Misha
The Santoris knew about the Fitzpatrick threat long before they told us. Did Nikki know the whole time?
Mila’s orders not to do anything rash can go to hell.
I’ve obeyed her to a T my entire life, but I don’t give a fuck about starting a war between the Taranovs and the Santoris.
She and Teddy can pick up the pieces, or they can be at war forever for all I care.
All of my rationality went out the window the second I found out Abby was gone, and my closest target is Nikki Santori.
It’s his betrayal that started this anyway. Come what may, my retaliation is only the consequence for sending my woman away. My woman. Mine.
I don’t give a fuck about some lousy legal document in another country.
Abby Reid belongs to me. Or I guess she can go by Niamh if she wants.
I’ll call her whatever she wants. I don’t care about her past, and I don’t care what her intentions were when we met.
I know she didn’t go through with her mission.
It all makes sense now. She was so skittish at first. There’s no telling what my poor girl has endured for the past ten years. Conor Fitzpatrick is a monster. And Nikki fucking Santori sent my perfect angel back to him.
Rage like nothing I’ve felt before floods my veins as I pull into the family garage at the Santori compound. I’ve had top clearance here since our families joined, but I have a feeling that’s going to change after tonight.
Tossing my helmet onto my bike, I make my way to the door that leads directly into the house.
The left leads to the family areas, and as mad as I am at Nikki, I don’t wish ill will toward the ladies of the house.
Right leads to the offices, and anyone who might be in my way there will fall victim to my wrath.
Fortunately, the halls are quiet tonight, so no additional casualties are necessary as I make my way to Nikki’s office. The light is on and the door is cracked, but it would make no difference. No barrier would stand a chance of keeping me from my prey.
“Misha, there you are! I was starting to worry when you didn’t return my—”
Crunch.
Nikki grabs at his bloody nose, “What the f—”
My assault leaves no room for him to speak his mind, but there’s no need for words. I don’t need to hear his sorry explanation as to why he would betray not only me, but a defenseless woman.
Not that men like Nikki and me are necessarily good, far from it.
We’re all damned. But there’s a special place in hell for men like Conor.
Both of our outfits have always had an accord on the matter of human trafficking.
Despite the terrible things we are guilty of, we at least rid the world of those demons.
“What the hell are you made of?” Nikki tries to move, but he can’t move an inch the way I’ve pinned him down.
I smirk. “It’s a Russian element. You Italians don’t have it.”
“Hey! Stop!” Teddy’s voice carries faintly through the room. I didn’t realize anyone else was in here, but my tunnel vision was locked on the bastard who hurt Abby.
I’m on the floor now, holding Nikki down as I continue to lay hit after hit. Or attempt to. His initial shock allowed me to get several great punches in before his defense went up. He’s as skilled as any of our top soldiers, so he knows how to block well.
“Misha. Get off him! That’s a command.”
“You can go fuck yourself, Taranov. That’s a command.”
Nikki takes advantage of the momentary lapse and flips us over, taking the high ground. He only gets in one good hit on my jaw before I throw up my defense. It’s enough to break skin, but it’s not nearly as much power as I know he has.
“What.” Punch. “Is.” Punch. “Your problem?” Punch.
What the fuck does he mean what is my problem? Anger flares, giving me the momentum to push him off. I take advantage of the break and kip up, before driving Nikki against a wooden cabinet. The wooden doors crack under our weight as I hold him still.
“My problem is that you sent my fucking woman back to that goddamn monster,” I spit, then ram my head against his, knocking us both a bit loopy if I’m being honest.
Nikki backs up until he’s on the opposite side of the desk and throws his hands up in a fighting stance, mirroring every step of mine to keep his distance. “What are you talking about, man? Did you not get my messages? I would never do anything like that! To any woman, let alone a dear friend.”
“A dear friend?” I growl. “She was your friend? And you betrayed her?”
“Yes! I adore Abby. And I would never betray her. We had a plan—”
“What the fuck do you mean you had a plan?”
“I mean, Abby and I had a plan to take Conor down. She came to me for help, and we were going to feed Conor intel until the right moment and bring him down.”
My stomach drops. Abby, my sweet angel, the love of my life, my soulmate. The one person in the whole world I would do anything for, give up anything for, die for…felt more comfortable going to Nikki fucking Santori than coming to me for help.
Shmack.
Leaping across the desk, I pounce on Nikki. We both fall to the ground, crushing a chair in the process. I don’t even know why I’m attacking him now. I don’t not believe him, but I don’t know which is worse for me at the moment. Abby is gone either way. I’m just angry.
Nikki is now fighting at his full potential as we destroy his office. I’m not sure how long we go on like this. All I know is that one minute I’m wrestling with Nikki and the next I’m held up against the wall so high that my feet don’t touch in a chokehold.
“That is enough.” Gabri’s voice echoes through the office.
Whatever alpha wolf possesses me cowers into the shadows of my mind as the eldest Santori stands his ground.
He’s a scary motherfucker, I’ve known that since the day we met.
But I’ve never seen him in action like this.
I raise my hands in surrender, and he slowly lowers me to the ground, but doesn’t fully let go.
I glance behind him, where Teddy and one of Santori’s top men struggle to restrain Nikki. He finally breaks free, running full speed toward me, only to be stopped by Gabri.
“Stand down,” he growls, single-handedly holding his younger brother out of my reach.
Or vice versa. “You two are going to cut it out. Do you understand? Fighting like this is the most unproductive thing we can be doing right now. If you want to get Abby back, you’ll have to pull yourselves together. ”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
Gabri looks back and forth between us a few times, then finally lets us go.
He leads us to some of the unbroken chairs and takes his seat behind the desk.
“Misha, I understand that you’re upset, but your anger is misplaced.
My brother has done nothing wrong here. The opposite, in fact.
He’s known about Abby’s identity from the first time Ellie brought her home.
” Gabri cuts his brother a deathly stare.
“Apparently, he didn’t want to share that information with the rest of us.
But nonetheless, he’s watched over her and has been there for her. ”
Gabri is right. Nikki hasn’t done anything wrong. Nobody has.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble. “This is just a lot to find out…”
Nikki smiles softly. “You’re good. I’m sorry too. I should’ve said something to you. I just didn’t want to get in the way of your relationship.”
“How did you know? All of my reports came back squeaky clean.”
“Gabri’s did too.” He winks at his brother. “I’m a bit of a computer genius. My hacking skills ar—”
Gabri clears his throat. “Yes, yes, you’re a computer god. Can we get back to the problem at hand, please?”
“Sorry.”
“Yes, please.” I’m minutes away from going after her myself, plans be damned.
“Our computer genius Nikki over here knows where she is, not that Conor is trying to hide it…”
I’m not an idiot. I put a tracker in her the first night she stayed at my place.
I may not be a hacking genius like Nikki, but I know sexual assault trauma when I see it.
I wasn’t going to let her go without knowing I could keep her safe.
I want to scream that I know where she is too, but this isn’t the time for cock-measuring contests.
“He’s set up an auction and has graciously reached out to let us know that we can bid on her if we would like.
It would seem that her and Nikki’s little plan to make it seem like she succeeded in her seduction didn’t go completely unnoticed.
Even if he suspects that you two are involved as well.
We aren’t sure if it’s a setup or if he genuinely just wants the money, but the price is high. ”
“I don’t care. I’ll pay it.” I’ve made quite the living. A far stretch from that young boy living on the streets.
The eldest Santori clears his throat. “That’s if this isn’t a setup.”
Standing up, I prop my hands in front of Gabri and lean toward him.
“I don’t give a damn if this is a setup.
You don’t have to send a single one of your men.
I have my own army. But even without them, I would get her back.
I will burn down the whole goddamn world, including Thunder Bay and everyone in it, to get that woman back. Do. You. Understand?”
Gabri holds my stare, waiting for me to cower, but he won’t get that this time. “You’ll have the strength of our men. Including Nikki and me.”
“Thank you,” I say, sinking back into my seat.
“Of course. We leave tonight. Mila is already in flight to Canada as we speak. She left around the time you showed up.” He stands from his seat. “I’m going to go confirm some of the arrangements. I’ll be back shortly. Just…wait here and don’t do anything stupid.”
Waiting here and not doing anything stupid is harder than it sounds.
I’m so fired up right now—all that adrenaline and anger I channeled into Nikki earlier having nowhere to go.
Mila calls them my war goggles when all I can see is red.
She makes fun of me, but I know she’s jealous of the spike in testosterone.
The thought of Mila makes me smile. I’m not sure why I didn’t think she would help get my love back.
There’s just a lot going on in Russia right now.
Of course she would come, though. I would do the same for her.
Our friendship is a reminder of just how stupid I’ve been in regard to Nikki and Abby’s friendship.
I guess it’s just human nature to assume the worst.
“So…you and Abby never?”
Nikki laughs. “Oh no. We are just friends, I swear. She’s liked you from day one. I think I knew she was crazy about you before she did. And...I have a love of my own.”
The brotherly camaraderie I feel for Nikki comes flying back at his confession. “I didn’t realize you were seeing someone.”
“I’m not. It’s unrequited.”
I roll my chair against his, throwing my arm around his shoulders. “Oh man, I’m so sorry…”
“Ah, don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I have bigger problems to worry about right now. Like saving my friend.”
“Yeah…” I sigh, running a hand through my hair.
“We’re going to get her back,” Nikki whispers.
“Oh, I know we are.”
I meant everything I said to Gabri. I will burn the fucking world down to save my lesnaya.