1. Maxim
ONE
MAXIM
“ F uck, fuck, fuck.” I slam my phone on the dashboard, the sound rattling through the car, my scream a raw mixture of rage and sorrow. That son of a fucking bitch took her. I should’ve thought about him sooner. How could I have been so goddamn stupid? Luca Varoni should’ve been the first name on my list to question. How the hell did I ignore the warning signs? I slam the steering wheel with both hands, the sharp crack echoing in my ears. I swear on everything I have—Luca is going to regret the fucking day he was born.
I grip the steering wheel so hard, my knuckles turn white. You failed her. The thought claws at me, consuming my mind. This is all my fault. I was supposed to protect her. I promised her. Now look where we are.
Andrei’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts, but I can’t answer him. I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out. My brain is a storm of rage, regret, and panic, all spiraling faster than I can process. You failed her.
“Tell me you found her.” The words scrape out, rough and broken, my throat tight as fire burns through my chest. My vision blurs at the edges, a haze of panic and fury I can’t contain. Every second feels like a knife twisting deeper, the silence threatening to crush me.
You failed her.
You failed her.
You failed her.
You failed her.
Those words are a broken record in my head. How could I let this happen? I promised I would never let anyone touch her, harm her, and I couldn’t even keep that promise. All this time, I thought I was keeping her safe, but I’ve brought the hell of my world to her doorstep.
You can’t change the past.
The voice in my head is right. I can’t fix what has already been done, but I sure as hell can make sure Luca pays for this. I’ll take everything from him—everything. It’s time to let the beast out.
“Yes, I tracked her using the number she called you from. The GPS says she’s six and a half hours from Miami, in a town called Lauderhill Lake,” Andrei says, but his words barely break through the storm raging in my head. The pounding in my skull drowns out everything else. I slam the pedal to the floor, the engine roaring in protest as the car surges forward. Reckless doesn’t matter. Nothing matters but the clock ticking against me. Six and a half hours? I’ll make it three if it kills me—because losing her isn’t an option.
Hold on, baby. I’m coming.
When the GPS announces we’ve arrived, I don’t hesitate. There has been too much of that already. I spring into action, slamming the brakes, throwing the car into park, grabbing my gun, and storming out. I don’t give a damn if Andrei’s got my back—this is on me. I reach the entrance of the alley and stop. My gun is out in front of me, my heart thundering as I peek around the corner, scanning for any signs of an ambush.
That’s when I see Luca leaning against the wall, looking like he hasn’t got a care in the world, like he hasn’t just torn apart the only reason I have to breathe. My nostrils flare, fury shooting through me. He meets my eyes, that smug grin of his setting my blood on fire. Ignoring everything—Andrei’s shout, the logical part of my brain telling me to think—I point my gun at Luca and walk toward him, step by step, every inch of my body aching with rage.
“Stop,” Andrei’s voice cuts through the rage-filled fog clouding my mind.
I scoff, a sharp, bitter sound. Stop? Is he serious? Luca is right there, within arm’s reach, close enough for me to end this. The thought of letting him slip away tightens something primal in my chest. I don’t have time for plans, for thinking, only for action. When I reach him, I stop and press the gun to his forehead. His smirk never wavers, like he’s untouchable. He doesn’t flinch, doesn’t make a move to pull his gun— he only watches me as if he has been waiting for this moment.
“Where the fuck is she, Luca?” I growl, pushing the barrel deeper into his skin. He doesn’t respond. Instead, he calmly reaches into his pocket. My muscles coil in anticipation, expecting him to pull out a weapon. Instead, he produces a fucking black comb.
Is this a joke?
I don’t know whether to laugh or scream. He’s playing games like we’re in a fucking movie. Luca looks at me, his eyes dancing with that same gleam of mischief. “Where is who?” he asks, and my rage erupts. I don’t think. I swing the butt of my gun into his face, the impact knocking that damn smile off his lips. Blood spills from his mouth, but he doesn’t even seem to care.
“Where is she?” I ask again, voice low and dangerous, pressing the gun back to his temple. Still nothing. Instead, he wipes the blood with his thumb, his eyes twinkling with a maddening calmness. “Stop acting brave, Luca. You know what I’m capable of.” I punch his ribs. He doesn’t make a sound, doesn’t flinch. It’s aggravating.
“Do you not remember how I got my nickname?” I ask, voice colder than ice. “Answer me.” He nods. Good . I press harder into his neck, putting strain on his airways. “Do you think it’s wise to fuck with me?” I whisper.
His eyes are unblinking, unwavering. Then, with a smile that makes my blood run cold, he mutters, “You don’t scare me, Maxim.” But I can see it: a flicker of fear behind those eyes. He’s lying.
“Those were the exact words your father said to me right before I blew his brains out.” The memories flood back—torturing his father, feeling the heat of blood and the satisfaction of power.
Luca’s face hardens, his jaw locking. “That pezzo di merda deserved it.” His eyes narrow, a shift in his demeanor. “I never properly thanked you for that. You freed me from the devil.” I raise an eyebrow. Luca had a twisted relationship with him, more than I ever realized.
“Where is she, Luca?”
His smirk finally fades, replaced by a stern expression. “Sophia is safe. I had nothing to do with her kidnapping.” He moves, trying to wiggle free. “Let go of me and I’ll explain.”
I scoff. “What did you fucking do to her?” I snap, a sick feeling settling in my stomach.
He releases an exasperated sigh, like he’s tired of playing along. “I did nothing but help. She’s safe with my wife back in Miami. The best doctors are taking care of her. She will be fine.”
Doctors? My blood runs cold. “What the fuck did you do to her?”
Luca shakes his head, exasperated. “For fuck’s sake, Volkov.”
Images of Sophia flood my mind—horrible scenarios of what could have happened to her because of this bastard. My vision blurs. I feel the rage building inside me, uncontrollable. Before I even realize it, I’m on him, shoving him into the wall again, the sound echoing through the alley.
His head hits the cement wall with a sickening thud, but I can barely hear it over the deafening roar of rage drowning out every other thought. All I can see is Sophia’s blood, her pale, lifeless body flashing before my eyes. Helpless. Frail. How fucking helpless she must have been.
This—this is his doing, his fault. I slam my fist into Luca’s face again, the world narrowing until all that exists is his face. He will die by my hands. No one else will have the satisfaction of making him bleed.
A sharp, unyielding grip wraps around me—who the hell? I elbow the body pulling me away, pushing them off with a grunt. I don’t care who it is. No one will stop me. Not now. Not when I’m so close to ending this bastard. I grab Luca by the collar, shaking him violently. “You piece of shit Italian scum,” I snarl, the words dripping with venom. “You’re dead.”
But as I move to reach for my gun, it’s not there. My stomach drops. Where the fuck is my gun? I scan the ground, but it’s nowhere around me.
Strong arms lock around me again, pulling me back. “Maxim, calm the fuck down. Let go of him,” Andrei’s voice cuts through my haze of fury, but it’s no use. His words fall flat.
Is Andrei on his side?
“No,” I growl, pushing him off with more force. His muscles tighten, resisting my every move. “How fucking dare you tell me to let go of him?” My voice is a rasping scream. “Who’s side are you on?” I demand, the disbelief and betrayal heavy in my tone.
“Your side, brother,” Andrei snaps back, his voice tight with frustration. “Always your fucking side. But you’re not thinking rationally. You’re letting your anger control you.” Think rationally. How the fuck am I supposed to think rationally? The woman I love has been taken, and the man standing before me is the reason why.
“How are you going to find her if you kill him?” I feel Andrei’s words slither through the fog in my mind, but I can barely grasp them.
She’s being taken care of.
Luca’s words echo in my head like a distant memory, taunting me. I stare at Luca. Blood dripping from his split lips, his body slumped on the floor half-unconscious in front of me. If he’s telling the truth, how did he find her first? Why did he help her? As much as I hate to admit it, Andrei is right. I’m letting my anger control and blind me, and if I want a chance to find Sophia or get answers, I need to stop and listen to Luca.
“Alright,” I say through clenched teeth, my voice barely above a whisper. Andrei nods then turns and heads toward the car. When he returns, he is holding a shirt that has seen better days in his hand. Andrei works quickly, his face impassive as he cleans Luca’s wounds. I lean against the wall, watching through blurry vision. Never have I lost control like this.
Even when I killed his father, it was controlled, calculated. This? This is pure, unbridled fury. Luca stirs as Andrei puts something under his nose. After a few moments, he gasps for air, sitting up, his eyes flickering back to life. He grins—the bastard grins—and staggers to his feet, using the wall for support.
“Even with all this blood covering my face, I still look better than you,” Luca mutters, his voice laced with the same mocking tone he always used. I want to break his neck just for that smile.
I cross my arms, trying to steady myself. “Where is she?” I ask, my voice eerily calm. Calm enough to be dangerous.
“Like I said earlier, Maxim…” Luca coughs, his hand pressing against his stomach. “She’s safe. She’s with my wife in my temporary home.”
I take a step forward, my pulse pounding in my ears. Bullshit. This man is lying through his teeth. I can feel the rage building again. He doesn’t have a wife—my last report on him didn’t mention anyone. “I’ll ask you one last time. Where the fuck is she?” I’m so close to losing it again. Why is he trying to play the hero when he’s anything but? What does he want from me?
He rolls his eyes, and my fingers twitch. If he pulls out that damn comb again, I’ll make sure his smile disappears for good. But instead, he pulls out his phone.
“Luca,” I snap, frustration creeping into my voice, “I’m done with your games.”
“I’m calling my wife to prove I’m not lying,” he says, tapping the screen.
“I don’t believe you,” I growl. “You’re just trying to get me to lower my guard so you can finish what you started with Sophia.”
Luca looks at Andrei, his expression mocking. “Come here. You make the call. Maxim needs to calm the fuck down.” He turns back to me with a wrinkled nose. “The disgusting vein in his neck is pulsing again.”
Andrei hides a laugh behind a cough. I roll my eyes. Idiots. Andrei glances at me for permission, and I give a sharp nod. “Dial Cecilia,” Luca orders, handing the phone to Andrei. The phone rings a few times before a soft voice answers.
“Hey, where are you?” Cecilia asks, her tone almost worried.
“Handling some business. I’ll be home soon.”
“You promised you’d be home an hour ago, Luca.” There’s a palpable irritation in her voice. Luca shoots me a look, one that says, Women, right?
“Cecilia, it’s not the time for this,” Luca says, his tone sharper. “You’re on speakerphone. I need a favor.”
“I don’t care who’s listening,” she snaps. “When you make a promise, you keep it. I’m here alone with this poor girl, and I don’t know what to do. So say goodbye to whoever you’re with and get your ass home. Now.”
I snatch the phone from Andrei, my heart hammering in my chest. “What does the girl look like?” I demand my voice tight with anxiety. My world teeters, waiting for the answer.
“First of all, you’re fucking rude. Second, I don’t know who the hell you are,” Cecilia snaps, “and if my husband hasn’t told you, I’m not about to do so.” A twisted smile pulls at my lips. As much as I hate to admit it, Luca and I have something in common—we both love them feisty.
“It’s okay, Cecilia,” Luca says softly. “Tell him.”
She lets out a heavy sigh, her irritation evident. “She has red hair. That’s all I can tell you,” she says sharply. “She was too bruised and covered in blood for me to notice anything else. I was more concerned about making sure everything was running smoothly than focusing on her features.”
My chest tightens, the world closing in. Red hair. Blood. My hands tremble as I look at Luca, silently urging him to explain. He doesn’t—he just stares back at me, a flicker of something almost like sympathy in his eyes.
“Explain,” I beg.
Luca takes a deep breath, as if steeling himself. “You should know, Maxim, I let you do this to me. You needed to get the edge off, and I took it. Better me than one of my men, right?”
I grit my teeth fitting back an eye roll. He let me beat him up? He is so full of shit. “Get on with it,” I snap.
Luca shifts, drawing a dramatic breath. “I didn’t kidnap her, Maxim. I helped her escape.” I feel a jolt in my chest—escape? How did he find her when I didn’t? “You don’t have to believe me now, but you will.”
I want to fight it. I want to deny it. But the doubt gnaws at me. Could it be true? If it is…who the hell did kidnap her? I breathe, trying to center myself. “If you didn’t kidnap her, then who did?”
“That, I don’t know yet. But I’ll help you find out.” Luca’s sincerity is thick, almost suffocating.
“I don’t need your help,” I growl. “I’ll figure this out myself.”
Luca scoffs, a bitter laugh escaping him. “Right. Just like you figured out where to find her?” My heart stutters. He’s right. No matter who I asked, what I did, I couldn’t find her. If she wouldn’t have called me, I’m afraid I would have never found her.
“How did you find her?” I demand, trying to sound detached, though I can’t ignore my racing pulse. I don’t want to feel this—this weakness—especially in front of him.
“It was a coincidence. I overheard one of my men saying someone was paying a lot of money to kidnap the girlfriend of a Russian boss. I didn’t think anything of it, went about my life, until I got the news it was Sophia who was kidnapped two days later.” His lip curls in disgust as his eyes narrow on me. “At first, I wasn’t going to do shit. I was going to let you get the karma you deserved. But I couldn’t let her suffer through what I knew those pieces of shit would do to her. She has had enough suffering in her life; she didn’t need more. I did a deep dive and found the men who took her from your home. It wasn’t hard getting them to speak.” He winks at me, and I have to fight an eye roll. “I had fun getting the information out of them?—”
I swallow hard, the weight of his words hitting me harder than I expected. His phone dings, and he looks at the screen, his eyes lighting up with something I can’t quite place. “I need to hurry. Cecilia is telling me if I don’t get home soon, she has a knife with my name on it.” I can’t help but notice the change in him—Luca has never been this…alive. Under the worry and the stress in his eyes, there’s a hint of happiness. He looks back at me. “They gave me the location of where she was being held. It took me a bit to find her because they moved her to different locations three times. They didn’t know who was behind it.”
I nod, trying to process. “Why did you rescue her?” My tone is sharp, laced with suspicion. “You’re a lot of things, Luca, but a fucking knight in shining armor isn’t one of them.”
He meets my gaze. “I’m far from a knight, Maxim. I rescued her because she doesn’t deserve to be caught in the middle of your mess. This is your fault. All I did was save her from what you put her through.”
He points his index finger at me, and I take a step back as if I’ve been shot. His words cut so deep, it feels like my heart is breaking. As much as I fucking hate to admit it, he’s right. She didn’t deserve to be caught in the crossfire of this shitstorm. She was kidnapped because of me. I should cut all ties with her—let her go, let her live an everyday life, marry someone who doesn’t have blood on his hands. That’s what a selfless person would do. That’s what a hero would do.
I laugh bitterly at myself. Who the hell am I fooling? Let her go? Let her marry someone else? I’m no hero. I’m a fucking villain. I am the kind of man who’d rather burn the world than let her slip through my fingers.
She’s mine.
Andrei clears his throat, drawing my attention. “You didn’t really answer Maxim’s question.” He’s glaring at Luca, his arms crossed and eyebrows raised. “Why did you rescue her? Why not call my brother and tell him where she is? How the hell do you know she’s been through so much?”
Luca exhales sharply. “It’s personal.”
Andrei steps closer, looking pissed. “What kind of bullshit answer is that?”
Luca speaks again, his voice cracking, his gaze distant, as if replaying something painful. “I ruined her life years ago. This…this was my way of trying to make things right.”
Andrei’s mouth opens and closes as he processes Luca’s words. Finally, he mutters, “You and Sophia know each other?”
Luca smirks, the sarcasm creeping back. “Knowing her is a loose term. But yeah. We know each other.”
Andrei’s frustration is evident. “How?”
“That’s a story for another time, brother,” I cut in, impatient. The past doesn’t matter right now. I’ve wasted too much time, and I need to see her. I turn to Luca, my voice cold. “Let’s go.”
I just hope this isn’t some kind of trap.