30. Quinn
30
QUINN
H eart breaking into a sprint, I jolt awake at the shrill voice that carries to my ears. And for a moment, I don’t know where I am as I bolt upright to look around. I must have fallen asleep and someone carried me to my room. I feel bad for having dozed off when I know how worried Killian is about Natasha.
But the raised cadence of a woman’s voice chases away that guilt as I recognize who it is. My heart stutters to a halt. Because I can think of only one reason why Tatiana Sokolov would be here, talking like that right now.
Flinging the blanket off me, I scramble to my feet and race downstairs.
“We are going to make that Italian bastard pay for taking my sister,” she thunders, her body quivering in her rage as she and Killian face off.
Only my brother doesn’t look like he’s ready to argue. He looks like he’s ready to fight. “I have all my forces on their way here right now. I suggest you call your men in as well. I don’t care if it brings the entire NYPD down on our heads. I’m ready to make whatever display of force is necessary to get her out. But the priority is Natasha’s safety. After we can guarantee that, I intend to raze Lucian Agosti’s empire to the ground.”
“Agreed,” Tatiana says, her phone already in her hand.
And all the while, I stand frozen in the doorway, my hand raised to cover my mouth in horror. Lucian must be holding Natasha prisoner. How Killian and Tatiana found out, I don’t know. But that hardly matters right now.
My mind is working a mile a minute as I listen to my brother strategize with Lance on the best way to break through Lucian’s defenses based on what Lance knows of the compound.
Tatiana speaks in Russian to someone over the phone, her voice authoritative and concise in whatever directive she’s giving. And as soon as she hangs up, she reengages with my brother.
“My men are on their way,” she says. “We can gather and coordinate here. This is as close as we’ll get before crossing into Lucian’s territory.”
Killian gives a curt nod. “How many armored cars do you have? Lance said the front gate is going to be Lucian’s weak point. If we can ram through it, we may be able to flood the estate before he has a chance to organize a defense.”
“As many as we need,” Tatiana says. “I have thirty on their way right now. But I wonder if Lucian has his eyes on this place. If so, he’ll know we’re coming. That could jeopardize Natasha.”
Killian nods, his brows pressing together in deep thought.
“Send your men straight into Queens,” Lance suggests. “Tell them to pick a spot within five minutes of the compound and hold tight. We can coordinate with our men, give them the plan, then have one of our cars meet up with each of yours.”
“I like it,” Tatiana agrees. And she’s back on the phone a moment later.
I’ve never seen my brother and the Sokolov pakhansha work so well together as they amass their forces and form a strategy to crush the Italians and rescue Natasha. And I’m amazed by Killian’s ability to collaborate and coordinate when it really matters. For months, I’ve watched him and Tatiana butt heads. But today, when Natasha’s life is on the line, he’s another man completely.
“We still have the problem of gathering the men here if Lucian is watching,” Killian says to Lance.
“It might be dangerous to communicate over the phone as well,” he points out.
“Send them on circuitous routes,” Tatiana suggests, covering the mouthpiece of her phone with one hand.
Killian shakes his head. “I don’t want to waste the time if it isn’t absolutely necessary. Every minute we leave her in Lucian’s hands, he could be hurting her.”
My stomach knots painfully as my skin lights on fire with the memory of what Natasha could be enduring. I start to tremble as I realize that my worst fears are coming to life right here. Right now. Everyone I love will be going to war for Natasha—and they might not all come home. But if they don’t help her, she might never come home. And I know without a doubt that losing her would destroy my brother. So all I can do is wait and pray that they all come back to me safely.
Tatiana quickly wraps up her phone call and returns her attention to the conversation at hand. And while my mind is reeling, she seems to be tracking each thread of this convoluted knot without batting an eyelash.
“He won’t hurt her,” she says calmly, confidently.
“You don’t know that,” Killian growls, and I can see how close he is to losing it. He’s always been a live wire, ready to snap at a moment’s notice. Usually, that comes out in his mischievousness. But today, I can see it’s what’s going to obliterate him if he can’t reel his emotions back in.
“I do,” Tatiana says softly, grasping Killian’s forearm. “Because he knows how much we care for her. And he knows that if he does hurt her, we will stop at nothing to crush him. Lucian is hoping that he can make a deal, and by returning her safely to us, that means we will uphold our end of the bargain as well.”
My brother swallows convulsively, his gaze dropping to the floor as he shakes his head. “I’ve underestimated Lucian for the last time,” he rasps. “I failed to protect your father. I failed to protect your sister. I won’t make the same mistake again.”
Heart shattering, I bite back a sob as I stand by, watching Killian’s world fall apart. And all I am is a spectator. Because these aren’t physical wounds I can stitch up with a needle and thread.
“We’ve both made mistakes, Killian,” Tatiana says. “We’ve both underestimated him. But in this one regard, I know I’m right. If he’s going to hurt Natasha, he’s going to make sure the guilt lands squarely on my shoulders. He wants me to know that I have the power to save her, so if she dies, her blood will be on my hands. Not his.”
I’m impressed by both Tatiana’s logic and the level of compassion in her delivery. And while the world seems like it’s quickly unraveling, I’m amazed at just how well Tatiana thrives in this role. This is why she should lead her father’s men. Because while my brother is losing his ever-loving mind over the woman he married, Tatiana is somehow keeping a cool head.
“Call your men. Have them stagger their arrivals. Give the message to half of them. They can pass it along to the other half before going to meet up with my men. It won’t take more than a few hours for everyone to learn the plan.” Tatiana glances down at her delicate gold watch. “It’s almost eight now. Even with that delay, we should be able to have everyone in place before noon. And that will put us at Lucian’s front door a full six hours before his deadline.”
Taking what seems like the first deep breath in hours, Killian nods and gets to work. Tatiana gets on the phone once more as well.
And suddenly, I find myself standing across the room from Lance—all alone with him and yet unable to run into his arms to seek comfort. Cruel tears blur my vision at the thought of losing him.
Because he and I both know that in a fight this size, not everyone will make it out alive.
God, I hate this so much. It feels like no matter which direction I turn, I’m going to lose someone I care about. And there’s nothing I can do about it. Just sit here and wait with a needle and thread, hoping I can fix whatever broken pieces return to me.
Soft warmth radiates from Lance’s deep-sea eyes, and he tips his head subtly, signaling for me to follow him so we can meet in secret before he goes.