Page 87 of Forbidden Vows

He nods once as we reach the second floor and follow the nurse’s instructions to Room 201. We find Ian resting, his eyes closed. He looks rough but turns his head and opens his eyes when weenter.

“You look like hell,” Ian remarks upon seeing me.

He’s right. I’m not at my best. I haven’t slept or shaved in almost two days, and my clothes are wrinkled. I’m in a constant fight mode with one objective on my mind, and that’s to get my wife back, alive and unharmed.

“Pot, meet kettle,” Andrei chuckles dryly, then moves around Ian’s bed and cordially shakes his hand.

He’s pale, dark circles under his eyes. The loss of blood did more damage to his body than the actual bullets, from what his doctor told us. But he will pull through, and for that, I’m grateful. Ian has been a pillar of our family for so long, I could never replace him.

“It’s a good thing you came to when the paramedics showed up,” I tell him. “A passerby saw you on the floor, maybe a few minutes after you went down. They heard tires screeching in the back alley, but they didn’t see the car or the driver.”

“I told the paramedic to bring me to this location. I figured you’d want me here. Hell, I’d want me here,” Ian says, still groggy from the anesthesia. “Nothing beats a private hospital, especially in my condition. I told myself that if I’m to die, I might as well do it on your dime, in pristine luxury.”

I can’t help but smile. “I’m glad you’re okay, Ian. Really.”

“I’m sorry, Anton,” he says, pain darkening his gaze. “I tried to keep her safe, I tried to—”

“Let’s face it, there is only so much we can do to keep Eileen from doing something once she has her mind set on doing it, especially when it comes to her family.” I sigh deeply. “It’s notyour fault, and it’s not hers either. Sergei just knew what buttons to push and how to push them. I’m still not sure what role Ciara played in all of this.”

Andrei shakes his head slowly. “I don’t know. Honestly, I’m inclined to believe Eileen when she said Ciara really did have a change of heart.”

“If that’s true, then Sergei is holding them until he finalizes the legal proceedings,” I say. “He won’t need either of them after that’s done.”

And that spells death.

Ian grunts softly as he pulls himself up, Andrei helping him get comfortable with the pillows. “They were very discreet about the whole thing,” he says. “They knew they couldn’t lure Eileen to the café without good reason, and it had to be convenient for them.”

“Location-wise, you mean,” I reply.

“Yes. It must mean they have a place somewhere outside of the Gold Coast area,” he concludes. “Something quiet, perhaps. Inconspicuous.”

“Somewhere to keep Eileen and Ciara until he gets the marriage license signed and legalized by the judge,” Andrei says, then takes out his phone. “We need to put a wire out on all the judges in Chicago.”

“That’s too many,” I reply. “Besides, anyone with a license to officiate can handle this for Sergei. People can get these off the internet nowadays.”

Ian disagrees. “Considering the legal ramifications and the sheer size of this theft that Sergei is hell-bent on, I think he’ll wantto go through a judge. Likely, someone who’s pliable toward the Russian or the Irish organizations. He would need familiarity with the officiant to power through with the certificate and notarization.”

“Andrei, do it. Put a wire out,” I tell my brother.

“They’re alive,” Ian tries to comfort me. “You’d have found them by now if they weren’t.”

“That could change from one hour to the next,” I mumble.

“In the meantime, you need to gamble and go all-in,” he replies.

I give him a startled look. “What do you mean?”

“Summon all the families. Emergency council meeting. Bring all the evidence that you’ve gathered. Let Andrei speak on your behalf while you’re out there looking for Eileen. Make sure it’s a big enough circus to draw attention to Kuznetsov’s and Mattis’ movements.”

“He’s got most of the Bratva families on his side,” I remind him. “It would be moot.”

“Not if he’s looking to kill the Donovan sisters, especially a pregnant one,” Andrei says once he’s off the phone. “No, I’m with Ian on this. I will bet you a million bucks or more that most of the families siding with Kuznetsov at this point have no idea how many laws he’s breaking under our treaty. Let me do this. I’ll go in, do a whole number, slam my fist into the table, do a fucking slideshow of everything we’ve uncovered up until now. It’ll be enough to cast doubt, at the very least.”

“It might even get some of his sympathizers to change their mind and give us important information,” Ian adds.

A knock on the door causes the three of us to go quiet.

Tommy Benedetto walks in.

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