Page 24 of Married to the Bratva

“We lose everything,” Victor finishes for him. “I bet that was Federico’s plan all along. Either he gets the money or no one does. Either way, he wins. Hell, he might have killed Evan already just to make sure it’s locked up tight.”

Nikolai leans forward, his elbows resting on the table. “If that’s true, why didn’t he just get him to unlock it and sweep it into his own account?”

I fold my arms over my chest. “My theory is Evan planned to take the lot for himself when the fuss died down. Only then Sophie got involved with me and that fucked with all his plans. So he locked it to save his ass and now he’s got a ticking clock same as us. If he’s alive, I bet he’s working on it right now.”

Victor punches the desk. “So find him. Drag him back here before Federico uses him to unlock that thing.”

“Evan’s not the priority,” I say, realizing fate sure wants me to see her again. “Sophie’s the only one who can get in there in time.”

Victor lets out a short, bitter laugh. “The girl. You’re putting an awful lot of faith in someone who ran from your bed the first chance she got.”

“Evan used her to build the system. She did the bulk of the work. I bet she can get into it given the right motivation.”

Victor studies me for a long moment, his sharp eyes narrowing. “And what happens when Federico figures that out? You think he won’t send his people after her?”

The jab hits harder than it should. How did I not work that out for myself? I blinded myself, that’s how. So desperate not to have her again that I ignored the risks she’s running being out in the open. I don’t let it show. Instead, I turn my attention to Nikolai. “How likely is it that Federico knows about her?”

“If he doesn’t already, he will soon,” Nikolai replies. “We’ve got a mole, right? Got to be telling him everything. Now the timer’s visible, he knows how long he’s got before the money’s gone for good. If he wants it, or wants to make sure we don’t get it, he’ll try to grab Evan or Sophie. No offense, Dimitri, but you’re no fucking good at this stuff.”

“Ouch,” Dimitri replies. “Remind me not to send you a Christmas card.”

“We need to move,” I say, rising to my feet. “We need to bring Sophie in.”

Victor shakes his head, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. “What happens if she refuses to help us?”

“She won’t have a choice,” I say firmly.

Victor doesn’t look convinced, but he doesn’t argue. Instead, he leans back, crossing his arms as he watches me stride toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Nikolai asks as I pull it open.

I give him a cold smile. “To kidnap Sophie Hale.”

18

SOPHIE

Isit hunched over my laptop in my little corner, staring at a wall of code. My coffee sits untouched beside me, cold and forgotten.

Every time my phone buzzes, I tense, my heart leaping into my throat. Nothing from Maxim. Never from him.

Maxim.

His name creeps into my thoughts like a thief, stealing focus and leaving a mess behind. It’s infuriating. The way he stormed into my life, tearing apart the fragile normalcy I thought I had.

I shake my head, forcing the thoughts away. I don’t need a murdering criminal in my life. I need to focus on work. Not him.

So why do I think he’s watching me all the damned time?

I glance up, and that’s when I see him.

At first, I think I’m imagining it. Then I notice everyone else is staring at him as he strides through the office.

He moves through the desks like he owns the place, his sharp suit somehow making him stand out even more among the tech-startup casual of everyone else. He doesn’t pause, doesn’t ask for directions, doesn’t care that he’s turning heads.

His eyes land on me.

My stomach flips as he locks on to me with that intense, unwavering gaze. For a moment, the air feels thinner, and I have to remind myself to breathe.

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