Page 128 of Cinder
“I would never fucking hurt her,” I growl, the fear in my gut getting the better of me. “You should’ve fucking done something.”
“I did what I thought was right.”
“You were fucking wrong.”
“You don’t know these people like I do,” he says, and I can see the regret etched into his face. It haunts him.
“I don’t need to know them to kill them,” I say through gritted teeth. I bring my face close. “Ella is everything to me, and I don’t care what it takes, I’m going to get her back. Now where the fuck is she?”
“Viktor has taken her.”
I think about the supposed Olicheckoff compound Bear and I visited yesterday. “To the Bratva compound?”
Santo looks around the shithole of a motel room. Nothing looks disturbed. No turned-over furniture to indicate a struggle. But her phone is sitting on the small dresser under the window. “No. He would’ve taken her to the Moretti estate.”
“Why the Moretti estate?”
“My guess is he knows about you and Ella.”
“How?”
But I already know the answer.
Someone inside the clubhouse has told him.
Santo looks concerned. “He paid for a virgin bride, son. Now he’s going to hand her back to her brother.”
“Then that’s where I am going.”
“You can’t go alone.”
“Just watch me.”
“They’ll see you coming, and you’ll be dead before you reach the front door.”
“He won’t kill me. They’re not ready for war with the Knights. They would’ve made a move by now if they were.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“No, I need you to visit the clubhouse. Find Beast. Tell him I sent you and let him know what’s happening.” I pause. “And tell him we definitely have a rat inside the clubhouse and to keep every card close to his chest.”
“What are you going to do?”
I look Santo in the eyes. “I’m going to walk right up to the front door and tell the asshole I’ll shoot him in the face if he doesn’t hand over Ella.”
CHAPTER 58
Ella
“Enough of this,”Viktor snaps impatiently, and Luca lets me go. “Your silly games take up too much time.”
Luca doesn’t appreciate the interruption and casts a disapproving glare in the Russian’s direction.
“In good course, Mr. Olicheckoff. Remember, it was you who needed me. Not the other way around.” Luca brings his attention back to me. “He’s too serious for his own good. He should’ve tried to enjoy this more.”
“Enjoywhatmore?”
“All of it.”
