Chapter 15 | Katia
Katia
My head pounded relentlessly as I tried to count down two hours in my head.
Trying to concentrate, I struggled to think of a solution that would buy me more time.
If I lied and said I’d turn on Michael, things would be put into motion that would get me arrested quickly.
Dmitry would complete the fraudulent transactions, call them into the feds and I’d be arrested.
After that, my options would be to turn on Michael or go to prison for life.
Since I wasn’t on board with either one of those, I frantically searched for another option. Unfortunately, my brain was probably swollen from Oskar’s vicious hits, and thinking was almost impossible.
After a while, the door opened and Oskar returned. He was flanked by Dmitry and the other soldier, as well as a tall man with black hair, an austere nose and tanned skin. Marco Nunez. Steeling myself, I braced for whatever they were going to do to me.
“Ah, the infamous stripper-accountant, Katia Riivik,” Marco said in a lilting Spanish accent. “I apologize for bringing such a beautiful woman into such a terrible situation, but you are a means to an end, and we must have your compliance.”
“Never going to happen,” I muttered, my face and lips stinging with pain as I spoke. “I don’t want to die, but if that’s my fate, I’ll accept it. There’s someone waiting for me on the other side, and I miss her terribly.”
Marco tilted his head. “You would die for Michael Caruso? I know you were his whore for many years, but he discarded you for Victor Rossi’s wife. Do you not have any pride?”
Scoffing, I shook my head. “Michael is the only family I have left. I’ll never betray him.”
Marco approached, sliding his fingers under my jaw and tilting my head back. His body loomed over me ominously as he gazed into my eyes. “So loyal to someone because they used to fuck you. How interesting.” Lowering his hands to his belt, he slowly began to unbuckle it.
Fear snaked down my spine as he loosened his belt and unbuttoned his pants.
“Perhaps I will fuck you, and then you’ll be a good whore and have loyalty to me? Hmm? Maybe I’ll start with that pretty mouth.”
“Put anything near my mouth, and I’ll fucking bite it off!” I spat, disgusted as he lowered his zipper.
His hand latched onto my jaw, squeezing so hard that he forced my mouth open.
“Whores like you are disposable wastes of space, Katia Riivik. I’ll use you in whatever way I please until you beg for mercy and turn on Michael. I’ll give you one last chance to avoid my wrath. What will it be?”
My eyes darted to Dmitry, who stood in the corner with his eyes squeezed closed. Although he was complicit in the situation, I understood that he was young and didn’t want me to get hurt. Could I possibly yell for him to help me? What other options did I have left?
“Very well,” Marco said, squeezing my jaw and my cheeks harder, forcing my mouth open wider. “I think I’ll enjoy forcing you to accept your fate, puta. There’s no use in struggling, so just sit still and let me show you why defying me is a bad idea...”
Alexis
I sat at my laptop on Monday, my fingers working furiously over the keyboard as I searched countless chat rooms and messaging servers. I knew we were racing against the clock, and we had to find Katia before something unthinkable happened.
Leo texted, informing me and Michael that the DNA results were inconclusive, and I cursed as I resumed searching.
Suddenly, I received a ding on my Telegram app. Feeling my eyebrows narrow, I pulled up the app and opened my message portal. An unread message from NullV0id sat in my inbox. The tiny hairs on the back of my neck prickled, and I clicked on it with slightly shaking fingers.
Gasping, I read the message.
NullV0id: Why have you not found her? They’re going to hurt her. You have to save her.
My heart leapt into my chest as I realized the message was from Dmitry, Oskar’s teenage Russian hacker.
HackerChikk: We’re trying like hell, but we have nothing to go on. Where is she?
I waited for the text bubble to appear, my breath coming in short pants as my chest rose and fell. “Come on, kid,” I whispered. “Help us!”
NullV0id: The house on the corner of Brighton 1st Place & Brighton 1st Lane. Hurry. Marco is almost here, and he’s going to hurt her. Bad.
“You’re a saint, kid,” I breathed. Jumping to my feet, I ran across the hall to Michael’s office. “I know where she is,” I said, busting through the door.
Michael stood, his eyes wide as he reached for his phone. “Where?”
I gave him the address and he nodded. “Joaquina and Enzo are at Oskar’s apartment building, not far from there. Let me call them. You’ll tell Leo?”
“Yes.”
Running back to the study, which was my official office, I picked up my phone and dialed Leo.
“Where are you?” I asked, the words coming out in a rush.
“I came to Oskar’s neighborhood hoping to get a glimpse of something. I know Joaquin and Enzo are here too—”
“I have an address,” I said, hastily reciting the address to him. “Michael is giving it to Joaquin and Enzo now.”
“Thank God,” Leo breathed. “I have Joaquin’s number. Let me call him. Thank you, Alexis.”
“Of course! Go get our girl!”
The phone went dead, and I slumped in the seat. My body was shaking from the adrenaline rush, and I took a few moments to calm my breathing. Reaching forward, I typed another message to Dmitry.
HackerChikk: Thank you. This means more than you know.
The screen remained silent, and I figured that was the last I’d hear from him—for a while at least. But he’d done the right thing, and that gave me an immense amount of hope.
Pressing my palm to my belly, I rubbed it and spoke to my baby girl.
“There’s so much evil in the world, but always remember that goodness can shine through.”
Nick appeared in the doorway, out of breath as he leaned on the frame.
“Michael just told me. Do you think they’re going to find her in time?”
“I hope so,” I said, my chin wobbling as I caressed my belly.
An intense expression of love crossed his features, and he stalked toward me. Lifting me, he sat in the chair and balanced me on his lap.
“Leo, Joaquin and Enzo will rescue her,” he said, tenderly caressing my cheek. “I hate that you have to go through this shit because you chose this life, but I know they’ll save Katia.”
“I had no other choice,” I whispered, drawing his hand to my belly and pressing it there. “I love you too much, and unfortunately, you’re my favorite person in the world.”
Grinning, he placed a sweet kiss on my lips. “Ditto.”
“Ah, my elegant capo,” I teased. “I might swoon from your romantic soliloquies.”
Nick playfully nipped my lip. “I’ll let that slide because we’re both worried. But once Katia is safe, I’m going to remind you why my tongue is much better used in other ways than with words, princess.”
Laughing, I rested my head on his shoulder. “That it is, my friend.”
Shimmying into his strong body, I closed my eyes and prayed for Katia’s safety as my fiancé held me in his tight embrace.