Page 83 of Dangerous Devotion

We stood there, two predators facing each other, each trying to read the other’s next move. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife.

After a long moment, Zotov reached into his jacket.

I tensed, ready for anything, but he simply pulled out a small rectangle of paper—a business card.

I expected it to be the same business card Matt had shown me a couple of days ago—the one with the symbol. But as I took it from his hand, I realized it was different. This wasn’t just another piece of the puzzle; it was something new entirely.

The card was stainless steel. The symbol was the same, but there was no name on it—just a number. “You’re too cool to write your name on your card?”

Zotov’s lips curled into a smirk. “Sadly, I have to go now. Butif you come to the conclusion that you want your precious wife back, you know where to call.” He nodded at the card.

My fingers itched to lash out at this man who dared to use Jemma as a bargaining chip, to slit his throat with the piece of metal—wouldn’t that be satisfying?

Instead, I forced myself to remain still, my voice low and dangerous. “And what makes you think I’ll just let you walk out of here?”

His gaze met mine, cold amusement dancing in the depths of his dark eyes. “Because I have your sisters and your girl, Salvini. And I just watched you with your father, ready to sacrifice everything for her.”

The truth of his words hit me like a physical blow. I had shown my hand, revealed just how far I was willing to go for Jemma. And now that Zotov thought he held all the cards, I was paying for it. Had my father been right? Was love making me weak?

Nope. Because Hawk and the men were on their way. I just needed Zotov to believe he was still on top.

I stood there, frozen in place, and watched as Zotov turned to leave. Every instinct screamed at me to stop him, to make him pay for what he’d done. But the image of Jemma in that stark, white room flashed through my mind, and I knew I couldn’t risk her safety or the time Hawk needed to get to them.

As Zotov reached the door, he glanced back at me, his smirk widening. “I’ve been wondering what they see in you,” he paused. “Now I know.” He nodded at the card in my hand. “Whenever you’re ready.”

I barely held myself back, my blood boiling with rage. Every fiber of my being screamed to lunge at him, to make him pay.

But I couldn’t. Not yet.

But as soon as I had them back, that cocky bastard wouldn’t know what hit him.

If he wanted me as his enemy, so be it. I never backed down from a fight. But destroying him would be my absolute pleasure.

As soon as Zotov was out of earshot, I turned to Hero. “Have him followed,” I growled. “I want to know every step. Do not lose sight of that bastard.”

Hero nodded, his eyes hard with understanding. He handed me back my phone and slipped out after Zotov.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. Then, without wasting another second, I pulled out my phone and headed for the stairs leading to the roof and the helipad.

My footsteps echoed in the stairwell as I took the steps two at a time, my mind already racing ahead to what needed to be done. The call connected. “There’s a body in my father’s office. Make sure to erase Hero and me from the footage; we were never here,” I said.

“Will do,” Marco Bianchi said without hesitation. “Anything else?”

A thought sparked in my mind, and I grinned. “Let’s make sure to report his death and give them the footage of Zotov.”

I ended the call as I burst onto the rooftop, the wind whipping around me, then I dialed Hawk. “Talk to me,” I barked as soon as he picked up.

“We’ve got the coordinates,” Hawk’s voice came through, clear and determined. “Sending them over now.”

I bolted across the roof and climbed into the waiting helicopter. I started the pre-flight checks with a grim smile playing on my lips.

Zotov thought he had me cornered, thought he held all the cards. But he’d made a crucial mistake—he’d underestimated us.

A surge of adrenaline zapped through me as my phone buzzed with the incoming data. I put in the coordinates, then called Hawk back. “I’ll be there in fifteen.”

“Good,” Hawk said. “Find a rendezvous point, and let’s link up.”

“Got it; see you in a bit.” I ended the call, put on my headset, and focused on what I needed to do.

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