Ruslan’s POVMy office felt like a goddamn prison cell and was too small to contain me.Since I left the living room, I had been pacing about like a beast trapped in a cage. I clenched and unclenched my fists by my sides, over and over again like I could squeeze the truth out of thin air if I just held on tight enough.The ticking of the clock was driving me mad. Every second that passed was another reminder that my children whom I was yet to see were missing.Slamming my fists against the table, I was going to let out a loud groan when a sharp knock came at the door, then Nico entered. His face was pale and his eyes were rimmed with the kind of exhaustion that told me he had been chasing ghosts since sunrise.“Report,” I barked.“We found out how he did it.”I stopped pacing and with my gaze fixated on him, I plopped on the couch, “Go on.” I coaxed him.“The kids were never in the car.” He said, causing me to send my teeth into my lower lips. My guts were always right. Earlier, I h
Ivana’s POV“Benny told you the kids are safe." Ruslan said, causing me to halt at the foot of the stairs.Biting the inside of my cheek, I turned around to face him, my eyes glimmering with anger as my head processed a million and one thoughts at the same time. Shifting my gaze away from him, I let out a low sigh. “That is what he said before he went code blue." I said through my teeth. I didn't want to talk to him but he was forcing me to.It was a miracle that I didn't snap at him as that was what I intended to do. “And you believed him?" He sounded like I was a fool for holding onto Benny's last words. “If you have nothing else to say to me, go find my kids and bring them back to me. You are the one who caused this mess so you should clean it up." I snapped, storming up the stairs only to halt.Snapping my head to face him again, I said, “God save you if I don't get my kids back in a piece." I said with an air of finality. "You can't trust a damn word that bastard said!" Rusla
Reader’s POVThe plan was, intercept Benny who had Ruslan's kids, take the kids from him and make Ruslan crumble until he gets what he wanted. But that was far-fetched now. With his hands tucked inside his pockets, Slade was pacing the dimly lit room like a madman, fury etched across his face and with every step he took. His boots thudded heavily against the wooden floor, each stride filled with the frustration of a plan that hadn’t unfolded as he imagined.He had waited patiently for this moment, for the perfect time to strike. His informant Atina, who had managed to blend in with Ruslan’s life since her return, had confirmed that Ivana and the kids were in town. The following day, it was confirmed that the kids were with Benny and since his phone had been intercepted they knew he was going to take the kids to Ruslan. That single piece of information had ignited a wildfire in him and so they all swung into action. The moment he received the signal that Benny was set to move, h
Ruslan’s POVI was fuming.Five hours had passed since Atina made her move, five agonizing and infuriating hours but still, there was nothing.There was not a single trace of her, not even a goddamn footprint that could be used to track her down. It was as if she had vanished into thin air with the children, and the mere thought of it made my blood boil.I had every resource at my disposal combing through the streets of Moscow and the countryside beyond. Drones, local informants, even our private satellite feeds were all over the country, yet nothing.Fist pumping the air in anger, I let out a loud agonizing scream that sent all my organs on fire. “Walter sent in the report." Nico said, halting several meters away. “The kids, where are they?" I asked, staring hard at the ground, hoping it wouldn't be the same response I had been hearing for the past five hours. “Nothing." I was going to yell out my lungs but something inside of me made me swallow my words as I turned around slowl
Ivana’s POVDespite all Lara's effort to comfort me, I couldn’t stop crying. My kids were in danger and the mere thought of it made cold chills run through my spine.Fortunately, the response to the alarm was swift. I didn't care about anyone putting their lives on the line to get my kids, I just wanted to see them again, to hold them in my hands. That was all I wanted.At the moment, I sat curled up on the cold marble floor of the guest wing, hugging my knees with both hands and rocking slightly like that would make the world stop spinning. My chest ached from how hard I had been sobbing. My throat felt raw and my eyes burned as tears gathered on the edge.What have I done?Why the hell did I come back?Coming to Russia was supposed to be about the art exhibition, that was what Fabrizio said, that was still what Benny said. “You’ll be protected there. You and the kids.” That’s what they told me and like the fool I was, I bought it.I should’ve known better. I should have trusted m
Ruslan’s POVAtina’s sudden return from Italy was suspicious but I didn't dwell on that long enough for it to make me start snooping around and now that is my top most regret. I should have known she couldn’t be trusted and so I should be walking on nails around her but it was too late now.She had gotten so bold that despite my confrontation, she still went ahead to do what she wanted. Well, it was a fatal mistake on her end as I’m not going to let it slide. With Nico and Felix looking after Ivana in the National Gallery, my focus was on Benny and the kids who were safe to the best of my knowledge. The moment Walter confirmed Atina’s movements, times, locations and encrypted messages, I knew I was up with a familiar enemy. Since last night, we had been trying to track her down but we only got a breakthrough this morning after Walter was able to find a loophole.Lara was furious when she discovered it but my emotion remained the same. Betrayal wasn’t new to me as it just had to c