Chapter 24

**Vadim**


My fist slammed into his nose and I smiled wickedly. Another punch. I think I heard his bone crack. Good. He deserves it for what he did. His pleas did nothing but fuel my rage. I stepped back and took off the leather glove. Adam held his head still for me. I reached over and picked up the pliers. His eyes widened in fear as I pointed the tool at him, cocking my head to the side. “Ready to talk.”

“Please, I… he’ll kill me!” He exclaimed.

“Fine by me. Open his mouth. This fucker is gonna bleed for me until I get a location on Adrian and Yuri.” I instructed Adam.

Konstantin struggled against the restraints. “I don’t know where they are, but I can tell you this. This fight isn’t what you think. Yuri is just a pawn in the game. Just like he told Jules. It’s never been a war between you and Yuri.”

I lowered the tool and narrowed my eyes. “Keep talking. What is the war about?”

He took a deep breath. “The war isn’t a war, it’s a distraction. He… Adrian wants revenge.”

“Why does my brother want me dead?”

“B-because you have what he wants.”

“Power?”

“No, he wants your girl. Adrian has been in love with her since the first time you brought her home. The night that Luciano was killed. He’s wanted her ever since.”

“You said he wants revenge. Revenge for what?”

“For what your father did. When he killed the innocent, he fucked up. That’s all I know. I swear to it.”

I set the pliers back on the table and nodded to Adam. If what he was saying was true, shit just got complicated.

“Hey wait, what about me?” I heard him yell.

“You’ll stay right where you’re at until I decide what to do with you.”

All this bullshit had nothing to do with Yuri.
It was all Adrian.
All this time.
Traitor.
Betrayer.
Nothing but a dead man walking.

“You don’t believe that, do you?” Adam asked.

“What am I supposed to think? He’s got no reason to lie now. Not when he’s captured and waiting for me to end him. Do you believe him?”

“I don’t know. Maybe this was the plan all along. Get trapped. Tortured. He gives you a bullshit story. This is what he wants. What if…” Adam shook his head. “What if this is all a distraction to get to your father? What if the war wasn’t about you at all?”

“Shit!” I pulled out my phone and dialed my father.

“You’ve reached…”

“Call Regina. Tell her to have Adrik go check on them.” I ordered.

“On it.”

My father never not answers his phone. Never. Something was wrong. I could feel it in my bones. I paced the room and clenched my fists. How could Adrian do this to the family? How could he betray him? Me? Us? All for what? A chance to take over the throne and steal my girl. To take Alexei.

I didn’t want to believe Konstantin. I didn’t want to believe that he was right.

“What the fuck do you mean?!” Adam growled through his phone. “You’re kidding, right?”

“What is it now? What else could possibly go wrong?”

“It’s Jules and Alexei.” He muttered. “I… I think we’ll be too late by the time we find them.”

“What…”

“Adrian is to be wed to her. And Alexei… he’s his loyal soldier now.”

“Lies!” I hissed. “They wouldn’t do that to me. They… wouldn’t betray me like that.”

“We’ll bring them home, mother. I swear to it.” He promised her before he hung up the phone.

Adam grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me. “Hey, I hate to say it, but she might be right. If it’s true they’ve switched sides, you have to be prepared to take care of it. You have to be prepared to take them out before they take you out.”

I shook my head.
I doubled over and gasped for air.
So hard to breathe.
I couldn’t live in a world without Jules and Alexei.
I just couldn’t.
Especially if I was the one who was going to have to end them.

“I can’t… I don’t know if…”

“Hey, we’ll figure this out, Vadim. I swore I’d bring your family back home and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do. I swear to it.”

I had to do something.
Fast.
Preferably before Adrian married my girl.

Adam’s phone rang. “Are you sure? Keep looking.”

I knew the call was bad.

“Your father, he’s missing.”

Another shot to the chest.
I didn’t know how much more I could take before my heart gave out.
How long until I collapsed and went into cardiac arrest?

This was just another distraction.
I was sure of it.

“I’ve laid low long enough. It’s time I do what I do best.”

“And that is?”

“Hunt the motherfucker down myself. Hunt, capture, and make them bleed.”

“Regina won’t like this.”

“I don’t care if she doesn’t like it. It has to be done. It’s time I take them out one by one. starting with that piece of shit doppleganger.”

“Wait, maybe we should keep him alive for a while. He might be useful.”

“Actually, you’re right. We still need information and I know just the person for the job.” I pulled out my phone. “Saveli, I need you to meet one of Adam’s guys and pick something up. And whatever you do, don’t let Regina know. Not a fucking word.”

“What are you planning, Vadim?”

“First, Saveli will pick up Konstantin. Then, we hunt. It’s time I lure Adrian out.”

“Then?”

“I take him. He’s gonna wish he never crossed me.”

**Alexei**

“Oh my…” Jules gasped. “What happened?”

“I’m okay, just a scratch.”

But no matter what I tried to assure her, she didn’t believe me. True to Adrian’s words, he allowed me to share a room with Jules. Without him. He did have guards posted outside the door. Just in case we decided to try to escape. Not that we could get out. My eyes landed on Jules’ belly. She was starting to show. A small bump.

“You’re a terrible liar, Alexei.”

“Come here.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her into my chest. We may be in a bad situation, but at least we had each other. “I’ve missed you, baby girl.”

“I’ve missed you to, but… I miss Vadim.”

“I know. That’s why I’ve got a plan.”

“No!”

“Shh, this is what I live for, baby girl. I live to protect you and the baby growing inside you. You are my life… you and the baby. Vadim, too.”

“I can’t lose you.”

“And you won’t. First, we get Adrian to think we’re on his side. Then, we help him take out Yuri.”

“And then what?”

“What Vadim would want. Take down Adrian and get us the fuck out of here.”

“You’re gonna kill him?”

I chuckled. “No, not yet. We take Adrian to Vadim and let him decide how he dies.”

“God, you’re so hot when you get like this.” Jules whispered, shoving me against the wall.

“Oh yeah? How about I show you how hot I get when Daddy comes out to play. How about it, baby girl? Ready to play with me, Princess?”

“Hmm, I could think of a few games to play, Daddy.”

“Then, strip for me and assume the position. I’m gonna fuck your tight cunt nice and hard. Then after, I’m gonna fuck this little ass.”

“But first, let me get your dick nice and hard. You can even close your eyes and pretend it’s Vadim’s lips wrapped around you.”

“Now you’re talking. Knees. Now.” I growled.