with cold efficiency. Sergei and Ivan flanked the building, cutting off any chance of escape.

My focus was singular: find Vic. He was the architect of this nightmare, and I intended to make him pay. Room by room, we cleared the house, but with the last of Vic’s men fallen, my frustration grew. Vic was nowhere to be found. I stood in the center of the wreckage, chest heaving, rage barely contained. The bastard had slipped through my fingers…again.

Anton approached, his face a mask of concern. “Pakhan, we’ve cleared the entire house. There’s no sign of him.”

I clenched my fists, the veins in my arms standing out like cords. “He’s a coward,” I spat. “He’s always one step ahead, hiding in the shadows like the vermin he is.”

Dimitri checked his phone, his brow furrowing. “No new intel from our sources. It’s like he vanished.”

I exhaled sharply, trying to rein in the torrent of emotions. “He can’t hide forever. I’ll find him, and when I do, I’ll cut out his heart and dance on his grave.”

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