Page 132 of Bound By Revenge

Vladmir clears his throat, shifting in his seat. “She left a few hours ago, Nikolai. She said she had errands to run.”

“Did she now?”

He nods, his discomfort growing by the second. “She said you gave her permission to go out on her own.”

I step closer. “And did that sound like something I’d allow? With McGuire still out there?”

His throat bobs as he swallows hard. “Uh… I didn’t think?—”

I cut him off with a harsh laugh. “Oh, we can agree on that. You didn’t think. Did she at least tell you where she was going?”

He shakes his head, and I don’t waste another second on him. Turning on my heel, I curse under my breath as I leave, slamming the door behind me.

This is a waste of time. If I stay any longer, I’ll lose what’s left of my temper. Especially with the way Vladmir keeps looking atme—like I’m a fool being played by a woman who knows exactly what she’s doing.

She promised. Just a few hours ago, she stood right in front of me and said she’d stay in the penthouse until I dealt with McGuire. But now she’s gone, and I have no idea where she is.

She’s not safe out there, not with McGuire still breathing. There’s nothing he’d love more than to hurt her to get to me.

If there was something so important she had to leave, why didn’t she tell me? I would’ve handled it for her. Or at the very least, I would’ve gone with her. But no—she just had to go by herself.

Dmitri’s voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts, breathless and excited. “There you are. You’re not going to believe what I’ve got for you.”

I spin around, hope flaring for a brief, desperate second. Could it be? Did he run into Kat? Did he bring her back?

But no. He’s alone, and my heart sinks.

The grin slips from his face as he takes one look at mine. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Kat’s gone,” I bite out, the words bitter on my tongue. “She left hours ago and hasn’t come back. I have no idea where she is.”

His brow furrows, but he tries to sound reassuring. “Maybe she just needed some air. You know how she is. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

I shake my head, jaw tight. “If that’s all it was, why wouldn’t she tell me? She knows how complicated things are right now.”

“Well, maybe she forgot to mention it,” he says with a shrug. “You were working, right? She probably didn’t want to interrupt you. I’m sure she’ll turn up any minute.”

His words do little to ease the hot, festering rage twisting in my gut. “I don’t buy it. She knew exactly what she was doingwhen she left without a word. She went behind my back, Dmitri. On purpose.”

Dmitri sighs, but he keeps his tone light, like he’s trying to calm a wild animal. “Nik, she probably just needed a little space. You know how she is—she’s not exactly the type to sit still. I’ll bet anything that’s what this is. She’ll be back soon. Safe and sound

“If McGuire gets his hands on her—” My voice catches, the words jagged in my throat. “If something happens to her, Dmitri, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“Nothing’s going to happen to her,” Dmitri says, his tone firm but edged with a hint of exasperation. “She’s tough, Nik. Smart. I’m sure she’s fine.” He hesitates, then adds, “Listen, I’ve got some good news. It might help take your mind off this.”

I scowl. “Not now, Dmitri. I’m not in the mood.”

“You will be,” he says, maddeningly confident, “when you hear who I ran into just a few blocks from here. Go ahead, guess.”

He pauses, letting the silence hang, milking it for all it’s worth.

I glare at him, unblinking. “I sincerely hope for your sake that’s rhetorical and you’re not actually expecting me to guess.”

He sighs, but his smirk doesn’t falter. “Connor. I caught him scouting us.”

That gets my attention. It cuts through the noise in my head like a blade.

“I wasn’t sure if I should bring him back,” Dmitri continues, “but you weren’t picking up your phone, and I figured you’d want to handle this yourself.”

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