“I want two vehicles, and you on your motorcycle,” he said, pointing to Ryker. “We’re going to my house. I can’t get ahold of Lark. It’s possible that we’ve got a terrorist group after her. If we do, know that they have had no problem torturing and killing people for what they want. Gideon, you’re riding shotgun with me, bring whatever comp or tablet you can. You’re going to find Lark, these terrorists, and the fucking president if I need you to, got it?”

  “On it,” Gideon answered.

  Kostya stormed out of the ready room with his men on his heels. Gideon better fucking hurry with his electronic toys.

  They’d shot him. They’d just shot that kid in the head like he was nothing. Lark still had some of his blood splattered on her.

  When she’d seen the big Escalade roaring down the driveway toward them, she’d shoved her phone into her shirt, deep in her bra until it hit the underwire. She knew that it was on silent because she’d felt it vibrate, but no sound had blasted. Gideon would be able to track her from her phone, wouldn’t he?

  “Where are you taking me?” she asked again. She hadn’t been pestering the men because they were scary, and they had killed Dawn. She was stuck in the backseat between two of them.

  “Don’t talk,” the one on the right of her rumbled.

  Lark shut her mouth. Never in her life, not even in those dark cages in Afghanistan, had she been this scared. At least then, there had been Nic, Cullen, and Kostya with her.

  The man on her left spoke to the driver in Arabic. She caught the words money, woman, and plane. Did they plan to take her on a plane? That didn’t make any sense. Why hadn’t she bothered to learn more Arabic? She’d always meant to.

  “Uhm,” she started.

  The man on the right yanked her hair and twisted her head so they were face to face. “No talking, unless you want me to start cutting you right now. Or maybe I will anyway.” He grinned. He pulled a knife out of his suit jacket and drew it down Lark’s arm, slicing through the fabric of her Henley, and cutting deep into her skin.

  She whimpered and clamped her lips shut.

  “That’s better.”

  He settled back in his seat but kept the knife held loosely in his hand as it rested on his lap. Lark tried to ignore it as she stared out the window. They weren’t taking her into the city, they were going along the coast. She prayed they would be driving for a long time. Wouldn’t that give Kostya more time to rescue her? Isn’t that what Prince Charming did? Rescue people?

  She couldn’t say how long they’d been driving when the vehicle pulled off the road and parked near some kind of storage facility. She saw trees. Lots of trees. Was that a gate? Lark looked down and saw that her jeans were soaked with blood, so they must have driven a long time for that cut to have bled that much. She frowned when she realized how disjointed her thinking was.

  “I said get out!”

  She looked up and realized all four doors were open and all of the men were out of the SUV. The man who had cut her grabbed her injured arm and yanked her out of the car. Her screams echoed into nothingness. Was it nothing?

  “She’s going to pass out. How badly did you cut her? We need her awake to question her.”

  The man holding her started yelling back in Arabic and darkness swirled around her head just before Lark slumped to the ground.

  26

  “I told you I have her.”

  “If you have her, then why haven’t we found her?” Kostya roared. All he saw in front of him was open highway.

  “Kostya, you need to calm down, we need to take the next exit.”

  “Is her phone still moving, or has it stopped?

  “It’s moving, but it’s slowed down,” Gideon answered.

  “Gideon, can you give me the coordinates? I’m going to go in first and reconnoiter,” Ryker said into their comm system. All of the men had their communication units on.

  “Negative,” Kostya answered. “Gideon and I are going in first.”

  There was no response, and Kostya could feel Gideon’s eyes on him. He took his eyes off the road to glare at his friend. “What?” he practically yelled.

  “You’re not thinking like a commander. You know that Ryker is correct; he’s on his bike and he needs to go in first,” Gideon said.

  Every single emotion, good, bad, ugly, hateful, passionate, and terrified roared through Kostya’s system within a millisecond.

  Get your shit together, Baronavich!

  He blew out a jet of air through his nose. “You’re right, Ryker. Gideon, get him the coordinates. And Gideon, let us all know when Lark’s phone comes to a stop.”

  “You got it,” Gideon nodded. Then he gave Ryker the coordinates.

  Kostya came to a rolling stop at the end of the off-ramp, then took a right onto the farm road. “Where in the hell are we?” he asked Gideon.

  “Between Frederica and Little Heaven.”

  “Come again?” Kostya said.

  “It’s true,” Nolan said over the comm. “A girl I once dated was from around here. She thought it was cute to say she was sent from heaven. It got on my nerves.”

  “Jesus, Nolan, the first time I heard her say that I would have—” Jase started.

  “Shut up!” Kostya growled into his mic. There was silence.

  Now all he could hear was his rapidly beating heart. That was fine. He needed all of his concentration on finding Lark and making sure that she stayed alive.

  “They stopped,” Gideon said.

  “I’m fifty meters away from a black Escalade that’s stopped in front of the storage facility. They’re pressing in the code to open the gate.”

  “That’s them.”

  “I’ve got wire cutters in my truck,” Jase volunteered.

  “That’ll work,” Ryker said.

  Kostya pressed down on the accelerator.

  By the time the storage facility was in view, the gate was closed and there was no sign of the Escalade or Ryker.

  “We’ve got a problem,” Ryker whispered.

  “What?” Kostya demanded.

  “The good news is that I had eyes on Lark and she’s alive. The bad news is that she passed out as soon as she stepped out of the vehicle.”

  Kostya shut his eyes, then opened them. She’s alive. That’s what he had to focus on, she was alive.

  “Where are you?” he asked.

  “There’s a road that goes a little way in, with a chain across it that says no trespassing. I parked my bike behind there. I jogged back behind to the south side of the facility. It’s nothing but woods back here. In order not to be seen, you’re all going to have to hoof it. The storage unit doors are facing to the north, so they won’t see us.”

  “Got it.” Kostya saw Jase’s truck coming in behind him. He turned left onto the road that Ryker had described, and Jase followed him.

  They all scrambled out of their vehicles. Both Jase and Kostya pulled out identical bolt cutters that were used by fire and rescue teams. They did have different assault rifles; Jase had a MK 16 SCAR, while Kostya preferred the M4A1 Carbine. Jase tossed out one more SCAR to Nolan.

  “What, none for me?” Gideon bitched.

  “Here,” Kostya handed him his second Sig Sauer.

  “Fuck that noise, I’ve got my own,” Gideon sniffed. “Give me the bolt cutters.”

  “Shut up and start running,” Kostya said as he tossed Gideon the bolt cutters, then turned around and headed for the storage unit. He wasn’t even breathing hard by the time he met up with Ryker.

  “What was wrong with her? How was she looking?” he immediately asked Ryker.

  “I was looking at them from the east side. I didn’t have binoculars or a scope, so I couldn’t get a good look. One of the guys dragged her out of the SUV. She was standing on her own for a moment, then she slumped over. She would have hit the ground if he hadn’t caught her.”

  Kostya grit his teeth.

  “Which unit?”

  “The second one from the west end.”

  Jase, Nolan, and Gideon were there listening to Ryker’s report.

  “I want cuts on the ends of both sides of the south fence. Then I want Jase to go in on the east side, followed by Nolan. Ryker, you’re with me on the west side.”

  “And me? Am I just chopped liver?” Gideon asked.

  “You’re coordinating. If you hear anything that doesn’t sound right, I want you orchestrating the action.”

  Gideon nodded.

  “Go.” Kostya started toward the end of the south fence that was closest to Lark’s storage unit. He had to get to her, but he had to stay sane about it.

  Ryker ran around to the west fence, then came back to where Kostya was beginning to cut.

  “The storage unit is open at the bottom, maybe five inches. I don’t hear a sound coming out. The Escalade is parked in front.”

  Kostya nodded, continuing to cut, wincing with every snap the cutters made.

  When he’d cut enough fence away, he and Ryker pulled at it so they could make their way through.

  A scream rent through the glorious calm of the Southern night.

  I hear nothing. Nothing.

  Kostya was no longer there. He had disappeared. He was no longer human. He had one mission—to destroy. To kill.

  There was an occasional buzz in his ear as he strode around the side of the storage units. He felt his man at his back. He looked up for a moment. Two others were coming at him.

  “Are you all in position?” It was Gideon.

  “We’re at the unit, on either side,” Jase answered in a barely-there whisper.

  Another buzz, louder this time. Longer, high-pitched. Kostya forced it out of his mind. There were men inside this unit who needed to die.

  He looked across the unit to Jase and Nolan. He gave them a signal and they nodded. He looked over his shoulder at Ryker who nodded as well. They all knew what to do.

  Kostya held up his hand, three fingers up.

  Three.

  Two.

  One.

  A fist.

  They all dropped and rolled in front of the unit. They shoved their gun muzzles under the open door of the unit and took aim. Buzz after buzz after buzz pierced through the air as bright bursts of blood and bone exploded from men’s feet, ankles and calves.

  Kostya shoved up the rolling door with his shoulder. He felt someone help him. They shot at the men until only one buzz remained—and turned into Lark’s screams.

  He saw her. She was duct-taped to a chair in the middle of the unit. There were remnants of a blue shirt and a pink bra hanging off her body. There was blood. So much blood.

  He dropped to his knees in front of her, not knowing if she was alive or dead.

  He took her tattered shirt and used it to wipe away the blood. So much blood. He couldn’t see.

  “Lieutenant, you need to move. Let me see her.” Was that Nolan?”

  He saw a hand try to touch Lark and he violently shoved it away.

  “Kostya.”

  It sounded like Lark saying his name.

  “Kostya,” Lark said his name louder.

  “He saw a cut on her upper breast, but it was shallow.”

  “Kostya, Honey. I’m okay.”

  He gently wiped away some blood on her stomach.

  “Kostya, come on, Honey, you told me you didn’t want me stripping in front of a bunch of guys, remember?” Was that Lark laughing? “Next thing you know I’ll have to buy a G-string.”

  His head shot up.

  She was gritting her teeth. He could see the pain she was holding back, but his girl, his woman, there she was, doing her best to keep it together, somehow there was a twinkle in her eye, just for him. She was being brave. Being strong.

  Kostya closed his eyes for just an instant, then opened them and smiled. “Then I better cover you up.”

  He ripped his shirt over his head while Ryker used his knife to cut her free. She hissed as the circulation came back to her arms. Kostya took her hands into his and started rubbing them.

  “Clothes first,” she whispered. He could see how upset she was. Her humiliation. Not so much because of his men, but from before. He wanted to kill the monsters all over again.

  Kostya gently helped her put on his blue t-shirt.

  That was it, then she launched herself at him, hissing in pain.

  “I’m all right. I’m fine.”

  Again, she was trying to soothe him. Trying to comfort him.

  “Enough, Sólnce.” As softly and tenderly as he could, he lifted her up into his arms, pushing her hair off her forehead, and planting his lips there. “You’re safe now. I have you. You’re safe.”

  “Promise?”

  “I love you, Lark. I’m always going to keep you safe.”

  “On your honor?” she asked as he walked out into the evening dusk.

  “On my honor.”

  “You know you’re my Prince Charming. I’m sorry I said I love you on the phone. I should have said it sooner.” His gut clenched when he saw her first tear.

  “Sólnce, I’ll tell you a secret. As soon as you told me you loved my dick, I knew you were telling me you loved me.”

  Lark’s laughter could be heard across the sky.

  Epilogue

  “He looks good with a bit of a beard,” her mother said as she bumped her shoulder. Lark looked over to where Kostya was sitting cross-legged on the grass with little Nazy. She was putting a tiny crown on his head and he was sitting up straight and smiling, just like any good princess would.

  Irina handed Lark a cupcake. “Eat this. You’ve been running around all day. You need nourishment.”

  “After the meal that we had last night, I couldn’t eat ’til now,” Lark said as she started peeling back the cupcake wrapper. “Mmm, red velvet. Mom, whoever you have to cater these events, you should double their wage. Did you know red velvet is Kostya’s favorite?”

  “Yep, I sure do. Irina told me. I love it when I can spoil people with things they like.”

  Lark had her cupcake up to her lips for a second bite when it hit her. “Oh my God, you’re Kostya’s source!”

  “Huh?” Irina asked. “What do you mean source?”

  “Kostya has been spot on from the start, making sure he has taken me to every kind of restaurant that I would love. Hell, he even knew about my love for sausage McMuffins! You told him, didn’t you, Mom?”

  “You are such a good little investigative journalist,” her mother teased as she pinched her cheek.

  Irina howled with laughter. “You two remind me of me and Lexi.”

  Lark turned to Irina and mouthed the words, ‘I told you so.’ Kostya’s sister had been nervous about meeting her mother, somehow thinking that because Mom was a billionaire she’d be all snooty. But she wasn’t. She was just Mom.

  “Let’s go sit down in the shade,” Beatrice suggested. “I don’t know about you two, but the kids have wiped me out.”

  “I’m sorry,” Irina said as she winced.

  “Are you kidding, I enjoyed every minute of it,” Beatrice said. While Irina and Beatrice settled down under the pergola, Lark went to pour them all some lemonade. “I’ve got to say, Irina, I adore your children. And your daughter Lexi? She is wonderful with those two girls. They are going to want to be just like her when they grow up. Taja is already wearing those cute pink jeans she brought for her.”

  Irina smiled with pride as she looked over at her daughter with Taja.

  “Are you getting me a glass?” Kostya asked as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

  “There’s also strawberry lemonade, iced tea, or beer for you to choose from.” Lark arched back and kissed his neck. He smelled good, but…

  “Is that cream cheese frosting on your neck?”

  “Probably. I’m betting it’s in my hair and beard too. Nazy was eating one of the cupcakes and the frosting got everywhere,” Kostya laughed.

  “So, what would you like to drink? I think that the iced tea would make a nice pairing with the cream cheese,” she teased.

  “I’m sold.”

  She finished pouring the lemonades and Kostya picked them up. “Are these two for Irina and your mom?”

  “Yep.”

  “I’ll take them. Why don’t you go grab that swing over there before Lexi steals it.”

  Lark looked over at the cushioned swing that had been hanging from the old weeping willow for as long as she could remember. “She’s too busy playing with Taja, but I’m definitely going to claim it.” She nodded and took her lemonade and his iced tea across the lawn. It was perfect because she could still watch Lexi and Roman play with the girls. Roman had taken Kostya’s place and was now having a tea party with Nazy. He was holding one of her stuffed animals and helping it hold its teacup. He was almost as adorable as Kostya.

  Kostya sat down beside her and took his iced tea.

  “Look, Samira is sitting next to your mom and my sister. There is no way that would have happened a few months ago.”

  “You’re right about that.” His voice drifted off and Lark saw that he was watching Roman. She loved the fact that in the last few months since she had moved in with him, he had talked about his brother Roman with fondness. He’d even brought up some good memories of his mother and father.

  Kostya wrapped his arm around her shoulders and Lark leaned into his side. Hell, a few months ago it never would have occurred to her that she would be plastered against a big man, here in the sun on her mother’s estate, but here she was, and she reveled in it.

  “Are you having a good time?” he asked.

  “The best. I’m so glad we were able to do this. I’m just sorry that Tony wasn’t able to make it. I can’t believe how much that man travels.”

  Kostya chuckled. “Yeah, but when he’s home, then we’re forced to go over to the Romanos for their small family get-togethers. How have you been fairing with those?”

  Lark looked up at him and punched him in the arm. “You know I love those. All that family, all those kids.”

  “Yeah, and all those babies,” he let his voice trail off.

 

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