Page 85 of The Pakhan's Sold Bride

“Thank you. And Miron?”

“We’re still looking for him.”

I nod, waving Roan away so that I can make this call.

I clear my throat, holding the phone against my ear. I’m standing next to a wide window, looking out into my garden.

This place won’t be a home without her.

The thought makes me angry. It’s intrusive, suggesting she isn’t coming back. But she is. I’ll fucking tear the world apart to get her back.

“Nestor, hey man, how are you?” Benedikt answers calm and relaxed.

“My wife has been taken, we suspect it was my stepbrother. We are busy planning a full-scale attack, but I need more men. Are you still in San Francisco?”

“Fuck,” Benedikt mutters. “Yes, I’m here. I’ll pull my team together. Where are we going?”

“Come to my place. We’re looking for his location now. As soon as we have it, we’ll attack.”

I push my hand through my hair, closing my eyes to try and calm my thoughts.

“I’ll get my tech guys on it as well. See if we can find him. I’ll be at your place as soon as possible. Hey, Nestor. We’ll get her back, man. And we’ll tear that weasel to pieces afterwards.”

“Thank you, Benedikt,” I say quietly.

It’s a horrible sensation to be trapped in limbo like this. I know she needs me, and I’m ready to go in the blink of an eye, but I have no idea where to point my anger. I have no idea which direction to run in.

The team behind me, prepping for war, is an excellent force of power. Men I trust with my own life.

I want to sit in the car, waiting for the signal. But instead, I just stand here, staring out the window, terrified that my intrusive thought might be real.

I want her back.

I love her.

What?

I love her.

I love her.

The thought is so deeply true that it slams into my heart like a tidal wave.

My throat tightens, my fear deepens. I’ve never been in love before. Not like this. I cannot lose her. It simply isn’t an option.

Thirty minutes later, Benedikt arrives with two SUVs full of men.

Everyone is ready.

Everyone is on edge.

It’s another twenty-five minutes after that before Roan comes bursting into the living room and shouts, “We’ve got a lock on him.”

Everyone stands up at the same time and grabs their gun, all hyped up and eager to get moving.

Benedikt shouts, “Everyone in the car.” His men immediately obey. I don’t even have to tell my team, they know what to do. We’ve been prepped and waiting for hours.

I climb into the front seat of my own SUV. The windows are heavily tinted, thick with bulletproofing, and the car is more truck than SUV. It’s solid enough to drive straight through a building, and I’ll do that if it’s what it takes to get inside.

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