Page 93 of Bratva Menace

“Lukyan, this better be you,” a light, feminine voice answered through the phone.

An affectionate smile flashed across Lukyan’s face. “It’s me, sestra.” Sister.

“Holy fuck,” she breathed out in shock. “I didn’t think it would actually be you! Where are you? Are you okay? Tell me where you are, and I’ll get someone to come get you.”

His eyes flicked to me for a brief moment. “I’m okay,” he said, not answering the other questions. “I just called to make sure you are okay. You’re not hurt, are you? Grandfather hasn’t done anything?”

“What? No, I’m fine. Lukyan, where are you?”

“I don’t know.”

Rustling came through the other end, followed quickly by a door slamming. “Well, look for a street sign or something. I’m getting Nikolai now. We’ll start tracing the call.”

“This line is untraceable,” I said.

There was a beat of silence. “Lukyan?” Illayana sang, her voice pitching higher with a hint of what-the-fuckery.

“Yes?” he answered.

“What the fuck is going on?!” she blasted.

I’m a goddamn mind reader.

Lukyan looked at me for what I assumed was confirmation. I just shrugged, nodding my head. He could tell her whatever he wanted. It wouldn’t change a thing. They wouldn’t be able to find him.

“Lyla graciously let me use her phone to call you and make sure you were okay.”

“Graciously? Graciously?!” Illayana shouted. “You mean your crazy, kidnapping stalker was nice enough to let you use the phone. How fucking nice of her.”

“It was nice of me, actually, thank you so much for noticing,” I responded.

“I was being sarcastic,” she spat.

“I wasn’t.”

“What do you want in exchange for my brother?”

I felt like shaking my head. “Nothing. There is nothing you could offer me for him because he is all I want. In this life, the next, and any after that. He’s mine, and I’m never fucking giving him back.”

Lukyan’s eyes flashed with something predatory.

“You—”

“Your brother wanted to talk to you,” I cut in, interrupting her. “I gave him five minutes, and you’re wasting them talking to me.”

Another beat of silence.

“Lukyan?” Illayana’s voice had taken a softer tone, drenched in vulnerability.

“I’m here.”

“You’re okay?” she asked again.

“Yes. I’m not hurt. I need to know…Has anything happened with Grandfather? Has he hurt you? Threatened you? Anything?”

“No. Nothing. Father said he’s fucking ecstatic. He got exactly what he wanted because the Tarasovs reneged on their contract when Anya didn’t show.”

“I told you,” I mouthed to Lukyan.