Page 3 of Fierce Sinner

“You damn well know why I’m here,” I tell him. He arches his brows at me.

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you are talking about,” he shrugs.

I grunt low in my throat, gauging his response. Is he hiding something from me, or does he really have no idea? Why would he be hiding her here, though? The deal was one he orchestrated, after all. But if she’s not here, that means…fuck!

“Where is she?” I snap. My patience was low before I got here. It’s non-existent now.

“Aurora?” he asks, threading his fingers together and leaning forward to smirk at me. “You lost your wife?”

“Cut the bullshit. Are you hiding her here? We had a deal, De Luca. I expect you to keep to your end of the bargain while I keep mine.”

“I have nothing to do with your marital problems, Ivanov,” De Luca drawls. "I gave you a perfectly good, unspoiled woman. It’s up to you to keep her happy at home.”

Jesus, I’d happily rip his throat out right now.

“Fuck you, De Luca!” I tell him and watch with satisfaction as anger colors his face. “Do you know where she is or not?”

“You think I’d be keeping Aurora from you? I give you my only daughter, and then you come here making accusations?” I see him bristling, his temper flaring quickly. I don’t give a fuck. “Coming to my territory unannounced is offensive,” he adds.

“Do I look like I care?” I ask, stepping toward him, fists bunched. There’s a metallic grating of guns being cocked by the men behind him. I smirk as De Luca gives them a wordless command to lower their weapons.

“If I find out this is one of your fucked up games, then be prepared to face the consequences,” I tell him, then turn to leave yet again.

“Is that a threat?” he asks, and I stop.

“I don’t make threats,” I tell him. I don’t wait for his response before I storm out.

I’m not surprised to find some of my men waiting for me outside the De Luca house. They know the implications of going into another gang’s territory unarmed. I don’t care about any of it. All that matters is finding Aurora.

Where the hell could she be?

As I get back in my car and speed out of the De Luca estate, I place a call to Ludis.

“Any news?” I ask.

“Nothing, Boss,” he replies curtly. My rage ratchets up another notch.

“Check the airports, train stations, anything! I don’t care if you have to drag her back here kicking and screaming. I want her home today,” I tell him.

“On it,” Ludis replies before I end the call. I angrily throw my phone on the passenger’s seat. At the same time, my mind races at the endless possibilities of where she might be. Worry nags at me, but I dash it away.

If she left, she needs to be taught a fucking lesson!

I clamp down on the anxiety and anger as I continue to drive, scouring stations and bus shelters. I can’t bring myself to return to the estate. Whether she’s been taken or simply escaped, I can’t fucking lose her. She is mine, and I’m going to make sure everyone knows that.

I can’t think straight as I get off the highway. I park my car on the side of the road and notice my men do the same behind me.

I groan in frustration as I angrily slam my fist on the steering wheel. How can one stupid woman turn my world upside down like this? I should never have let her so close. I’m pissed at her. I’m pissed at myself. Hell, I’m pissed at fucking everyone. Having one of my own disappear right under our noses…it’s fucking unforgivable!

One of the men comes to the side of my car. The tinted glass doesn’t allow him to see the glare I’m giving him. Things wouldn’t have been this way if they had done their fucking job. All they had to do was keep watch over the damn property.

I shouldn’t have to deal with this, not right now. There’s already a war brewing, and now this bullshit. To make matters worse, Petrov can’t be reached. I’m confident Aurora wouldn’t have disappeared if Petrov had been at the estate. I miss my right-hand man, but he has to find the bastards behind the shitstorm that’s been poisoning my world.

Rubbing both hands over my face, I suck in a breath and pull myself together. Driving around all day is a complete waste of time…I’m just avoiding the reality. A house that’s empty of her. Of anyone who matters.

Fuck that!

I’m all that matters.

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