Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Natasha
“Who are you?” I demand but my kidnapper doesn’t say a word. “Where are you taking me? Please. Answer me.”
He only keeps his eyes on the road, not acknowledging me like I don’t even exist.
I give up asking questions since I know it’s pointless and instead, I keep my eyes glued to the window. Maybe if I know where I’m going I can escape.
My kidnapper eventually takes me to a nice, wealthy neighborhood full of mansions. It’s then that I recognize this place: I was here with Kira… for Enzo’s party.
Right on cue, my kidnapper pulls into the driveway of Enzo’s house. The second he grabs me from the car, I let out a scream but he clamps his hand over my mouth, silencing me. I try to fight against his grip but he’s too strong and he easily carries me to the front door.
Once we’re inside the house – I remember it perfectly – my kidnapper throws me to the hard marble floor. The loud clack of shoes rings throughout the air and then right before me is Enzo, smiling down at me.
“You lied to me,” he says.
“What?”
“You didn’t tell me who you were the night of my party. You didn’t tell me you’re Maksim Petrov’s wife.”
“Why would I? I realize who you were and knew I shouldn’t say anything for my own safety. And I was right. You kidnapped me.”
“Just for the fun. I won’t hurt you. I don’t get off on beating women. I just want to make Maksim scared. I want him and Nikolai and those other fucking Russians to know that they can’t mess with me. That they can’t take me down. I will have power. I will overtake their territory.”
A sob escapes my mouth. “Please. I’m innocent. I didn’t choose to marry Maksim. I had to. Let me go. I’m not a part of this.”
He kneels down before me and wipes my tear away. “But you are. The second you married Maksim, you became a part of this.” He nods at the burly man. “Put her in the second floor guest room. I don’t want her trying to escape out the window.”
“Got it, boss,” the man says in a gravely tone before picking me up. I try fighting once again and once again, it’s pointless. I’m thrown into the guest room and the door is shut behind me. I gasp when I hear the lock click from the outside.
I’m Enzo’s prisoner and there’s no way out for me.
Maksim
I watch in horror as Natasha is taken away from me. My head is ringing from when the airbag smacked me in the face. Glass from the broken windshield covers my car. I wince when I feel a pain on my forehead and after I touch it, my fingers come back with blood.
None of that matters though. All that matters is that Natasha was taken from me.
When we first married, I was angry. Getting married to a stranger was the last thing I wanted.
But in these couple of weeks since we’ve been together, I’ve grown to care for Natasha.
Hell, I think I started to care for her on our wedding night.
Seeing how scared and vulnerable and innocent she looked. I couldn’t help but care.
I saved her from those men in Greece. I helped her with Alexandra. And I stood up for her against her father.
The urge to protect Natasha is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before and it’s only grown stronger. I need to get her back.
And I’m fairly positive I know who took her.
I call my father and inform him of everything.
“You lost Natasha?” he sounds aghast.
“It’s not like I meant to, Dad. Some asshole took her. I think it was Enzo. He was at the charity event tonight. He saw her and saw an opportunity. I don’t know who else would take her.”
“We have to be careful about this. If we invade Enzo’s territory, it could spell disaster.”
“We were already trying to take him down. This isn’t anything new. We find him and we kill him for taking Natasha.”
“Maksim, slow down. We can’t just kill Enzo. Yes, we’re trying to weaken him, but we can’t kill him. That will in fact lead to a war that will only end in disaster.”
“But Natasha is my wife. I doubt Lev will take it too kindly that his daughter has been kidnapped. He will want Enzo dead too. And you don’t want to piss off the man you just made an alliance with. That will lead to another war.”
Gregor sighs. “I’m sure of it but we have to be hundred percent positive that Enzo has Natasha. We can’t just kill him without proof.”
“Then I will find fucking proof. You told me to try with this marriage and now I am. So don’t stop me.”
My father goes silent for a long moment. “You care for her?” he asks quietly.
“I do,” I admit.
“Then I won’t begrudge you that. But if Enzo does have her, we don’t even know where he lives. He’s kept that a secret from us.”
An idea hits me. “I know one person. Kira. She was at a party at Enzo’s house.”
“Kira? My sweet Kira? She never goes to parties.”
“Dad, don’t be na?ve. Your precious Kira isn’t as innocent as you think.
She went to a party at Enzo’s house with my wife.
Natasha told me all about it. Kira will know where Enzo lives and if he has Natasha, he’ll hopefully have her there.
He didn’t know who Natasha was tonight which means he probably didn’t know that Kira was my sister.
He doesn’t know that we have information he doesn’t. ”
“No. Kira did not attend a party at our enemies house. I know she didn’t.”
“I’m going over to your house to ask her.” I hang up before he can object. He might want to see Kira as a little innocent bird forever but I know differently.
I let myself into my father’s house after I arrive. Gregor pulls into the driveway right as I’m walking in through the front door. “Kira! Kira!”
She appears at the top of the stairwell with an annoyed look. “What? Why are you screaming for me?”
“Natasha has been kidnapped. I’m positive it was Enzo Bianchi who did it.”
Her eyes widen as she rushes down the stairs. “What? Seriously?”
“You were at Enzo’s house.”
She frowns. “No I wasn’t. I’ve never met him before. Dad told me he was an enemy. Why would I go to an enemies house?”
“See?” Gregor says, coming up behind me. “Kira doesn’t know where Enzo lives.”
“But you do,” I say, grabbing her arms. “Natasha. You went to a party with her and she told me that you got drunk. She ran into Enzo there and got you out before you got hurt. You must not have realized who’s house you were at.”
“Enough of this,” Gregor growls, ripping my arms away from Kira. “Stop harassing your sister. She doesn’t know anything.”
But Kira looks shocked from the paleness in her face to her wide eyes. She knows I’m right. But the question is: is she willing to upset our father to save Natasha’s life?
“Kira, tell me where the house was,” I say. “You know it.”
Her eyes flick to our dad and back to me and she hesitates, biting her lip.
“Your sister is innocent. She doesn’t know anything. Drop it. We’ll find Natasha another way.”
“She is in danger, Kira. Just tell me where the house is. That’s all.”
“Kira, don’t listen to your brother. He’s just bothering you. Go back upstairs.”
“She’s in danger?” Kira asks.
“I’m sure of it,” I breathe out. “Enzo has killed people to try and take us down. He might try it with Natasha. I don’t know but I don’t want to find out. You’re friends with her. Help her. Help me.”
“Kira has no part in this,” Gregor growls, grabbing my arms and shoving me back. “I know you’re upset but going about it this way is not helping anyone. Stop, son.”
“Am I really your son? You treat Kira like your daughter but you’ve never treated me like your son.
I’m just business to you so you can use me how you want.
Don’t act like I’m your son. If you truly loved me, you’d be doing everything in your power to help me get Natasha back, like believe me when I say that Kira knows something. ”
“But Kira clearly doesn’t so you’re just harassing your sister.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Am I really your son?”
He opens and closes his mouth, like he has no idea what to say. “Of course you’re my son. Your mother never cheated.”
“That’s not what I mean and you know it.”
“Stop acting like this.”
“Like what?”
“Like a petulant child.”
“My wife just got kidnapped right before my eyes. I think I have the right to be upset right now. You wanted me to marry her. Am I in the wrong for caring about her?”
“Stop being like this, Maksim. You are embarrassing yourself.”
“And you’re not listening to me,” I snap.
“Stop!” Kira shouts. “Just stop. Please.”
Both Gregor and I stare at her in shock.
“I know where Enzo’s house is,” she says. “I was there, Dad. I went to a party at his house. I didn’t know it was his house but I know where it is.”
“No,” he scoffs. “You would never do something like that.”
“I got drunk. Natasha had to help me out. It wasn’t good.
I like to sneak out and go to parties. I’ve been doing it for years now.
You just never saw it since I’ve always been your good girl.
And I’m sorry. But Natasha is in danger and if I can help, then I’ll do what I have to do.
I’ll text you the address.” She pulls out her phone and the moment my phone dings with the address, I take off for the front door.
Gregor stares at Kira a moment longer – shame on his face – before following me.
I don’t bother telling my dad ‘I told you so.’ That would only make me look like the petulant child he claims I am.
He calls Nikolai as I drive us to Enzo’s house. We don’t tell Lev about this. If he were to know I couldn’t protect Natasha, then we’d have a war with Lev on our hands and we can’t risk that right now.
“Nikolai says he’ll meet us there,” Gregor says after hanging up. “He’s bringing multiple men with him. If Enzo has Natasha at his house, we’ll find her.”
“And kill him,” I growl, tightening my hands on the steering wheel.
“No, Maksim. We’ll get Natasha back and find another way to bring Enzo down. Killing him will only put us all at risk.”
“If it were Kira who was kidnapped, you’d want to kill that fucker.”
“Kira is my daughter. Natasha is someone you’ve only known for less than a couple of weeks.”
“And yet I care about her. I’m doing what you wanted. So why are you punishing me for that?”
“Just drive, Maksim.” My father sounds tired suddenly. “Just drive.”
I’m not sure my father and I will ever see eye-to-eye but right now that doesn’t matter. What matters is getting Natasha back.
Knowing she’s gone, I realize just how much I care for her. Once I get her back, I’ll never let her go again. I’ll vow to protect her. I’ll make our marriage work.
Because that’s what she deserves.