Page 56 of Perfect Stalker

A black SUV idles at the curb, its engine a low growl in the night. The back door swings open, and I’m shoved inside. As Stephen slides in next to me, I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the tinted window. The woman staring back at me looks nothing like the confident one I’d created earlier. She’s terrified.

The door slams shut, sealing me in darkness with my worst nightmare.

CHAPTER 21

IVAN

Ijolt awake, the taste of copper flooding my mouth. Sharp pain radiates from my ribs, and for a moment, I struggle to remember where I am. The crumpled metal of my Aston Martin comes into focus, and reality crashes back.

Alexei. The ambush. Jenny.

My phone pings, and I fumble for it, ignoring the protest of my battered body. The screen lights up with a message from Alexei, and my blood runs cold.

It’s a photo. Jenny, her eyes wide with fear but chin lifted defiantly, sits as far as she can from Stephen on what looks like a bench seat of a vehicle while still being in the frame. My stomach drops when I see a ruby necklace around her neck instead of the locket she should be wearing that would allow me to track her. That bastard holds the phone, a smug grin on his face. The sight of her in danger, with that piece of shit, ignites a fury in me that momentarily overpowers the pain.

“Fuck.” I spit out blood and force myself to move. Every breath is agony, but I push through it. I’ve endured worse. I’ve survived worse, and I’ll be damned if I let Alexei or Stephen hurt what’s mine.

I wrench open the door, stumbling out onto the pavement. The wreckage of my car is impressive—Alexei’s man did a thorough job, but he made one crucial mistake.

He left me alive.

Footsteps approach rapidly, and I tense, ready for another fight, but it’s Marcus who rounds the corner, flanked by several of our men. The relief on his face is quickly replaced by concern when he takes in my battered state. “Ivan,” he says, moving to support me. “We tracked your car when you didn’t show at the penthouse. What happened?”

I wave off his assistance, straightening despite the stabbing pain in my side. “Alexei sent his regards in the form of a white van. He has Jenny, and he’s working with that fucker, Stephen.”

Marcus’s expression darkens. “How do you want to handle this?”

“Mobilize everyone.” My voice is hard as steel. “I want every informant, every corrupt cop, and every rival syndicate we have leverage over working on this. Find them. Now.”

He starts to step away, and I say, “Wait. Check the tracker in her necklace.”

He pulls out his phone and calls up the program but frowns. “It’s unmoving at the penthouse.”

I curse, confirming she didn’t slip the locket in her bag or something to take with her. I make a mental note to chip every piece of jewelry she might ever wear in future, once she’s homesafe. “She’s not wearing it, but we’ll return to the penthouse command room to plan anyway. We have to find her.”

Marcus nods sharply, already pulling out his phone. “On it. What about you? You need medical attention.”

I glare at him. “What I need is to get Jenny back. The rest can wait.”

He looks like he wants to argue but knows better. Instead, he turns to bark orders at the men surrounding us. I tune out the chatter, focusing on the photo on my phone. Her fear and defiance makes my chest ache in a way that has nothing to do with my injuries.

“I’m coming for you,solnishko,” I murmur. “Hold on.” I pocket the phone and survey the scene. My men are already at work, combing the wreckage for any clues Alexei’s thug might have left behind. It’s a long shot, but I’ve built my empire on less.

“Ivan,” calls Marcus, jogging back over, “I’ve got our tech team tracing the signal from the text Alexei. If we’re lucky, we might be able to pinpoint their location.”

I nod, but I’m not optimistic. He surely used a burner phone. “Good. What about our street contacts?”

“Reaching out now. If Alexei or Stephen show their faces anywhere in this city, we’ll know.”

“Not good enough. I want eyes on every safehouse, every bolt-hole, and every fucking inch of territory Alexei might consider his. He’s arrogant, so he’ll want to keep Jenny close.”

He hesitates. “That’s a lot of ground to cover, especially if we’re trying to stay under the radar.”

I grab him by the collar, ignoring the flare of pain the movement causes. “I don’t give a fuck about staying under the radar. Use everyone. Call in every favor. I want Jenny found, and I want Alexei’s head on a fucking platter. Understood?”

He meets my gaze steadily. “Understood.”

I release him, taking a steadying breath. The adrenaline is starting to wear off, and the full extent of my injuries is making itself known, but I can’t afford to show weakness. Not now.

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