Chapter Thirty-Three

Aksana

It had been hours since Bane whisked me and Katiya away from Rockefeller Center. Sitting at a table in the Soulless Sinners’ clubhouse, no one said a word. Men paced, constantly looking at their phones, waiting for any news. Tessa and Largo sat stoically and quietly shed tears. Silver sat behind her bar while Malice stared at her from a corner, his eyes glued to his woman.

“Here, Aksana,” Bane said, placing a bottle of water in front of me, Largo, and Tessa.

“Have you heard anything, Bane?” Largo asked quietly.

“No, sweetheart. We are all in the dark like you.”

“Maxim,” I whispered, looking up at my uncle. “Have you called Maxim?”

“He’s on his way, Aksana. He didn’t say much.”

“It’s going to be okay,” Tessa muttered. “It has to be.”

Largo reached over and grabbed the woman’s hand.

The doors flew open and in rushed Storm. Looking around the room, Malice pushed off the wall. Payne, Rage and Torment walked over. Before any man could say a word, Storm asked, “Where are the kids?”

“Upstairs in the safe room,” Torment answered.

“We need to move them to my house. Montana has called Cesar Vitale. Masimo, Luca and Emmanuel will be here shortly to provide us protection until we reach our destination.”

Looking at me, Storm added, “Aksana, Maxim will be here soon to escort you and Katiya home.”

“What about Vladmir?”

“I don’t know, honey. Information is fluid right now. My job is to get everyone out of here and home safe.”

“Where is Montana?” Tessa asked, slowly getting to her feet.

“He’s still at Rockefeller Center. It’s going to be a while, honey. Please, just do as he asks. He needs to know you and York are safe.”

“I’m looking for Aksana Ivenok!” a man dressed in full black military gear shouted while four men followed closely behind him, heavily armed.

Slowly standing, Storm cursed. “Who the fuck are you?”

“Step aside,” the man demanded, pushing his way further into the room. “Who I am is no concern of yours. I’ve been contracted to protect Aksana Ivenok and her daughter. I need to get them to safety immediately.”

“Maxim’s on his way here.”

“Change of plans. I’m sorry, I can’t tell you anymore,” the man firmly said before turning to me. “Aksana, my name is Jason Collins, but you can call me Merc.”

“Holy shit.” Storm gasped. “You’re Phantom’s brother.”

“Yes. I run the Beta team for Harbor Security Service. These are my men. Your husband called and asked me to get you and your daughter to safety. Where is your daughter?”

Looking around the room, I turned back to the man and said, “She’s upstairs in the safe room.”

“Declan, go get her,” Mr. Collins ordered, and Torment followed.

“Mr. Collins?” Tessa said, walking around the table. “My name is Tessa Stone. I know Matthew Law. Can you tell me if my husband is safe?”

“I don’t know, ma’am. I’m sorry.”

“How the fuck are you guys even here?” Payne asked. “I thought Matthew and his guys were on the run, looking for Ace.”

“Information regarding Alpha team is classified,” Merc replied just as the man named Declan walked down the stairs carrying my sleeping daughter in his arms.

“This way, ma’am. We need to go now.”

Storm walked over and sighed. “Go with them, Aksana. They are the best at what they do.”

Nodding, I followed the men out of the clubhouse, not knowing what was going on. I just prayed that when I got to my destination, someone would tell me where Vladmir was.

Not even thirty minutes later, Katiya and I were escorted into a penthouse, where Illyria and Maxim greeted me.

“Oh, thank God,” Illyria cried, wrapping me in her arms.

Carefully taking Katiya from me, Maxim hugged my daughter close, bestowing a kiss on her forehead before handing her over to Clara, who said nothing, walking away with my daughter.

Looking up at Maxim, I asked, “Where is Vladmir?”

“He’s with the others, Aksana. Come,” Maxim instructed, escorting me to the living room where I sat, Illyria next to me. She was crying. I could clearly see her red-rimmed eyes. In fact, all of the men had forlorn looks on their faces. Turning back to Maxim, I shook my head.

“No. He’s not dead. He can’t be.”

“No.” Maxim sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “But he’s been shot.”

“What happened?”

“Satan’s Angels happened.”

“No,” I gasped, shaking my head.

“It’s bad, Aksana.” Illyria sniffed, looking at her fingers. “Be sure you want to know this, because it’s really fucking bad.”

“Will he live?”

“Yes,” Maxim firmly said.

“Then tell me everything.”