54. Kat

Chapter 54

Kat

I can’t deny it any longer. It’s obvious now—I must’ve been a naughty girl in one of my past lives. There’s no other explanation.

People love to say that when it rains, it pours. In my case, it’s more of a monsoon situation.

First, I had to deal with the stronzo himself, Giuseppe Salvatore, head of the Italian mafia. That, naturally, led to Nikolai Stefanovich, the pakhan of the bratva , deciding I was his problem. Because of Nik, I ended up on Patrick McGuire’s bad side. And just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, Dmitri Ivashkov—Nik’s right-hand man and, oh yeah, the stronzo’s secret love child—decided we needed to go for a ride.

And by ride, I mean a one-way ticket to the end of the line.

Dmitri sighs beside me, his hands gripping the steering wheel like it’s the only thing keeping him grounded. “I wish it hadn’t come to this, Kat,” he mutters. Sweat beads on his brow, and he wipes it away with the back of his hand. “I'm so, so sorry. I really did try to avoid this. For what it’s worth.”

“Nothing,” I say flatly. “It’s worth nothing, Dmitri.”

His jaw tightens, and he glances at me briefly, pain flickering in his eyes. “I don’t blame you for feeling that way. I just… I hope you can understand I didn’t have another choice.”

I let out a heavy sigh, staring out the window as the city fades into the distance. “Shut up. There’s always a choice.”

The fact that he hasn’t blindfolded me tells me everything I need to know. He doesn’t care if I see where we’re going. He doesn’t need to. I’m not coming back.

“I wish that were true, Kat,” he says, his voice cracking. “But I think you, of all people, should understand that sometimes we have to do terrible things to protect the people we care about. Once you knew who I am, who my father is, I didn’t have a choice. I had to take you.”

I turn to him, my voice sharp with anger. “I cared about you, Dmitri. I thought you cared about me. I thought we were friends.”

“We were, and I still care about you, Kat. But there’s someone I care about more,” Dmitri says, his voice tight. His hands grip the wheel like it’s the only thing keeping him steady. “You know as well as I do—now that my secret’s out, it’s just a matter of time before either Nik or my father takes me out. I’m a liability to both of them. I don’t have much time left, and I’ll be damned if I go down before setting her free.”

Ah, his mysterious girlfriend. The one he won’t even name, as if she’s too perfect, too pure, for someone like him to speak of aloud.

“I would’ve helped you, Dmitri,” I say, my voice sharper than I intend. “I would’ve done whatever I could—because we were friends. Or at least I thought we were, before you decided to kidnap me after I let you into my home.”

“I’m sorry, Kat,” he says, his voice soft but strained. “More than I can ever sat. If there were any other way, I’d take it. I wish I could promise to make this up to you, but that would be a lie. I won't have time.” His eyes flick around, unfocused, his desperation practically radiating off him.

“Funny you should say that, Dmitri—because I doubt I’ll have time, either,” I shoot back. “You know your father’s going to kill me as soon as he gets his hands on me. You’re sending me to my death.”

His shoulders sag, and his jaw tightens. “I’m sorry,” he whispers, barely audible. “You don’t deserve this. I wish there was another way, but I’m out of time. My father will release her in exchange for you. And if Nik catches us before I can make the trade, you’ll be my only leverage. He’ll do anything to get you back.”

His words about Nik land like a blow, and I grip the edge of my seat, forcing myself to stay composed.

I’ll never see him again.

Worse, the last moment we’ll ever share is filled with hurt and regret. If only I had known then…

I get it now. My obsession with controlling the uncontrollable ruined everything. I thought holding on to it would protect me, but all it did was keep me from the one thing I truly wanted—happiness. Nik.

Ironically, Dmitri was right—none of us can truly take life for granted. You could go to sleep and never wake up, or step outside and get hit by a car. Yes, Nik’s life may be full of danger, but does that mean a life without him is worth living? That feels like a fate worse than death.

Everything I’ve ever wanted was on the other side of my fears, and I made the wrong choice. I held on to what needed to be let go, and now it’s too late.

Dmitri’s constant glancing at his phone pulls me out of my spiral. His hands twitch on the wheel, and his eyes keep darting to the phone sitting harmlessly on the console. Over and over again. He’s already distracted and driving like a maniac. At this rate, we’re not making it out of this car alive.

“Expecting a call?” I ask, the sarcasm heavy in my voice. “If you untie me, I could check it for you.”

His eyes flick to my bound wrists, the zip tie digging into my skin, before snapping back to the road. “No. I’m just… debating something.”

“Debating what?” I push. “Whether this plan of yours is a total disaster? Because, spoiler alert, it is. Why don’t we pull over at that gas station and rethink this whole thing?”

He shakes his head, jaw locking. “No. I’m debating whether to keep or toss the phone. Nik can track it. If he suspects I’ve taken you, he’ll find us in no time.”

I arch an eyebrow. “Then why not just toss it?”

His grip tightens on the wheel, and he clenches his teeth. “Because I need it to find her. It’s the only way I can track her right now. I don’t have time to figure something else out before your friend tells our friend who I really am.”

The way he says her twists something sharp and painful in my chest. His obsession with this woman—whoever she is—is driving all of this madness. I want to hate her. I want to hate him. But right now, I can’t decide who I hate more—the stronzo or myself.

“Why are you telling me all this?” I ask, my voice sharp with suspicion.

Dmitri shrugs, keeping his eyes on the road. “Just thinking out loud, I guess. But, believe it or not, I still think of you as a friend. Not that I expect you to feel the same right now. And, honestly? In the end, it doesn’t really matter if you know any of this.”

“Because I’m as good as dead, right, friend ?” I snap, yanking at the zip tie cutting into my wrists. The sharp pain makes me wince, but I don’t care. “Real friendly of you.”

Dmitri doesn’t respond or even glance my way. His jaw sets, his eyes locked straight ahead, and that quiet, unshakable focus tells me everything I need to know. My fate’s already sealed.

The silence that follows is thick and suffocating as he drives. The minutes crawl by like hours, and the tension between us grows heavier with each passing second.

Finally, Dmitri slows down, the crunch of gravel under the tires breaking the stillness. I glance out the window as he pulls up in front of a massive, rundown warehouse.

The place is huge—easily big enough to cover an entire block—and at least five stories tall. Its once-bright blue paint has faded into a washed-out gray, and the facade is riddled with bare patches where the color has been stripped away, replaced by streaks of rust.

I glance around the massive lot, searching for signs of life, but there’s nothing. No movement, no people, no noise. Just this crumbling building in the middle of nowhere.

“We need to make a quick stop,” Dmitri says, unbuckling our seatbelts. “We won’t be long.”

Before I can respond, he’s out of the car, opening my door. He grabs me and hauls me out like I weigh nothing.

My feet instinctively drag along the ground as I dig my heels in—not that it does any good. He doesn’t even blink, let alone notice.

Dmitri doesn’t say a word, and neither do I. The silence between us stretches as he pulls me toward the warehouse.

Inside, the place is somehow even bigger than it looked from the outside. It’s damp and freezing, the cold air clinging to my skin. Every step we take echoes eerily, amplifying the dread curling in my stomach.

Almost no sunlight makes it through the crumbling structure, but it’s just bright enough to see the way ahead.

Unable to contain myself any longer, I ask, “What are we doing here?”

I fully expect Dmitri to ignore me, but to my surprise, he answers. “I need to grab something with more of a kick than my pistol before we meet my father. This is one of the bratva ’s armories. We won’t be long.”

Still gripping my arm, he strides forward like he’s been here a hundred times. We stop in front of a pair of double doors that look as beaten down as the rest of this place. A thick metal chain is wrapped tightly around the handles, secured with a padlock that’s almost comically oversized.

Keeping one hand firmly on me, he digs around in his pockets, probably looking for the key.

But before he finds it, the sharp sound of the front doors screeching open echoes through the massive space, followed by a heavy slam.

I don’t even get a chance to react before Dmitri’s hand clamps over my mouth. My heart pounds as panic sets in, my breaths shallow against his palm.

Quietly, he shifts, pressing his back against the armory doors and pulling me against him.

A human shield. Fantastic.

A heartbeat later, I see him .

He’s more breathtaking than ever—even more than I remember.

I thought I’d never see him again, but he’s here. He’s so handsome it almost physically hurts me. Just looking at him makes me want to weep.

He came for me.

After everything, he still came for me.

Dmitri’s hands dig into me painfully, but I barely register the discomfort. All I can see is Nik—his tall frame, those broad shoulders wrapped in his jet-black jacket, and that dark, glossy hair perfectly framing his devastatingly handsome face.

I want to run into his arms, wrap myself around him, and never let go.

Dmitri’s grip suddenly tightens, jolting me back to reality. It’s only then I realize I’ve been struggling against him without even noticing. I fight harder, twisting and pulling, but it’s pointless. Dmitri towers over me by nearly a foot and easily outweighs me by at least a hundred pounds—I don’t stand a chance.

Nik’s eyes lock onto us.

“Kat…” His voice is hoarse, thick with emotion. “You’re alive.”

Dmitri’s palm presses firmly over my mouth, silencing me, but I nod frantically, desperate to convey everything I feel—all the words I never had the chance to say.

Nik’s gaze sweeps over me, scanning every inch with sharp precision. “Did he hurt you?”

I shake my head quickly, and Nik exhales, his shoulders dropping in relief. But his focus shifts in an instant, sharp and unwavering, to Dmitri.

“Dmitri…” Nik says, calm and measured, his tone almost soothing.

“Nik—” Dmitri gasps, his voice trembling. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. You have to believe me.”

“I do,” Nik says evenly, his hand stretching out in a gesture of peace. “Let Kat go, and we’ll talk. We’ll figure this out. Everything will be okay.”

Dmitri shakes his head violently, his grip tightening even further. “No. I’m sorry. I can’t do that. I need her. I’m sorry, but I need her.”

Nik’s voice doesn’t waver, remaining steady and firm. “You know I can’t let you take her.”

Dmitri lets out a bitter, humorless laugh. “And I don’t see how you’re going to stop me. I have the girl and the gun.”

Nik’s gaze drops to the pistol in Dmitri’s hand, his expression unreadable. “She has nothing to do with this, Dmitri. This is between you and me. Let her go.”

“You made her a part of this,” Dmitri snaps, his grip on me tightening. “Her blood will be on your hands as much as mine.”

Nik’s eyes widen slightly at the bitterness in Dmitri’s tone. “There doesn’t have to be blood. Let Kat go, and you and I can figure this out—peacefully.”

Dmitri scoffs, rolling his eyes. “Peacefully? Come on, Nik. I know you too well for that. The second I let her go, I’m a dead man, and I can’t die yet.”

“You have the gun,” Nik says calmly. “You said it yourself. You’re the one in control right now. Let her go, Dmitri. You haven’t hurt anyone innocent yet. Don’t start now.”

Dmitri’s laugh is hollow. “I might not be the smartest guy in the room, but I’m not that stupid. After everything I’ve done—what I did to Maxim, what I’ve done to Kat—if I let her go, it’s over for me. We both know you’ll make sure of that.”

Nik shakes his head and sighs deeply. “You’re like a brother to me. I could never kill you in cold blood. Let’s talk this through. Let her go, Dmitri, and we’ll figure it out together. I promise you.”

For a moment, Dmitri’s grip on me loosens. I can’t see his face, but I can feel his hesitation. Nik’s words are getting to him, chipping away at his defenses and tugging at the bond they share. It’s obvious Dmitri doesn’t want to completely betray Nik. Deep down, he wants to believe Nik can somehow fix this mess.

But in the end, his resolve hardens. With a final shake of his head, he says, “I’m sorry, Nik. I can’t. I’m taking her with me. I don’t suppose you’d make this easier and let us go? I really don’t want to hurt her in front of you. Or kill you, for that matter.”

Nik tenses, his body coiled like a spring, as if he’s about to make a move. But he hesitates. Instead, he exhales slowly, steadying himself, and locks eyes with Dmitri.

“Why, Dmitri?” Nik asks, his voice soft but heavy with disappointment. “Why would you choose this path for yourself? We were family. Is that what this is about? Blood being thicker than water? I guess I wouldn’t know.”

Against my back, Dmitri’s heart races wildly. “No,” he says, his voice horrified. “Nik, how can you even ask me that? My father is nothing to me. Less than nothing. Being his son is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.”

His grip on my arm tightens, and his words spill out in a rush, raw and unfiltered.

“He never cared about me or my mom. Not until you came into the picture. You know he’s always hated you, Nik. As soon as he found out about us—how close we were—he tried to turn me against you. He pretended to be proud, like some kind of doting father, but it was all bullshit. I didn’t fall for it. I wanted nothing to do with him. But then he found out about her . He took her from me. I had no choice.”

Nik steps forward slowly, his boots crunching against the dusty concrete. His voice is steady, but there’s a sharp edge to it. “You had a choice. You could’ve told me. You should’ve told me. I would’ve handled it—for you. As your pakhan and as your friend. You know that. You should’ve trusted me, Dmitri.”

Dmitri’s grip falters for a moment, his voice rising with frustration. “I wanted to trust you. I swear I did. But you have to understand… I was ashamed. From the start, I didn’t want you to know he was my father. I didn’t want anyone to know.”

He exhales shakily. “You’ve always been good to me. To my mom. You treated us like family. I didn’t want to lose that. I didn’t want you to look at me and see him . And when he took her , I couldn’t risk putting her in more danger by telling you. I couldn’t. I’d already screwed up by letting him find out about her. He told me if I didn’t do what he wanted, I’d never see her again. What choice did I have?”

Nik exhales deeply, his shoulders lowering slightly. “I never knew.”

“I know,” Dmitri says quietly. “And I wanted to keep it that way. I thought I could fix it myself. Get rid of him before anyone found out. But then Kat and her friend figured it out, and I knew you’d find out too. I didn’t have time. I had to act fast.”

He pauses, his voice breaking as he adds, “I hope you can forgive me someday.”

“It doesn’t have to be this way,” Nik says, stepping forward slightly, his movements deliberate. “Let Kat go. Let me help you. We can figure this out together. You know I’ll do whatever I can to make this right. It’s not too late.”

Dmitri lets out a bitter laugh, the sound echoing through the empty warehouse. “You say that, Nik, but we both know how this ends. It is too late. You’ll never let me walk away after what I’ve done—to Maxim, to Kat. And I don’t blame you for that."

His grip tightens again, enough to make me wince. “But I can’t let you stop me. Not before I save her. I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen. I’ll spare Kat as much pain as I can. If it comes to that, I’ll make it quick.”

Nik’s eyes flick to mine for the briefest moment before refocusing on Dmitri. Even from where I stand, I can see the impact of Dmitri’s words. The pain. The rage. It burns just below the surface of Nik’s carefully controlled expression.

“Like you did for Maxim?” Nik asks, his voice measured, but the scathing edge cuts deep.

Dmitri shrugs, unbothered. “I’m sorry about Maxim. I really am. For what it’s worth, it was fast. He didn’t suffer long.”

Nik’s eyes darken, his expression hardening. My heart breaks for him. He never knew that on that single, catastrophic night, he lost the two people he cared about most in the world.

“What did you do with his body?” Nik’s tone is sharp but deceptively calm.

“Yeah, that wasn’t me,” Dmitri says casually. “The last time I saw Maxim was when you found him—lying on the museum floor.”

Nik scoffs. “Right.”

“I mean it,” Dmitri insists. “I’ve got no reason to lie. Not anymore.”

Nik pauses for the briefest moment before asking, “How did you do it? Kill Maxim, I mean.”

Dmitri exhales heavily, and his fingers move to the gold necklace around his neck. He pulls it out from beneath his shirt. “The room was dark. Maxim had a few drinks in him. He didn’t hear me come up behind him. I used this,” Dmitri says, running his fingers over the chain. “Wrapped it around his neck, and that was it. I left him where you found him.”

Nik’s face remains stoic, but I can see the pain in his eyes, as clear as day. Even smothered by Dmitri’s hand, silent tears spill down my face—for Nik, for myself, and even for Dmitri.

“I didn’t want to kill Maxim, you know,” Dmitri says quietly, his voice raw with regret. “I tried to resist my father. I really did. But he wouldn’t let it go. Maxim had to die that night.”

Dmitri’s jaw tightens, his grip on me faltering for just a second. “During the party, he called me,” he continues, his voice breaking slightly. “Made sure I could hear her cries through the phone… just to make sure I’d follow through with his plan.”

The gala’s surveillance feeds. The call we saw Dmitri take…

It hits me like a freight train. I was even more of a pawn in the stronzo’s game than I realized. Just like Dmitri said, his father had been steadfast and specific about the terms of my assignment. I had to steal Nik’s diamond that night—nothing else would do. Every move I made was part of a much bigger puzzle, and I hadn’t even realized I was a piece of it.

“All of this because of Erin and Lorenzo?” Nik asks, disbelief coloring his tone.

“That’s part of it, I’m sure,” Dmitri says with a grim nod. “But not the whole picture. My father never let go of the humiliation Maxim—and, by extension, you—put him through with Erin. But it was more than that. He never accepted that the Russians and the Irish run things now. He’d love nothing more than to see you and McGuire to destroy each other. And he knew the bad blood between you two would make it easy to start a war.”

Nik sighs, low and frustrated, the sound cutting through the cold, still air. “He wasn’t wrong about that. But that doesn’t mean he gets to win. We can turn this around. Destroy him, save your girl, and figure out how to handle the Irish. You and I are family, Dmitri. We'll work this out. Just let Kat go.”

Dmitri exhales shakily, and for a moment, I think he might actually listen. But when he speaks again, his voice is filled with quiet defeat. “I can’t tell you how much I wish I could believe you. But I know you too well. You can’t possibly mean that—not after everything I’ve done. If it were just about me, I’d take the chance. But I can’t bet her life on it.”

Nik sighs slowly, his broad shoulders sinking slightly, and for the first time, his gaze shifts away from Dmitri. His dark eyes find mine, and for a moment, the rest of the room fades away.

The chill in the air disappears as his eyes roam over me, as lovingly as a caress, like he’s trying to memorize every detail. There’s something in his expression—something raw and unguarded—that makes my breath catch.

When his gaze finally locks back on mine, something in his eyes makes me want to weep.

“I understand,” he says softly, the words heavy with emotion. His eyes stay fixed on me as his tone drops, steady and calm. “Take me instead.”