Page 149 of Fortress of the Heart

“Jesus, what now?”

“I got here, and about 2 minutes later, Petrovs guards were sniffing around.”

Oh shit.

“Fuck,” I mutter.

“They’ve obviously been doing their own investigation. I’m just glad I got here when I did.”

“Where’s the girl?”

“I’m taking her to the warehouse.”

“That’s not a good idea. Did you get rid of the guards?”

“It’s fucking Maxim and another guard, Konstantin, so what do you think?”

“Who’s with you?” I climb back in my car and glance once more back at the gates.

“Luckily, I brought Santino, so we’re evenly matched. They want to speak to her too.”

“Then don’t fucking take her to the warehouse,” I shout. “We’ll meet at the building I just acquired down at the wharf. The address is 9514 Charles W Road. If you can shake them, even better.”

It’s an old office attached to a building I just bought. It’ll be secluded enough and on our territory.

“Fine, but I don’t trust them. They’ll end up dead if they try to snatch her, Marco. She’s the key to everything Allegra and Rombaldi did.”

He doesn’t have to tell me what’s at stake. I already know.

“Do what you have to do,” I say, then add, “why are you calling me and not Angelo?”

“I did. I left him a ton of messages.”

It’s not like him not to be answering.

“Do not let that girl get away,” I warn, starting my car. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

“You got it.”

I take my eyes off the gates and look back at the road.

This day just went from zero to a hundred real fast.

27

KATIYA

A FEW HOURS EARLIER

I stareat the wall unseeing.

I’m in a whole world of trouble, and so is Marco. Though, I’m sure his punishment won’t be anything like the severity of mine. He is his own person, after all, unlike me.

I have to face my uncle's wrath and then my father, not that I give a shit about the latter.

When Dimitri drove me back there, we rode in silence.

It didn’t take a genius to guess that he was furious with me.

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