Page 7 of Claim

“There!” With a slam, he pauses the feed.

My lungs stop working, trapping the air in them as I recognize what I’m seeing. “Is that…?” I don’t want to put a name to the scene that I’m watching. But the curly dark hair framing her face is unmistakable.

Enzo closes the top and nods grimly. “Door cam caught the motion and triggered me. But this is the only clear shot we got. Looks like it was a break in and grab. They knew right where they were going.”

My fist bounces off the oak of my desk. “We need to get her back. What do you know about who took her?”

He sighs, pulling his computer to rest under his arm. “The worst possible option. Ivan.”

“Fuck.” It comes out in a long exhale.

Of course it was.

“I promised her father, and I failed. I’ve done my best to keep an eye on Jax, but…” My knuckles crack when I squeeze my fingers tightly.

I just can’t keep the people closest to me safe.

Niki, Lara, and now even Alexei have all been captured under my watch.

We haven’t found any sign of him for weeks.

My sister is a wreck.

It’s like as soon as I get one back, another one disappears.

And I know why.

That monster of a father of mine.

I’m sick and tired of his bullshit.

The low buzz in my pocket is the last thing I need right now.

Begrudgingly, I pull my phone out and press it to my ear.

Unknown number. Great.

“Speak.”

“Mr. Volkov. My name is Drago. I think I have something you may be interested in.” A deep voice with a heavy Russian accent croons over the speaker.

“I don’t have time for games. What do you want?” I growl into my cell.

I’ve been told my balaclava can muffle my words, so I make sure to push the volume so there’s no issue understanding me.

“I can get your friend, Alexei, back.” He lets out a soft laugh. “I like dealing with a man who gets to the point. I know where he is. The question is, how badly do you want him?”

Hitting the speaker button, I toss the device where Enzo’s laptop was just resting, and gesture for him to listen.

“How do I know you have Alexei?” I know he’s been missing for weeks, it will take more than some stranger to get me excited.

“Find out the prisoner list for Kamen Gulag.” There’s a click and the line goes dead.

I glance at Enzo, but he’s already pulling out his laptop again.

After the silent room being filled with only the noise of his keystrokes, his olive skin goes pale. “He’s there. But, look who else is.” His finger shakes as he holds his manicured nail beneath a name I thought long gone.

Vanyos Pushkrov. The Butcher of Buresk.

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