I’d feel it if she was gone. Right?
Unable to accept that Abbie didn’t make it, I shake my head wildly. “No.” My throat strains with intense sorrow. “No, she’s alive. He just said that to scare me. She’s alive.” I suck in a painful breath, the sorrow growing and darkening until it feels like it’s going to tear right through me. “I’d know if she was gone,” I whimper.
The loss of my soulmate hits so hard that it rips a devastated scream from me.
Memories of her flash through my mind. Her smile. Her sass. The unconditional way she loved me.
Ra-Ra.
“Jesus.” A dry sob escapes me. “No.”
It feels like I’m losing my mind when three men climb into the container.
I gasp for air, my chest threatening to explode from all the sorrow filling me.
One of the men goes to the camera while two stand by the opening.
The remaining one walks closer, his eyes cold as they lock on me. “Miss D’Angelo, I take it you heard that I killed your friend? I had great joy cutting her throat.”
I shake my head wildly. “You’re lying.”
He shrugs, then stares long and hard at me.
“You’re lying,” I scream, unable to process that Abbie died such a horrible death.
Shivers creep down my spine as the reality of my situation sets in, and my grief is joined by the harrowing thought that if Abbie is really dead, I’ll be joining her soon.
Chapter 36
Misha
Knowing I only have a small window of time to get to Aurora, I rush into Director Koslov’s office with Alek and Armani right behind me.
Christ, my heart can’t handle this. I need to get to her, and God help the fuckers who attacked her.
“Misha?” Director Koslov asks as he stands up from where he’s sitting behind his desk.
“Aurora was just attacked. I have her live location. I need men.”
“Did Viktor sanction this order?” he asks.
“No.” I keep holding my phone to my ear so I can hear what’s happening. Right now, there’s an eerie silence only disrupted by a groan and metal creaking. I’m assuming there’s been an accident, and although I know Aurora might not hear me, I ask, “Aurora, are you okay?”
There’s no answer to my question, and it makes my worry increase tenfold.
Turning my attention back to Director Koslov, I say, “I’m hiring the services of St. Monarch’s.”
He nods. “How many men do you need?” he asks as he walks toward me. “It’s twenty thousand per guard for one hour.”
I don’t give a fuck how much it costs.
“Ten men, and we need weapons.”
Looking at the guard stationed by the door, Director Koslov instructs, “Get ten men ready to go in the next ten minutes.” His eyes flick back to me. “You have to make an upfront payment.”
I glance at Alek. “Make the transfer. I don’t want to lose the call.”
Alek nods, and pulling out his phone, he goes into his banking app and transfers the funds.