Page 60 of Rurik
“Grigori,” he said in the phone. “I believe we needto—”
“It’s a trap!” Charlotte screamed, praying that Rurik’s brother would hear. Luis cuffed her, the blow landing on her temple. Pain shot through her head. She stumbled, hitting the doorjamb hard enough to bruise her right shoulder. Luis pulled her into the hall where his men were standing, and he grinned as he shoved her to her knees. Whatever he said to them made them alllaugh.
“Me first,menina.” He reached down and fisted a hand in her hair, using it to jerk her head up. Charlotte’s scalp burned with sharp agony. The sound of men laughing was a haunting, frightening cacophony all around her. Luis jerked her to her feet by the arm and hair. He shoved her into the nearest room, slamming the door shut behind him. Charlotte had a few precious seconds of freedom before he grabbed her again, but she was facing him now, so she kneed Luis hard in the groin. Even dragons felt itthere.
“Puta!” he snarled. She balled her fist and swung a haymaker at him, but that only hurt her hand. Luis braced himself against the wall by the door, blocking her only wayout.
“So you have spirit after all. But not for long.” Luis grinned and tackled her to the ground. Her head smacked the thin carpet concealing concrete, and black dots filled her vision. His hands closed around her throat. She tried to scream, tried to fight. She was not going to go down likethis.
In that moment she swore she could hear Rurik’s voice. She closed her eyes, searching for that veil of snow that she’d seen inside him. The fire hidden within the snow seemed to beat like a heart, and his voice came fromit.
Charlotte, let me see through youreyes.
Luis tightened his grip. She clung to life, clung to Rurik, remembering everything she’d felt the moment she’d first kissed him. And then it happened—she felt herself falling into him like a meteor. She was unable to stop falling, even when she got close enough tohim.
The flames of his heart enveloped her and she gasped, her body jolting like a live wire. She replayed everything she’d seen after thecollision.
Find me,Rurik.
Just as he could see her memories, she suddenly saw his. Her brothers interrogating him, challenging his love for her, and Rurik holding fast, his heart unchanged. Her chest clenched as though invisible fingers had squeezed tight around herheart.
My heart…His words were rough, emotion breaking through like waves on an angryshore.
I won’t go home with anyone but you. You are my home. She sent the message to him as clear as a bell. Seconds later, she blackedout.
18
The brave men did not kill dragons. The brave men rode them. - Game of Thrones
Rurik staredat the floor number digits, which kept changing in the elevator as he and Damien’s team rode it to the top floor, when suddenly his head seemed to clear of the fog that had separated him fromCharlotte.
Flashes of what she was seeing came through the bond to him. Drakor’s face, the serum in his hand as he talked. Red-gold eyes burning into Charlotte’s. Another man standing close behind Drakor…one Rurik recognized with dread. Rurik felt her heart pounding and her terror spiking. He leaned against the side of the elevator, gasping as her strong emotions swampedhim.
Charlotte, where areyou?
“Uh…guys, the dragon’s face just turned green. I think he’s going to puke,” Jason said, cautiously inching away from Rurik. Meg and the other hunters steppedback.
Damien gripped Rurik by the shoulder. “What’s thematter?”
“I know… I know where she is!” Rurik’s head exploded with new images. An office building, a distant skyline… She was trying to show him where she was. Then he saw Charlotte being dragged across the floor, hands around her throat, someone chokingher…
He replayed the rush of images in his head, particularly the vacant office building only ten miles from where hestood.
“She’s in an empty office building not far from here, but we don’t have time. Drakor’s friends are in town. The Silvafamily.”
“The Silvas?” Damien’s eyes narrowed. “They’ve been killing my people outside of Buenos Aires. I have no problem fighting thoseassholes.”
“Neither do I,” said Rurik. The Silvas had wiped out a family line that had been allied with the Barinovs for centuries just so they could expand their drugempire.
“How do you know Silva is there?” Jasonasked.
Rurik knew the truth would upset Charlotte’s brothers, but he couldn’t sugarcoat it. “She’s being attacked by Luis Silva, the battle dragon of their family. We have to go.Now.”
“How will we get to them in time? Is your brother bringing a helicopter to theroof?”
Rurik grinned. “Notexactly.”
Damien and Jason exchanged glances with the rest of theirteam.
