Page 86 of Pay the Piper

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.

Chapter 34

The cold is what wakes me, and the only thing that makes me think I might not actually be dead. If I’m not dead, that means I’ve been dreaming, and I’m not sure if that’s a better or worse reality.

Snippets of moments I think truly happened are mixed with dreams that can’t be true.