Page 125 of Absolution

“How is Brenda handling things? Have you had any issues?”

I hear a slight whoosh as he shakes his head. “None at all. She hasn’t complained about being here.”

“Call if anything changes.” I can’t hide the relief in my voice.

“Aye.”

Knowing my kids are safe brings some comfort. Now I just need to find Ava and Oliver.

“We have incoming,” Beiste reports as he enters my office.

“How many?”

“Maybe another dozen. It’s hard to tell.”

I stand and head for the door, spinning back around only a second later. “Have Marco and his team made it inside?”

“Yes.”

“Marco,” I call out as I enter the club proper.

I spot him by the bar. “Sir?”

“Did you see anything when you were coming in?”

He twists his lips before shaking his head. “No. But I have two snipers making their way to the roof. They should be able to give us an accurate count.”

Marco’s cell rings as I scan the laptops showing most of Eros’ security feeds.

“Okay. Stay put.” He ends the call. “They see four SUVs but can’t accurately determine how many men are in each because the windows are tinted. He speculates there are at least four to six per vehicle.”

“Gear up,” I order as I dial Oliver again. “About fucking time. Do you have Ava? Where are you?” I demand when he answers.

“I have eyes on where I’m sure she is. Do you remember the first warehouse our father bought?”

“The one out of commission?”

He hums in agreement. “That’s the one. He has the place surrounded. I could probably sneak in, but I don’t have eyes inside, so there’s no way to confirm if Ava is here.”

“Stay put. I don’t need you dead. Glue yourself somewhere. Keep an eye out in the event something changes.”

“I know the warehouse inside out. Our father won’t kill Ava yet, but I won’t let him move her.”

“How do you know he won’t kill her?”

“She’s leverage, and he’s sadistic. He wants you to watch her die. Otherwise, he would have killed her already.”

“Don’t go inside. I’ll be there soon.”

“I’ll stay put as long as I can.”

“Oliver—”

“She comes first, Viktor. We agreed. Shit, there’s movement. I have to go.”

He doesn’t let me say anything by ending the call.

“We need to end this quickly. Oliver found Ava but can’t go in alone. The place is surrounded. Rig the front doors. We will go out the back and make our way around to the front again.”

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