Page 85 of Savage Pakhan

I might’ve paid the valet a large amount of money to get rid of the car as well. All the running, all the hiding, it’ll only last so long. Ivan will find us because he’s my son and I taught him very well.

The police are in our pockets. He can go to them and easily ask for traffic camera footage to see if they can track us using facial recognition software.

Mia and I have to get married today. The most important reason is because I don’t want to waste another day of her not being mine. The other reason, to protect her from Ivan’s greed. There’s no way I’m going to allow my son to touch her with his entitlement.

The sooner this wedding happens, the better.

I take a sip of the black coffee I made, staring out the floor to ceiling windows that overlook the bustling strip of Las Vegas. This city is beautiful. I’ve lost count of how many bodies, dead or alive, that I have buried in the vast Nevada desert.

Tearing my eyes away from the view, I set my coffee down on the nightstand and walk towards the bedroom that’s off the side. I lean against the doorframe, crossing my arms as I watch Mia sleep.

She’s safe. He hasn’t gotten to her.

Yet. The stupid voice in the back of my head whispers.

Even if he tries, he won’t succeed.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, interrupting my plans to keep my eyes on Mia. There’s only one person it can be.

I step away from the bedroom and leave the door ajar so I can hear if anything happens. Rationally, Ivan can’t get to her since we are on the penthouse floor, but the irrational side of me is thinking he will find a way.

Just like I found a way to marry his fiancée.

I sit down on the leather couch in front of the gas fireplace, the flames flickering and swaying, bringing warmth and safety to the space.

“Nikolai,” I answer. “Where are you?”

“Let me in.”

I hang up the phone and stroll to the front door. He must’ve taken the stairs all the way up because the usual way in is through the elevator since it opens to directly to this floor with a key. Nikolai doesn’t have a key yet.

Opening the door, Nikolai stands there with heavy dark circles under his eyes as if he hasn’t slept in a week. He holds a black leather duffle bag in his left hand.

His getaway bag.

That’s how I know things are serious.

“Are you going to let me in or are we going to stare at one another all night?” He asks in Russian, running his fingers through his hair.

I step aside, allowing him in. “Coffee is made.”

“So early?”

“There’s no time to waste.”

“Where is Mia?”

“Asleep,” I answer, peeking out of the door to see if anyone followed him.

“No one followed me. I’m much better than that,” he sounds offended as he opens the cabinets to look for a mug. “Ivan hasn’t seen me in weeks. I’ve been following his every move, and he is moving like he’s in charge, Alek. It’s a problem. Only you can put a stop to it.”

“I will after I marry Mia. Until then, I stay where she is to keep her safe. I won’t leave her side.”

He pours the last bit of coffee into his mug and mirrors my position, leaning his elbows on the counter. “The cabin is trashed. They got in. Please tell me you grabbed the contract before you left.”

I nod, exhaustion hitting me like a truck, but that’s too bad. I can’t do anything about that. Falling asleep isn’t an option when I have to keep an eye on Mia.

“It’s the one thing I did grab as we ran out the door. I’m not going to risk having him find it.”