Chapter 27

Chapter

Twenty-Seven

"It's not your enemies who condemn you to solitude, it's your friends."

― Milan Kundera

Volk

I fucked up. Monumentally.

I can't believe I've let her get under my skin.

I vowed to Igor to protect her, not to fucking make her cum with my mouth.

Shaking my head at the absurdity of it all, I rubbed the sleep from my face and looked down at her. She was curled up against me, holding onto my arm like I was her favorite stuffed animal. A few strands of hair had escaped her braid, framing her face. Her long lashes rested gently on her cheeks, and her lips were slightly parted as she breathed deeply.

I brushed my hand against her cheek softly, but stopped as she mumbled something in her sleep.

She was just too fucking perfect; it made my heart ache.

Sunlight streamed through the blinds, and I reached for my phone on the nightstand to check the time.

4:44.

Less than 48 hours left before Igor arrived in Russia.

Fuck.

I needed to find a fucking solution to this problem.

If I spilled everything to Igor, he'd execute them without mercy—Sofiya, Dasha and her mother.

His ego was too damn big to spare either of them. Vlad had been on his hit list for years, for undercutting his business dealings—snatching suppliers, land, and customers.

It hadn't sunk us yet, but it had dinged Igor's and my own reputation enough to matter.

Now, when Igor finds out Vlad had not only screwed him over in business but also in his wife—hell would rain down.

With Sofiya's warm body pressed against mine in bed, guilt gnawed at me.

Could I really fail this innocent girl?

She was like a damsel in distress, a lamb among wolves.

Shit. I was supposed to be the wolf she feared.

Trying to see things from Igor's perspective, I imagined what I'd do if one of my top men betrayed me like Vlad did—I'd erase everyone associated with him.

A soft sound pulled me from my thoughts, and I glanced down at Sofiya's beautiful face. I resisted the urge to draw closer, bury my face in her hair, and inhale her sweet, almond scent.

Nyet.

I was Igor's right-hand man, bound by loyalty. I couldn't betray him, especially not for a girl I'd known for only a few weeks.

But you want to save her.

I fought to silence the voice, reminding myself I owed her nothing.

After all, I was her damn captor, for fuck's sake.

Carefully freeing my arm from her hold, I grabbed my boxers from the floor. The cool tiles under my bare feet sent shivers up my legs as I made my way to the bathroom.

I took a piss, tossed my boxers in the laundry basket, and turned on the shower, letting icy water cascade over me.

After a few moments, I shut off the water and returned to the room, expecting Sofiya to still be asleep but the bed was… empty.

She must have left on her own, which was for the best. Less awkward for both of us.

I spotted my clothes neatly folded on a chair, quickly I dressed and checked my phone for updates from Igor.

Nothing yet.

Sighing, I sat on the bed, running my hands through my wet hair.

I needed to clear my mind, and I knew exactly how.

?

Another punch snapped his head to the side, sending blood splattering onto the concrete floor and staining my white sleeves.

Despite the blood, pain, and being tied to the chair, he stayed silent, looking annoyed and bored. But underneath that facade, I saw the burning anger.

I stepped back, eyeing him in the chair, and raised an eyebrow .

He gave me a mischievous grin, which only pissed me off more.

"You into this, you fucking bastard?" I sneered through gritted teeth.

Another punch landed on his jaw. He grunted, and I smirked. This wasn't business; it was fucking personal.

Circling him like a predator, I kept my eyes locked on his. He tried to look away, but I grabbed his hair, forcing him to meet my eyes.

"I don't fucking know!" His lie was obvious, but I couldn't waste time. I needed answers now.

"Don't waste my fucking time," I spat, releasing his hair and throwing another punch. He spat blood, coughing violently.

"Fuck, okay! What do I get in return?"

I laughed mockingly. "Did you hear that, Dve?"

I glanced at Dve, who smirked, still leaning against the grimy wall. The basement was dimly lit, covered in cobwebs, and reeked of cat shit.

"You have a reputation, Volk — a man of your word," he wheezed between coughs. "If you have nothing to offer, then kill me now and make it quick for the both of us."

"You question my reputation?" I scoffed, looking down at him. "You should be grateful I haven't killed you already for betraying me, Romaniev."

Alexsei Romaniev, Vlad's right-hand man. I found him hurrying through Moscow with a backpack, glancing over his shoulder like a paranoid tourist. I followed him for blocks, watching him try to blend in. But he couldn't hide from me. I knew his face way too well.

He made a break for a side street, heading for a taxi. I quickened my pace and caught up just as he was about to get in .

"Leaving so soon, Romaniev?"

He turned, eyes widening in surprise. "Volk? What the fuck do you want?"

"I came to say goodbye, of course."

He didn't resist when I approached or when Dve pulled up seconds later. He accepted his fate, walking to the car without a word. Almost too easy, but I wasn't dropping my guard.

"You owe me, Volk. Don't forget I saved your fucking life," he said sternly.

Alexsei and I go way back. He joined the Silas a few months after me. We met as kids and hit it off quickly, becoming good friends. We grew up, fought, ate, and laughed together. He was like a brother to me. So, when Alexsei betrayed Igor, it hit hard. It felt personal, like he'd betrayed me too. It was a gut punch. I couldn't believe he'd do that after everything we'd been through.

Despite everything, I had to admit he was right. I owe Alexsei big time. He saved my life a couple of years ago when we were on a mission in the States.

We were both twenty-three then. The Camorras had lit up the car I was in, trapping me inside. The car was a black sedan, and it caught fire after a petrol bomb hit it. Flames spread quickly, and I was struggling to get out before it exploded. Alexsei spotted me from a distance and rushed toward the burning car, risking his own life. He managed to pull me out just in time, and we escaped the explosion by a hair's breadth.

He saved my life, and I owe him. And we both knew it.

Francesco Camorra was the don of the Italian mafia across the east and west coasts of the States. His father, Andrea Camorra, died a couple of weeks ago, poisoned by one of his mistresses. Pretty fucked up. I heard Vlad tried to do business with Francesco a few months back, but Francesco turned him down. Andrea and Igor had been working together for years, and even Vlad couldn't break that bond. It was stupid to think he could come between them.

Alexsei yawned. "Come on, man. You know I don't work for Vlad anymore."

"You know me better than that, Alexsei," I said, hiding my anger with a smirk. "I always know everything. Why do you think you're here, huh?"

He paused, looking at me intensely. "You wanna know why Helena left for the States, right?" His tone grew colder. "Promise to let me go and I'll tell you everything."

I snorted and threw another punch, hitting his nose.

He winced but quickly smirked again. "Fuck, Volk," he said, moving his nose from side to side. "You're no fun at all."

"Start talking," I said sternly.

"Untie me first," he leaned forward, spitting blood onto the floor. "These ropes are killing me. I'm into some kinky stuff, but with the two of you here, it feels like a bad porno. And for the record, I'm not into dicks. No offense," he added with a sly grin.

I gestured with my head for Dve to cut his ropes; Alexsei's nagging was giving me a headache. Dve stepped forward, extracting a knife hidden in his blazer pocket to slice through the bindings. As soon as he was free, Alexsei started rubbing his wrists and muttering curses under his breath. But then he looked down at his sleeve ends, his eyes widening.

"What the fuck, man?" he exclaimed, glaring at Dve. "These are Prada! You just cut my Prada sleeves!"

Dve shook his head in disbelief.

"You were saying?" I snarled .

Alexsei shot a glare at Dve but began speaking. "Right, the reason why Helena left for the States," he said, cracking his neck and running a hand through his hair. "That's quite fucked up, actually. Brace yourself."

I leaned in closer, waiting for him to continue.

"I guess you heard about what Vlad and Victoria did behind Igor's back. Helena stole the baby and raised her, claiming the girl was hers. Vlad visited them from time to time." He shifted in his seat, getting more comfortable, and reached for a pack of cigarettes in his pocket.

Taking one out, he placed it between his lips and offered the packet to us, silently asking if we wanted one. I shook my head, and Dve waved his hand to decline. Alexsei shrugged and lit his cigarette, taking a long drag before continuing.

"Vlad became obsessed," he murmured, his voice low and cautious. "He kept going on about how Sofiya was perfect, like Victoria. He started visiting them more often," Alexsei leaned back, taking a long drag from his cigarette. "Then one day, Helena and the baby vanished into thin air."

"Do you have any real information or are you just wasting my time?" I snapped.

Alexsei scratched his chin, pondering. "I wasn't there to see it firsthand, obviously, but word is, Vlad started acting strange around the girl. You catch my drift?"

A sickening feeling churned in my gut. "What kind of strange?"

Alexsei took another drag. "Think Viktor Lishavsky vibes," he said with a casual shrug.

My blood ran cold at the mention of Lishavsky, a notorious pedophile. The thought of Vlad emulating him disgusted me. Dve's grip tightened on his gun, mirroring my disgust .

"You're working for a fucking pedophile?" Dve's voice was ice.

Alexsei shot up. " Nyet ! I only found out recently. I would never deal with that type of bastard. I swear on my son's grave."

I met Alexsei's eyes, sensing his sincerity as he talked about his son.

"Who told you?" I asked.

Alexsei shot a glare at Dve, flicked his cigarette to the ground, and turned back to me with a sinister grin. "Your girlfriend," he replied.

Confused, I raised an eyebrow. "What girlfriend?"

He chuckled, his smugness evident. "Marina, of course," he said. "She wanted something from me, so I gave it to her, and she gave me that info."

Disgust surged through me at the mention of Marina.

"Marina is a lying bitch," I snapped. "You can't trust a word she says."

Alexsei shrugged nonchalantly. "Believe it or not, it's your choice. But what Marina told me is true," he said, glancing at his watch. "And Helena had every reason to vanish."

"What did you want from Marina?" Dve asked, his suspicion clear.

A smug grin appeared on Alexsei's face. "Just a little something," he replied, winking and adjusting his collar.

"If Vlad is in Moscow," I said firmly, crossing my arms, "why are you still connected to him?"

Vlad's in Novosibirsk. I've known he's been lying low there for a few days. I didn't need confirmation, but I wanted to test Alexsei's honesty about cutting ties with Vlad. I needed to find out if Alexsei was still a fucking rat .

Four of my men were surrounding Vlad's mistress' house, ready for my orders to extract him and bring him to me.

Alexsei smirked. "Nice try, Volk. Vlad's in Novosibirsk. And I'm fucking done with him."

"Why?" I pressed, my curiosity genuine.

He took a deep breath, his face clouded with pain and anger. "My son's death wasn't an accident," he confessed, his voice trembling. "Someone was responsible, and for years, I've been searching for answers. Every lead was a dead end, until I came across Vlad."

I raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Vlad offered you help?"

" Da, " Alexsei nodded, his tone tinged with resignation. "I was desperate for answers, and he presented a way out when I had no other options. When Vlad proposed I team up with him, I saw it as an opportunity to seek justice for my family. Turns out, I was dead wrong. Vlad had his own fucking agenda."

Alexsei met my gaze, stepping closer until we stood face to face.

"I'm sorry for betraying you," he said solemnly, regret evident in his voice. "All I wanted was justice for my son. But instead, I found only regret. You were like a brother to me, and I accept my fate."

He motioned toward Dve's gun, and without hesitation, Dve handed it over.

Alexsei then placed the weapon in my hands. "If I have to die, I'd rather it be by your hands, moy brat, my brother ."

I snatched the gun from him, feeling its cold weight in my grip.

Then I struck him across the face with it. "That's for betraying us," I spat. "Now get out before I change my mind."

"Ouch, that hurts," he muttered, rubbing his jaw. "Hope you didn't break anything. My face is my moneymaker, you know."

I rolled my eyes and nodded to Dve to give him back his stuff.

"You should come with me to the States," he said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Great beaches, but the women?—"

"With a face like yours, you'd have to pay those girls just to look at you," I snorted.

"I get more girls than you, and you know it," he bragged. "Look at me. Even I would want a piece of myself."

"I'm sure you do," I replied sarcastically, rolling my eyes. "But if you ever want one to stick around, work on that personality."

He turned to Dve. "Seriously, who's sexier, me or Volk?"

I glanced between them, trying not to smirk. Quick as a flash, I then grabbed my phone and shot a text to Dimitri, checking in on Sofiya to see what she was up to.

"Neither. It's gotta be me," Dve said with a shrug.

"You? Yeah, right," Alexsei scoffed, full of himself. "Most of the time, you're more like Mary Shelley's monster."

"Frankenstein?" Dve raised an eyebrow. "And you look like a second-rate Ken doll, man."

Their back-and-forth faded into the background as my phone buzzed, Dimitri's reply lighting up the screen.

Dimitri:

Girl's gone shopping with Marina.

What. The. Fuck .

My blood boiled with anger as I read Dimitri's text. Without hesitation, I fired off a reply, demanding to know their exact location and why the hell Marina had come to the house.

As I waited anxiously for his response, pacing back and forth in frustration, the two idiots beside me continued their pointless bickering, their voices blending into background noise as my mind raced through all the ways this situation could spiral out of control.

"That fucking bitch! I swear, Marina's dead today," I muttered under my breath.

Finally, my phone buzzed with Dimitri's reply. He apologized, explaining that Marina had lied, claiming I had given her permission to take the girl shopping, and he hadn't realized the truth until now. I cursed again.

" Zatknis', " I snapped, cutting off their argument. "I've got bigger shit to deal with right now than your fucking bitching." My voice was laced with irritation as I glared at the two men. "Marina took my gi-, Sofiya without my damn permission, and Dimitri fell for her bullshit. We need to find them, NOW."

I dialed Dimitri, who answered promptly.

" Da. "

"Find out exactly where they are."

Dimitri started apologizing, but I didn't have time, so I hung up. All I fucking cared about was getting Sofiya back where she belonged – with me.

"Volk," Alexsei stopped me, phone in hand. "Fuck! I think I know where they went. We need to move fast."

The hunt for Sofiya was on, and time was fucking running out.