Page 85 of Dancing for the Devil

“We’re going to kill him, aren’t we?” Katya asked.

“Just as soon as he tells us where he stashed Nora.”

Katya nodded. “Good.” She sighed. “You think we can get Celia back?”

I shrugged. “God knows. I know these guys. They’re not exactly known for being gentle with the merchandise.”

Katya shivered. “I’m proud of you for not getting mixed up in this.”

“Yeah well…” I shrugged and pressed my foot down on the accelerator.

Nora was waiting. I could only hope that Kirill hadn’t killed her yet. Now that I thought about it, I knew exactly which docks Igor was talking about. I’d been there once, when Kirill was MIA, and I had tracked his phone. I had wondered what the hell he’d been doing there, but I never followed it up.

We drew up outside the container to see the boat Igor had told us about, docked. I alighted the vehicle, waiting on my men to do the same.

“What now, boss?” Vladislav asked.

“Find Kirill. He’s either on that boat or in container three zero four five.”

Vladislav directed three of his men to check the boat while he and the other went to the container. Katya and I waited by the car, guns at the ready. If he tried to run, we’d intercept him.

We heard some shouting and scuffling. Vladislav emerged from the container, dragging a frantically struggling Kirill along with him. He brought him right to me, throwing him on the ground at my feet.

“Boss! What’s—”

I kicked him in the balls. “Where is she?”

He panted hard, not saying anything.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Kirill. Your choice. The longer we take to find her though, the longer your torture will last.”

“It’s too late. I already sold her.”

I reached down and circled his throat with my hand, squeezing hard. “Where is she?”

He choked, face flushing as he ran out of air. “North… Brother Island,” he rasped.

I let him go, looking to Vladislav. “Tie him up real secure. I’ll be back to deal with him.”

“Should I call more men, sir?”

I thought about it. “Yeah. Okay, you deal with Kirill and get reinforcements. Me and the rest of the men will go on ahead.”

Vladislav nodded. “Yes, sir.”

I turned to Katya. “You coming?”

She stared out over the water. “Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE

NORA

Iwasfreaking out.Even if I wasn’t surrounded by three men, there was nowhere to run unless I wanted to drown. I could swim but not that well, and I could not see land anywhere close by. I thought about asking them where they were taking me, but they looked even more evil than Kirill, and I didn’t want to get hurt if I could help it.

They’re taking me to Celia,I reminded myself. At least, I hoped they were. Once I had my sister back, I’d figure out a way to escape. Who knew? Maybe Alexei would notice I was gone and try to find me. He must have known these people and how they worked.

I folded in on myself, trying to make myself as small a target as possible. After an interminable amount of time, the boat docked on an island. It looked as if it’d been abandoned after the end of the world. Everything was overgrown and derelict.

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