4. Connor
Chapter 4
Connor
I’m sitting in a chair opposite Da’s desk, arms crossed, staring out the window. The rain’s pelting down like it’s got something to prove, but all it does is make the gray stone of the estate look even bleaker.
It’s been two days since Da told me Nikolai and Konstantin were coming, and I’ve been dreading this moment ever since.
The clock ticks louder than usual, or maybe that’s just my mood playing tricks on me. I hate waiting, and having to wait for him feels like swallowing glass.
The door creaks open, and Nikolai steps in first, followed by Konstantin. I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms as my eyes flick over them. Nikolai looks… different.
Gone is the cocky swagger that used to irritate me and, if I’m being honest, sometimes made me laugh. Now, his shoulders are stiff, his expression is grim, and his gaze doesn’t meet mine.
“Sir,” Nikolai says, his voice quiet as he nods toward my father. When he finally looks at me, there’s no trace of the Nikolai I used to know. “Connor.”
I don’t answer, just give him a tight nod, which he doesn’t seem surprised by. Good. He shouldn’t expect anything else.
Konstantin, on the other hand, looks the same as ever—imposing as hell, with his tall frame, slicked-back hair, and those unsettling gray eyes. He’s got his usual air of confidence, but there’s something darker beneath it today. Maybe guilt, maybe determination. Hard to say with him.
“Sit,” Da says, his voice low but commanding.
The two of them take the seats next to me, and I feel Nikolai’s hesitation before he finally settles in. My father’s gaze sweeps over us, the weight of it pressing down on the room.
“We’ve found them,” he says without preamble.
I sit up straighter, the tension in my chest sharpening. “What? Where?”
Da doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he turns his laptop around, the screen facing the three of us. My stomach sinks as I see a map, the blinking red dot unmistakable.
“Germany,” Da says. “This is where they’re being held.”
The relief I feel at finally having a location is instantly overshadowed by confusion. “How the hell do you know that?”
He leans back in his chair. “When Cat started at Willow Bridge, I had a tracking device implanted in her. It’s behind her neck.”
I bristle at the news. “You what ?”
Da’s eyes flick to mine, a warning in them. “It was a precaution and for her safety. I don’t regret it.”
My jaw clenches so hard it hurts, but I don’t say anything more. Not here. Not in front of them. But the anger simmers, hot and heavy in my chest. Catriona is my sister, not some bloody asset to be tagged and tracked like a piece of equipment.
Da doesn’t seem phased by my reaction. He’s already moved on, his finger tracing the red dot on the screen. “The building is heavily secured. There are guards stationed at all points, but we have a layout of the interior.”
He clicks a button, and the map shifts to show a blueprint of what looks like an old factory. My stomach tightens at the sight of it.
“You’ll leave tonight,” Da continues. “It’ll be the three of you, plus a team I’ve already arranged. I expect this to be quick and clean. No mistakes.”
“Yes, sir,” Nikolai says immediately, his tone respectful. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him glancing at me, but I don’t return the look.
Konstantin leans forward, his gaze fixed on the blueprint. “How many guards?”
“At least a dozen on-site,” Da replies. “Possibly more.”
Konstantin nods, his expression calculating. “Do we have an extraction plan?”
“It’s already in place,” Da says. “The team will handle it once you’ve secured the girls.”
I sit back in my chair, my fists clenching and unclenching as they talk logistics. The plan, the guards, the extraction—none of it makes me feel any better. The thought of Cat being tracked without her knowledge still burns, but there’s no point in bringing it up now. Not with so much at stake.
“Connor.”
I meet his eyes. “Aye.”
“You’re leadin’ this,” he says. “Keep your head. Don’t let your anger cloud your judgment.”
I nod, though the words sting. “I won’t.”
His gaze lingers on me for a moment, like he’s weighing my silence, but he doesn’t press. “Good. Then get ready. You leave in four hours.”
Nikolai and Konstantin stand, both nodding to Da before heading for the door. I follow, but Da’s voice stops me before I can leave.
“Connor, stay a moment.”
I freeze, my jaw tightening. Nikolai and Konstantin exchange a glance before stepping out of the room, the door clicking shut behind them.
I turn back to him, my arms crossing over my chest. “What?”
He walks around the desk and stops in front of me. “Say what you’re holdin’ back.”
I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “Where do I start? The implant? The fact you didn’t tell me? Or the part where Nikolai’s sitting in this house like he belongs here?”
Da’s brow furrows slightly, but he doesn’t back down. “The implant saved her life. If it weren’t for that, we’d have no idea where she is right now.”
“That’s not the point,” I snap. “You made a decision about Catriona without tellin’ her. Without tellin’ me.”
“And I’d do it again if it meant keepin’ her alive.”
I shake my head, running a hand through my hair. “It’s not right, Da. None of this is right.”
“No, it’s not,” he agrees. “But this is the world we live in. You know that better than anyone.”
I sigh, staring at the floor. “She’s going to hate us for this.”
“Maybe,” he says quietly. “But she’ll be alive to hate us. That’s what matters.”
I swallow hard, the words cutting deeper than I want to admit. Finally, I nod, though it feels more like surrender than agreement.
“Good,” Da says, stepping back. “Now, get ready. You’ve got work to do.”
I leave the office, knowing there’s no room for hesitation now. Cat and Marina are waiting, and I’ll be damned if I let anything stand in the way of bringing them home. Not my anger. Not Nikolai. Nothing.
And I’ll do whatever it takes to bring them home. Even if it means swallowing my anger and trusting Nikolai—just this once.