Page 106 of Bratva Jewels Box Set
I nod, unable to get the words out.
“Nikolai is obsessed with her, I mean, we are talking stalker obsessed, and that’s why she sacrificed herself because he is in love with her. She knew that if she gave him what he wanted—herself—she could get what she wanted—my freedom.”
I hang my head. “I love her, Gracie, Mateo loves her, and before she was kidnapped, I saw a future for the three of us, but I’m worried that if we get her back, she won’t be the same Zoe she was before.”
Gracie puts her hand on my knee. “Zoe is strong. I never realized how strong she was till I saw her stand up for me against Nikolai. Even when he pointed a gun at her, she was willing to die to protect me.”
My heart soars with pride for our girl.
“Nikolai fears her strength, so he must break it down. He thought kidnapping me would make her bend to his will and it did a little, but she still fought back. That was until he threatened to expose you. She told me how he had things on you, some sex tape, and she tried to stop him releasing it.”
“He released it.”
Gracie gasps. “What do you mean?”
“The other day, he released it. It was all over the news, so Sophie set up an interview, and we told the world everything. We told them how Nikolai had kidnapped you both. We told the world all about him and asked them to help us hunt him down.”
“No, no!” Gracie screams, looking frantic. “If he knows that then she isn’t safe, he’s going to do something to her.” Gracie jumps up and starts pacing. “He’s going to sell her, she thinks she’s won, but he’s going to screw her over. Nikolai loves revenge and sweet revenge at that. Fuck! We must get her out of there, we have to gonow.”
I grab Gracie as she tries to run away. “We are. I promise we are.”
She looks up at me, not sure if she should believe me or not.
“Sophie knows some mercenaries who have been able to get an invite to this sale,” I say, and Gracie visibly relaxes. “We have given him a blank cheque—whatever it takes to get her back, we will pay. We are going to bring her home, I promise.”
“But what happens if she isn’t for sale? Nikolai might want to keep her?”
“Then we go with Plan B—extraction—no matter what.”
37
ZOE
“Fuck, I love waking up with you in my bed.” Nikolai rolls over and pulls me into his arms.
I hate myself. I hate myself so much for betraying Mateo and Tomas like this, for willingly sleeping with Nikolai. But what choice do I have?
“You need to get ready. We must travel to the next place. We have to keep moving just for the moment, my queen, until I know the heat is off us,” Nikolai says.
I watch his naked form walk into the bathroom. I pray that Gracie is safe and that she was able to convince the boys to back off because if they don’t, I don’t know what Nikolai will do.
“Zoe, come here,” Nikolai calls from the bathroom.
I take a deep breath and walk toward the bathroom.
Nikolai sticks his head out of the shower. “I forgot to tell you. The video worked. They have gone home to Ibiza; I have someone following them. Gracie was with them.”
My stomach sinks. A tiny portion of me wanted them to fight and not go home.
Nikolai smiles as if he can read my mind. “There are photos on my phone if you don’t believe me.”
I shuffle back into the bedroom and pick up his phone. There’s no password, which is surprising, and I swipe and look in his photos and there, staring back at me, are surveillance photos of Mateo and Tomas boarding a private jet with Gracie and … is that Sophie? I zoom in and see that it is. My heart wants to burst. I see Tomas and Mateo holding hands, zoom in closer, and see their faces. They don’t look happy at all, and my heart aches. I miss them so much, I can feel my heart being ripped out as I stare at them. It’s been too long. I flick to the next photo, and it’s them arriving in Ibiza and being whisked away via limousine. I swipe again and it’s them arriving at a new house, and … is that my parents? Mackenzie? But how? I don’t understand. Are they all here trying to find me?
Hope starts to spring in my chest that they are not going to give up, my family won’t let them. I have renewed energy. I just need to be smart and play the long game. This will be all over soon either way.
“See? I told you—they left.”
Nikolai’s voice makes me jump, and I school my emotions and lock them back behind the iron gates. I stand up and walk to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He’s only wearing a towel and his skin is warm and glistening from his shower. I’m still dressed in a strappy nightdress.
