Chapter Forty-Nine

“Imiss you.” Her soft words are like the sweetest melody to my ears.

“I miss you too, angel. I can’t wait to hold you when all of this is over,” I say as Dominic and I are standing on the second story of Maxim’s hotel, overlooking the reception area.

“I can’t wait for that too. Will you tell Dom that I love him?”

I roll my eyes at her, not able to fight the flicker of irritation that she didn’t deem it necessary to tell me that she loves me first.

“What about me?” I scoff, making no apologies for sounding like a pouty child.

Her smile is practically audible through the phone as she speaks.

“Aw, Zay. Are you feeling left out?”

“Yes,” I state simply.

She laughs at that before sighing.

“I love you, Zayden. More than I should, more than I knew I’d ever be capable of. I love you so much it physically hurts to be away from you.”

The normally limp beating of my heart goes into overtime at her words, an overwhelming sense of satisfaction filling me as I grin.

“That’s better. I love you, angel. More than my next breath, more than this entire planet. I’d happily sacrifice every man, woman, and child if it meant protecting you, keeping you.”

“Okay, that’s a bit much. That’s over seven billion murders, Zay.” She laughs.

“All of them, gone,” I state seriously.

Dominic shakes his head, and I send him a warning glare but don’t engage when he bumps my arm. I look down to see Maxim and two men walking up to the concierge desk. Perfect.

“Got to go, baby. Stay inside. Keep your security outside.”

With that, I end the call, and Dom and I head for the room. We already swiped a maid’s key card, and as soon as we step out of our hidden alcove away from cameras, we slip on our masks, leaving nothing to chance despite Dom already playing a loop over the footage.

Moving into the elevator, we hit the penthouse button, easily being taken up to the top floor before we slip inside. We’ve already studied the suite extensively and decided the longer we wait to do this, the higher the risk for things to go wrong.

Dominic moves to the bathroom just inside of the front entrance while I take up residence behind the back-facing couch. I’ll take out at least the first security guard that will undoubtedly step out first, Dom will grab up the second, and the rest we are planning on the fly since we know better than to expect anything from Maxim. He’s one of the most unpredictable humans that has ever lived, hence why he’s still alive.

I watch as Dominic peeks out around the corner, sharing a nod with me as he cocks his gun. Usually I prefer knives, and though I have plenty on me, a gun is more sensible in this instant. Dominic tucks himself away just before the elevator doors whir open. I don’t hesitate, shooting a bullet straight into the head of the first security guard. He drops to the floor as Dominic darts out, snapping the other’s neck before he can even reach for his gun.

Leaping over the couch, I run toward Dominic, where he now has Maxim pinned on his stomach to the floor. I push the gun to the back of his head as I chuckle.

“I’ve been waiting a long fucking time for this. I’d say it’s been a pleasure, but I know how much you hate liars.”

“P-please don’t hurt me,” the man whimpers.

Dominic and I share panicked looks. Maxim would never beg, ever. The other problem is that it’s not Maxim’s voice, it’s not even Russian. My brother flips him to his back, our eyes rounding as we see a stranger before us. From behind, he looks identical to Maxim, literally. Same height, build, and hairstyle. What the fuck!

“Where is he!” I snarl as I press the gun to his throat.

“I-I don’t know. These thugs picked me up when I was running in the park. They told me they’d kill my kids if they didn’t cooperate. They just said I had to check into this room for a few days. I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” he weeps.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I look up to see Dominic already on the phone, no doubt calling my angel. I stare at him anxiously, waiting for him to sigh in relief, for him to start talking to her, but he doesn’t. The phone rings and rings before he hangs up.

His fingers fly across the phone, pulling up the live stream of our security cameras. Each room is empty, and he pulls up a different screen, watching the events play out. Sped up, I watch as two thugs kill the security guard outside the door, busting down the door and chasing after my girl.

She runs as fast as she can, grabbing a steak knife on the counter as she does.

Good girl. Get a weapon.

They are too fast, though. They tackle her to the ground, and when she stabs one of them in the leg, the other smashes her face into the floor. I let out a roar at the sight as they lift her like a rag doll, forcing a cloth to her face before she quickly goes limp and they carry her out the door.

In the next instant, Dominic’s phone is shattering apart on the wall. He lets out a feral shout that I thought only I was capable of before turning to the decoy man, wrapping his gloved hands around his neck, and snapping roughly.

His chest is heaving and his hands are shaking as he faces me.

“Where would he have taken her?”

I have an idea. I just hope I’m wrong.