Page 16 of Cruel Redemption

“What if they’re out of the country?” She was spiraling too quickly. Her mind had already let her imagination take her to the worst places. The darkest outcomes. I had to pull her back.

“No,” I snapped. “There hasn’t been enough time for that. They’re here. I promise I’ll find the people who have him. Okay?” I tried my best to smile at her even though forming something happy on my face was incongruous with everything going on in my head. “We have to think through this. Calmly,” I emphasized. Panicked thinking wouldn’t make the discovery happen faster. It was more likely to lead to a mistake.

We were cooped up at the stables. I didn’t know who had access to the stable grounds, but the Novikov compound was far worse. I trusted no one. I assumed everyone was a suspect. Everyone here knew Enzo. Everyone in New Orleans knew Amara. There were no allies I could turn to. I had hesitated to bring my security into the equation, so I did so without details. They didn’t know I was looking for Enzo.

Our eyes met when Katya’s phone rang. Was there a chance the abductor would call her instead of make contact with me? She shook her head. “Just Andrey. What do I do?” There was already panic in her voice.

Fuck.I wanted the kidnappers to reach out. These things were always about money. Why couldn’t they go ahead and name their price? They knew I’d pay the amount no matter how high it was. I’d do anything for Katya right now.

“Answer it. And act like everything is fine,” I warned her. “Nothing is any different. Remember that. He has no idea what you’re going through. You have to keep it that way.” She nodded cautiously. I didn’t know how she was going to go home tonight and play the role of adoring wife in the state she was in. If she didn’t, the consequences could be worse than what she was already up against.

“Hi, hon,” she spoke gently into the phone. I wondered how she was able to transform her emotions so quickly. It was the first time I had witnessed my sister’s deceptive nature. I was impressed. “What’s going on? What have you been doing all afternoon? Did you play golf with your dad?” She turned her back to me and looked through the blinds while she listened to Andrey.

I nodded to her that I was going to step outside while they spoke. She pressed the phone against her cheek with one hand, the other rested on her stomach.

The humidity clung to my skin as I walked into the sun’s path between Katya’s apartment and the first row of horses. I stopped in front of a stall. The horse bowed slightly. I lifted my knuckles, prepared to rub its nose, but the horse turned quickly, and I dropped my hand as if I had spooked it.

I turned my back to the horse as one of my sister’s stable hands strolled past. He carried a saddle and whistled to his slow pace. I nodded at him.

Telling Katya that Enzo was missing was one of the hardest things I had done. Her reaction gutted me. I felt all the emotions she did. The dread. The despair. The loss. But I didn’t have the luxury to show how it affected me.

Before I could walk out into the driveway, Katya grabbed my shoulder.

“Luka.”

“What is it?” I searched her eyes. “Did you learn something?”

“No. Andrey wants me to meet him at The Table for family dinner. How can I do that? I can’t leave. Not with Enzo out there. I can’t go to dinner. I can’t even eat.”

“Is that normal?” I asked.

“What?” She was puzzled.

“Do you meet Andrey at the Petrovs’ restaurant regularly?”

“All the time,” she answered.

“Good. That’s good. You need to go.”

“And sit through dinner with them? Are you crazy? How do you expect me to do that?” Her voice squeaked.

“You’ll do it because it’s what Enzo needs you to do. Nothing is wrong. Do you understand?” I didn’t know how to tell her without scaring her more than she already was. She had to go to this dinner.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to steel herself. “How?” Her bright blue eyes opened, glistening with tears. “I’m supposed to sit there while the Petrovs talk about their cut in the livestock business. While Andrey’s mother talks about what gaudy piece of art she wants to buy for her hideous gallery. And then listen to them make fun of my horses and the stables? Laugh about how moody I am now that I’m pregnant. I can’t. There’s no way.” Her hands had moved to her hips. “How can you ask me to do that? Answer me seriously.”

My brows furrowed. “If it meant saving Amara’s life, I’d do it.” I almost thought I heard my father’s voice passing over my lips. I’d never spoken to her like that.

“Then you should come with me,” she answered. “Help me through the dinner. I don’t see how else I can do it.”

“No. Someone has to be available for the call when it comes in.” I was holding on to the hope of a ransom call for Enzo’s sake. My phone should have already rung by now. “Dinner with the Petrovs isn’t time I can afford to be distracted. This is serious. You can handle dinner. I saw you at your wedding.”

“Please, Luka. I’ll never make it through dinner without cracking. I need you there. They will know right away that something isn’t right. I can’t hide how nervous I am. At least go for the main course and then you can come up with an excuse to leave. Please.” She tugged on my hand. “I don’t think I can go.”

The last thing I wanted to do was eat with the Petrovs. I was worried for my sister. Worried she would endanger Enzo by faltering. Amara was waiting for me at the cabin. I’d promised I’d be back soon. Shit. The timing couldn’t be worse.

“All right.” I relinquished. “Maybe it will give me a chance to ask questions. I can poke around. Is that where the family’s main offices are located?”

“Yes. It’s the headquarters for all the restaurants.”

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