I typed them into the search engine, and it led to a place in Arizona.
How did this happen?
We had been so careful. No one should have known I went to see her. No one should even know about her, so how the fuck did this person get her address?
I quickly called the phone number Ricci had texted Maxim with, telling me about the cabin in Utah. But I got his voicemail instead.
I didn’t even think this was his actual phone number.
Frustration tightened around my eyes as I slammed the phone down the counter.
He was supposed to protect her. He was supposed to have protected her better than me, but fuck, how could I possibly—
He had been protecting her.
Until he gave me her address.
This was all my fucking fault.
I should have remained ignorant.
I grabbed the phone and texted Ricci.
Damien and Nikolay came into the kitchen, followed by Catalina.
“Mikki, what’s wrong?” Damien asked. I slid my phone over the counter to him. He caught it in his hand and looked down at it. Nikolay came forward and looked too.
I noticed he had his hand wrapped tightly around Catalina’s.
How could we possibly go and save her, and protect Catalina at the same time? Anger made my heart feel tight, and my hands clenched in fists.
“What the fuck? Who is this?” Nikolay asked.
I shrugged. Fuck if I knew. And if this person was good enough to pull this shit off, then he wasn’t an amateur. The phone number he used would be untraceable.
“We have to go,” Damien said. I nodded, standing up.
“What about Catalina?” Nikolay asked.
Damien looked at her, and I knew, like me, he was torn.
“I can come with,” Catalina said.
“No way in fucking hell,” I said. We almost lost her to the Bianchi bastard. I wasn’t fucking risking her ever again. She would stay in New York, where it was safe. I doubt Bianchi would try to grab her again. And if what he said was true, that she was his daughter, he would leave her alone to process this information … for now.
Every little gang around here knew the Bratva ruled the area. They wouldn’t dare touch her, and I knew Bianchi and his men went back to California.
She tugged on Nikolay’s arm. “Let me come. I don’t want you guys to just go off like this. I don’t want to be left behind.”
Nikolay pinched the bridge of his nose. He took a deep breath, and I was bracing myself to fight him, but when he straightened, the look in his eyes told me he was thinking the same thing I was.
I felt my shoulders relaxing a little.
Catalina moved to leave, and I didn’t know if she was trying to leave the penthouse or pack her shit to leave with us, but she didn’t get the chance.
Nikolay acted without warning. He hoisted Catalina up on his shoulder and walked out of there.
“Nikolay, what are you doing? Damn it!” she screamed, struggling against him. “Damien! Tell him to put me down.”