42. Chapter 42

Dmitri

If you told me even a year ago that two Moretti sons would be accompanying me to hunt down my mother, I'd have laughed in your face. The Morozovs and The Morettis tolerate each other at best. We aren't allies, but we know the idea of a war between us would be detrimental to both of our organizations. Being sort of friends with Nico is as far as I thought our connection would grow. Now, we're family.

After getting Jade to safety, I had to spend a week on campus, using every resource available to track Nina down and end this for good. I know she's responsible for sending those pictures to the Lord, and she's going to regret giving me even a hint to work off of.

I had to resort to hiring Thiago's family for a hefty fucking price, but at this point, I'm willing to do anything. Including trusting two men who really don't fucking like me right now. I still have a bruise on my jaw from when Armani slammed his fist into it, demanding to know where his sister was. If he would have waited for three seconds, I would have told him.

Nico pulled him away from me before his brother could do more than punch, but demanded that I talk. I understood it, I'm not stubborn enough to pretend that I didn't. They went away for one day into the mountains and they came back to their little sister being gone.

Matteo was guilt-ridden as hell, having known about her friendship with Ivan, and he felt responsible until I started explaining. Their sister was pregnant, she was mine, and she went home. I thought Armani's head was going to explode when I said that Apollo married us. I confessed that Jade wanted to tell them so badly, but she could never find the right words or the right time.

She adores her brothers, but handling their overbearingness isn't easy for her to navigate yet. Jade grew up with no one caring about her, and having so many people caring so deeply for her and her safety is still new for her.

As the dust of our secrets being spilled settled, I explained that I was going to leave after locating my mother. I told them that I know she is capable of being a threat to not only me but everyone who matters to me. The mood instantly shifted there.

Armani and Nico glued themselves to me, refusing to let me do this alone. Armani still doesn't particularly like me, that much is clear, but Nico has trusted me for years now. Well, as much as Nico Moretti ever trusts anyone.

With their help and the help of the Oliveria Spies, we abandoned Empire Academy eight days after Jade and Ivan fled with Apollo. Eight fucking excruciating days not being able to contact my whole goddamn heart. The only thing keeping me going is knowing that Ivan has her. I trust him with her life, I know he'd never let me down. He'll keep Jade, our babies, and himself alive.

Ivan and I have a pact, he can't die unless I'm there. And if I'm there, there's no way in hell he's dying. Ivan isn't a Morozov second son to me, he's my fucking brother.

The three of us tracked Nina down in a remote town outside of Pittsburgh. Finding her in Moretti territory gives me the sick feeling that even though we find her alone, she's made some friends. There are no physical signs of having associates, but if Bruce or Kim have something to do with her being all the way on the east coast, a few hours from where Jade grew up… fuck, I can't even think about it.

Our game plan is going swimmingly thus far. With Armani stationed on the roof of the abandoned warehouse we picked, he's able to keep an eye out for any incoming trouble. Nico and I, well, we're inside with Nina, surrounding her while she's gagged and bound to a metal chair in the middle of the room. Kidnapping her was almost too easy, but I'm not going to complain.

"She's waking up," Nico points out, seeing her eyes begin to crack open. We hit her hard with a sedative an hour ago, making sure to leave us plenty of time to move her.

My mother's eyes go from groggy and confused to wide and worried in a matter of seconds, her fear like a small prize to me. It feels good to see her scared, even if it"s no recompense for how scared she made Jade, let alone how she hurt Anya.

"Nina," I spit her name out like the poison that it is. "You've been bad."

She sputters against the duct tape over her mouth, trying to speak. I don't want to hear her wretched voice, but it might be necessary. Pulling it off with a quick snap, I relish her outcry at the sting.

"Did you think that I wouldn't come for you?" I demand, leaning over and getting in her face. "I'm not Dad, I don't have that same soft spot you've been benefiting from."

"I d-didn't do anything?—"

"You're a terrible liar," I snap, interrupting her. "I already know it was you."

She shakes her head rapidly from side to side. "It was them, they told me?—"

This time she cuts herself off, but my suspicion is confirmed. I don't need her to blabber by her own accord. The torture will get me everything I need to know.

"I wasn't trying to hurt her," she tries to appeal, knowing I'm pissed about her getting anywhere near Jade. "I just wanted to mess with you."

I have to laugh at her audacity. "Don't act stupid. You know this is about far more than your current transgression. You forfeited your life when you hurt Anya."

She did so much worse than hurt her, but I won't give her the satisfaction or upset my fucking stomach by saying it. The shit she arranged to have done to my little sister and the fact that she not only watched but recorded her screams to send to my father… it makes my fucking arm hair stand straight up.

I'm looking into the eyes of pure evil, and I'm not going to let her try to convince me otherwise. There's no hiding the callousness that makes her who she is.

"I heard her crying out to you in that recording you sent," I inform her, using every goddamn bit of strength in me not to start physically shaking. "While the men you hired were destroying her sanity from the inside out, she begged you. She pleaded for her mom to save her. And eventually, she begged for her mom to kill her. She was fifteen years old, your baby, and you laughed while she cried for a mercy killing."

Mom, please, it hurts.

Please kill me.

Please.

"Dmitri," Nina blubbers. "I'm sorry, I love Anya, I never meant?—"

Is she serious? Does she really think she can manipulate me now? After everything she's shown me that she's done? The dead look in my sister's eyes will probably never go away, and she doesn't give a fuck. She just doesn't want to die, but now, she doesn't have an option. Her life is in my hands, and I have no reason not to crush it.

"Did you think I would beg like Anya did?" I growl, teeth snapping in front of her face. "Did you think I wouldn't be the one making you beg?"

"I raised you?—"

"You tried to ruin me," I counter. "Mothers don't use their children for revenge."

I seal the duct tape back over her mouth so she has to shut the fuck up and turn to Nico behind me. "Bring her within an inch of death, but remember, she's my kill."

Playing with a tiny knife, the man nods, the slightest smile tugging at the side of his mouth. "The rumors about your sister, they're true, then?"

"They aren't even close to how bad it was," I tell him, grinding out the words. Nico has always known something bad happened to her, but we haven't discussed it. I haven't discussed it with anyone. Not even Ivan, and he knows just as much as I do.

A lethal glint shines in his eyes. "Well then, we're going to need a few days. If you want her to suffer the way she should."

"Do whatever it takes."

I want to get home to my wife more than anything, but if Nico can give Nina even a sliver of the pain she caused my little sister, a few more days away will be worth it.