Page 65 of Trapping His Assassin

Without another word, he gestured for me to get in, and I complied, sliding into the back seat of the car. The interior was luxurious, but I scarcely registered it as adrenaline coursed through my veins.

As the car pulled away from the curb, Don Mateo began to explain the plan. “We will be crossing the border into Mexico,” he said, his tone matter-of-fact. “From there, you will board a cargo ship to your destination. No one from the Bratva will suspect a thing.”

I nodded, grateful for his expertise in navigating the underworld. But still, doubts nagged at the back of my mind. What if Roman found out? What if he tried to stop me?

Don Mateo seemed to sense my unease, for he tried to reassure me with his eyes through the rearview mirror. “Do not worry, Valentina,” he said softly. “I will make sure you reach your destination safely. No one will stand in your way.”

His words were comforting, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of impending danger. I understood the journey ahead would be dangerous, but I also recognized I had no option but to persevere until the end.

And so, as the car sped towards the border, I braced myself for whatever lay ahead, determined to see my mission of taking down Headmaster Mikhail on my own through to the very end, no matter the cost.

He had to go down, once and for all.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Roman

My little assassin had disappeared, and I was determined to find her. She may have believed she could outmaneuver me, but I observed her every move. The anticipation of how she would react was exhilarating. I knew she would try to escape, and that was exactly what I wanted her to do.

Ready. Wet. Waiting for me to fill her up.

I’d obsessed over her, and this would be the final chase. There would be no running after this. Sloane hadn’t run from Alexie. Not in truth. She’d wanted what he gave her.

Meeting my wife was when I finally understood the depth of love in our family. She came into my life, and without even glancing at me, she became the missing piece of my soul. Petrovs never let go once we love someone. Alexie wasn’t skilled at loving women until he met Sloane.

Now, it was my turn, and though I should kill her for trying to end me, I wouldn’t because of what she was to me.

My kryptonite.

I didn’t even check the tracker yet. She was still in the States. There was no way she could get away from me.

As the hours ticked by and I still couldn’t find her trail, it became clear that someone had helped her escape from me.

The fury had me sweeping into my Uncle Benedikt’s room while he dressed.

I angrily pushed the door open, scanning the area for any signs of her. “Where is she?” I signed, my hands a flurry of motions from my rage.

“Who? My niece ran away from you again?” Benedikt chuckled. His eye socket was still covered as he healed.

I signed, slapping my hands against one another for emphasis. “She’s not your niece, she’s my wife, and I can’t catch her trail.” I ran an agitated hand through my hair.

“Then don’t get cocky now, track your woman,” Benedikt said.

I took out my phone and typed.

Me: I wanted the chase to be more exciting, but if I’m honest, I’m worried.

It wasn’t until I said it ‘out loud’ that it hit me I hadn’t found her yet.

Me: My gut is telling me that she had help, since there isn’t a trace or hit from any of her aliases.

Benedikt stumbled toward me.

His hand hit my arm a few times until he reached around and patted my back. “That’s why you put a tracker inside of her. I mean, for fuck’s sake Roman, she can’t even remove the thing without paralyzing herself.”

I grinned at his reassurance and pulled up the app on my phone, nodding my head.

Me: You’re right. I shouldn’t have been so stubborn to begin with. It doesn’t matter how I win, as long as she’s underneath me--

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