Page 24 of Secret Baby and the Bratva

Pacingacrosstheroomwith my eight cousins, I can’t believe the words I say. “We need a plan that doesn’t involve violence.”

Alek, one of Sadie’s stepbrother husbands says, “No violence? Now? They kidnapped Margot. This is hardly the time to go soft.”

I’m fighting my demons, forcing myself to accept the world Margot wants. If I’m going to prove we changed, I have to make it big. “She left because of the violence. We told her that was behind us. Panas, Kirill, Grigory…you guys are the masterminds. Come up with a fucking plan right now.”

Panas rakes his hands through his hair. “We’re going to have to put some feelers out. Figure out where they have her.”

“Time is wasting. We can’t sit around and make a phone tree to let people know we’re looking for information on her whereabouts.”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“That’s what it feels like.”

Yulian slaps a hand on my shoulder and squeezes a couple of times. “We’ll figure it out. She and Maverik won’t be any use to them dead. Their best leverage is putting their safety in our hands.”

“Better fucking hope so.” I can barely contain myself. I don’t know how to be anything other than Ubiytsa. I solve things through violence.

Grigory says, “I think we need to be prepared to take her captors out. You three are our best marksmen. Are you sure you want to leave it up to the next generation?”

I’m ready to rip my fucking chest open, my heart hurts so bad.

“I’m as ready as the next person to kill every motherfucker who took part in her kidnapping, but if ever we have a time to prove ourselves to her, we have to do it right now.”

The room falls silent. I know everyone’s thinking, and thinking takes time, but time is not my friend right now. Every millisecond Margot and my son are held captive by the Soloniks is a millisecond I will regret.

A fucking light goes off in my head. “That’s it. We’re going to show her that we will not resort to violence.”

Yulian says, “Yeah, I get it. I get it. My fucking arm is the reason we’re in this mess. She’s terrified. But, how?”

“We just promise never to kill another Solonik.”

Eighteen

Margot

I’mdisorientedbytheblindfold, and my arms are almost too shaky to hold Maverik, but I clutch him to my chest for dear life. That’s one reason I don’t remove the fabric. The other is that I don’t dare cross the Soloniks. I’ve decided on full compliance since they let me keep Maverik.

The Solonik bodyguards on either side of me keep me stable in the backseat as we drive. If only I knew where. I think a deal for my return has been reached but I’m not sure. My captor, Lilia Solonik, seems pleased with whatever the person on the other end of the phone call said right before she ordered the guards to put me in the car.

Did the Lazovskis offer money? And my bigger fear…do they want me back, or just Maverik?

If there could be any worse twist to my running away, I can’t think of it.

What will I do? I’ll run from the Soloniks the first chance I get, but am I running to the Lazovskis? Do I have a choice?

The world is too convoluted. I was barely away from their house for twelve hours and already proved I can’t keep myself or my baby safe. I tried to.

I hadn’t even made up my mind about how to handle the situation. If I trusted that they were truly done with the Ubiytsa or not. I just wanted to run out and get a bite for breakfast.

Getting kidnapped should be a staunch reminder of why I needed to get out of this world. My heart is having trouble letting go of the people in it.

Lilia’s voice comes to me from the front seat. The soft, feminine voice, offers no comfort. “You must have done a number on them. I can’t believe the deal they’re making for you.”

“I didn’t ask for any of this. Why can’t you let me go?”

“Because you’re the mother of their child and you’re proving to be even more golden than we expected.”

“I’m not golden. I was leaving them. That’s why I was at the apartment.”

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