CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

" W e're on our way to Seattle now." Brayden told Vincent as they boarded the private jet he'd just chartered.

AKA compelled the pilot, crew and the billionaires who suddenly were excited to be heading to the West Coast instead of the Caribbean.

They'd get over it.

"Keep them under," he said to Craig, who shuffled the five designer-clad twenty-something's farther into the plane.

"Who's keen on some shots?" Craig asked, nudging Elizabeth into one of the seats. "Sit."

"Asshole," she muttered.

"Hell yes. Seattle here we come!" The blonde with the enormous diamond on her ring finger declared.

Brayden almost laughed.

Their tropical wear would not come in handy in Seattle, but he'd make sure the young group got to the Caribbean the next day.

"Who the hell is having shots?" Ari confusedly asked through the line.

"I'll explain later." Brayden dropped down into the dark gray leather seat and lifted his face to speak to the flight attendant. "Excuse me, we need to get in the air immediately."

"Sir, we are doing the best we can," she replied. "Would you like the same tequila refreshments as your friends?"

Christ.

Zeroing in on her eyes, he began to speak. "In the air within five minutes. Tell the pilot."

"Yes, sir."

"Whose plane did you steal?" Vincent asked.

Brayden settled back in his seat and focused on his call.

"Do you know the Dufort family?"

"The hotel chain?" Ari asked. "I met the father, Jonathan, a few years ago."

"One of his sons and wife, plus a bunch of their friends," Brayden said. "Anyway...while Craig parties with them, I need to hear what's going on at your end. We have Nikolay's pregnant wife."

"Interesting," Vincent drawled. "Does he know?"

"Yes, and apparently doesn't give a fuck." Brayden was sure the guy was playing a game of chess with him.

"Well, we received a video from the gangster a few hours ago. He's demanded that we cease the destruction of his production line. Clearly thinks we are behind the order led by the world leaders," Vincent explained.

"The video?"

"Yes, showing Willow and Isabella. They are alive."

Fuck.

"Send it to me," he demanded.

"I don't think—" His brother began.

"SEND IT TO ME!" Brayden roared.

His reaction set off a series of other reactions. Elizabeth began to whimper. The flight attendant came flying out all Sir, you cannot behave like that on the aircraft and someone farther down the plane said Woah, he needs a couple of shots. Dude, chill out. We're going to Seeeaaatttle.

"Jesus, I knew we should have left them on the tarmac," Brayden groaned.

A beep on the phone told him the video had arrived.

"Keep your head, nephew," Ari said darkly. "If you want to save them, you need to stay alive. Our team is preparing to leave as soon as the sun sets."

Brayden nodded, though his uncle couldn't see him.

"We haven't been responsible for any of the production shutdowns yet. But as of an hour ago, we have sent warriors out to begin the destruction," Vincent added. "If that motherfucker thought he was hurting before, well, we are around to destroy all his plans."

Brayden's head snapped up. "Fucking hell, Vincent. You don't think that's going to trigger him further? He has Willow. Call them off."

There was a moment's silence.

"Bray, I can't. You know as well as I do, we cannot let this product be manufactured and distributed around the world," his brother said. "Backup is on the way to Seattle. Get the princesses and come home."

Shit.

Fuck.

Shit fucking shit fuck.

"Brayden," Ari said more softly.

"Yeah," he asked, leaning his elbows on his knees and raking a hand through his hair.

"Do not hurt the pregnant human."

He hung up.

No one could ask anything of him right now. If Ari or Vincent had Sage or Kate taken from them, they'd be far less controlled than he was being.

Brayden clicked on the video as the plane finally lifted into the air and let it play. Fury slammed into him as the first images of Willow holding Isabella against her chest inside the cage appeared.

His hand crushed the arm of the seat as Nikolay began speaking.

"I have something that belongs to you." The asshole smiled as Willow bounced their baby girl, trying to calm her.

"Fuck," Brayden cursed, gritting his teeth.

His mate.

Willow and his sweet baby girl.

That asshole had them locked up in the tungsten cell, where none of them could reach.

Ari said they had a plan, but Brayden had to do what needed to be done, regardless.

"Call off the feds' destruction of our properties and you will get her back."

"You have twenty-four hours, or I will kill them both," Nikolay said in the video Vincent had received just hours before Brayden had called the Russian.

Brayden stared straight ahead as the private jet flew through the air, planning all the ways he was going to kill Nikolay.

Painfully.

As for Elizabeth, he'd do whatever was required to free the woman he loved and his daughter.