Page 10 of Cruel Redemption

I cleared my throat and focused on a spot on the car below his shoulder. He lowered me into the seat.

“Amara?”

I bit the inside of my cheek. “I’m ready to go to my house.”

“I’m not sure how to keep you safe there. It’s not possible.”

“Please. I want to take a hot shower. I want clean clothes.” I looked down at my bare arms. One of the thugs had my jacket. Maybe my designer shoes to go with it.

“You are going into hiding.” He stared straight into my eyes. “But we will stop to get some of your things.”

I pinched my lips together. “I don’t remember asking what I should do.”

“You didn’t have to.” He winked, closing the door securely.

I groaned, waiting for him to enter the car. He was stubborn and overly-protective.

“I told Bratva security to meet at your compound. We need to be prepared for any scenario.”

Luka started the engine and we peeled out of the bottom level of the garage and into the street level.

“Enzo,” I urged. “How are we going to get him back?”

“My men will handle it.”

I turned toward him.

“I can put out some feelers,” I announced. “Ciro will be back. He will find him.”

“I can use my resources. Why not focus on you?” he offered.

“He’s my person. My right-hand. I’m responsible for what happened to him. It happened because of me.”

“You don’t know that. No one knows that. Have you forgotten Katya? My sister is going to need every reassurance I can give her that I will bring him back to her. I have a stake in finding him. Maybe even a bigger one.”

“Of course you do.” Luka and Katya were close. They had a sibling bond that was admirable and enviable in this world. “We need to call Katya now. She should know what’s happened,” I suggested.

Luka whipped the car onto a side street I didn’t recognize. I realized he was trying to take a back route so that we didn’t travel on main roads.

“Maybe she knows something, or she’s heard something,” I added. “What if the Petrovs know about the baby? What if this is their way to punish him? To take him out because someone knows they’ve been having an affair and lying about the baby’s paternity?”

Luka slowed at a stop sign. “Then why would they try to grab you?” His lips pinched together.

I shivered. “I don’t know.” I looked at him. He was sorting through it too.

“I don’t think the Petrovs would take you out because of what Enzo did to Andrey. It doesn’t follow the rules.”

“No, it doesn’t,” I admitted.

He pressed his foot on the gas, and we sped through the city again.

“Then, we combine our resources. We’ll use everything we have to bring him back to your sister.”

“Amara?”

“Yes?” His hand slid to my thigh. His thumb brushed the line just beneath the hem of my skirt.

“I don’t know how I’m going to tell my sister he’s gone.”

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