Page 113 of Savage Reign

After a tense stretch, Pavel straightens. “Got it. I’ve managed to pull up the last location where the monitor was active. It might not be current, but it’s something.”

Fuck. Finally, a break.

“What’s the location?” I demand, stepping up to the monitor.

Pavel types quickly, and a map fills the screen. The area is an industrial zone on the edge of the port. Rusted warehouses and forgotten streets dot the grid.

“That place is a fucking wasteland. No surveillance, no foot traffic. But I know it. It’s not far from an abandoned lot where Igor and I used to meet.” My hands clench at my sides. “We can be there in under an hour.”

“Do you want to use our chopper?” Roman offers.

I shake my head. “It’ll be too loud, especially in an area like that. We need to be stealthy.”

Eva is already halfway to the door. “I’ll grab the tactical gear and prepare our men. Meet outside in five.”

Roman claps me on the back. “You lead this. Whatever you need, my men and I will provide support.”

It’s not a full-on white flag, but it’s as close as I’m going to get. “Appreciate it.”

Before we can move out, my phone vibrates in my pocket. A second later, Roman’s phone chimes, too.

We both freeze, exchanging a wary glance. My stomach tightens as I check the screen—a video message from an unknown number.

Roman swipes to open it, his expression tense. “What the fuck is this?”

I follow suit, dread curling in my gut. I hold my phone up so Roman can see. “Did you get the same video?”

He gives me a tight nod. The room falls silent as the video begins to play.

CHAPTER

FORTY-FIVE

NIKOLAI

My stomach churnswhen I see the opening frame. It’s my worst nightmare come true. Sofiya is tied to a chair, her wrists bound behind her. Her head is tilted back at an unnatural angle, Igor’s hand twisted cruelly in her hair.

“Good evening, gentlemen.” Igor’s voice drips with mockery. He grins into the camera, a knife pressed against Sofiya’s throat. She flinches, tears glistening in her eyes, but otherwise remains perfectly still. The rage inside me burns white-hot, but I can’t tear my eyes from the screen. Sofiya looks terrified, but she’s alive.

Vadim leans over my shoulder. “Fuck,” he mutters under his breath.

There’s no sign of Emil, but he could be behind the camera. That he might stand there, watching Igor do this to Sofiya and doing nothing, makes my blood boil.

“You left your precious little pawn unprotected, and now, she’s mine. I thought you were smarter than this, Nikolai. I warned you about letting a woman make you weak, but you didn’t listen, did you? You fell in love, and now you’ll pay the price, and so will your pretty little dancer.”

He gives a sharp tug to her hair as if to make his point. Beside me, Roman growls low in his throat.

Igor’s voice darkens. “If you want to see Sofiya alive again, you’ll play by my rules.” Igor’s smirk widens as he presses the knife closer to Sofiya’s neck. She squeezes her eyes shut, trying to block him out, and every protective instinct in me roars to life. Every muscle in my body locks up, my heart pounding so hard I swear it might crack my ribs.

“Nikolai, you have 24 hours to sign over the casino deal and every asset tied to it. Roman, you’ll give me and my new partners free rein in Moscow. Open borders, full access, no interference. And to ensure the Syndicate is sufficiently weakened, you’ll also transfer 100 million dollars to an off-shore account.

“And in case you’re under the illusion you can stop me, let me introduce my new partners: the Black Company. Roman, I’m sure that name rings a bell. You thought you erased them from the map. I’m here to tell you they’ve rebuilt and are out for revenge.”

Roman’s face darkens. The Black Company was a powerful Chinese triad that the Syndicate took down years ago. It sounds like they’ve risen from the ashes.

Igor’s attention shifts back to Sofiya, and my blood turns to fire as he drags the flat of the knife down her cheek. “Oh, Nikolai. If only you listened to me when I warned you. Now Sofiya’s mine, and trust me, the next 24 hours will be unforgettable—for both of us.” She swallows hard, her throat working overtime. “If I get what I want, I’ll drop her off at the old dockyards tomorrow at midnight. If not, well, I’ve already got buyers lined up who are very interested in her… talents.”

The video ends, the screen goes black, and it feels like every cell in my body is vibrating, my blood roaring in my ears. The thought of Sofiya in Igor’s hands, of what he’s threatened to do, has me teetering on the edge of control.

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