With This Secret

It would be impossible to leave here so easily. Of course it was—I needed a better plan.

25

Levan

I was surprised when Maxim and his men actually arrived at their destination.

It was a freaking mart in Sheepshead bay. The front was filled with fruit and vegetable carts. Given the late hour, there were only a few people going in and out of the store.

“Move!” I ordered my men, and we all got out of the car.

The men walked into the mart to the widened gaze of the few patrons browsing the aisles. Maxim and the men had disappeared from sight. I pulled out my phone from my pocket and called Maxim as my guys spread out to find the entrance to what must obviously be an underground unit.

Maxim didn’t pick up.

I tried again, trying my best to keep calm and pray he wouldn’t make a mistake that even I would never be able to forgive him for.

“Found it, Boss!” Alex called.

Clutching my ribs, I hurried with him past the counter of the small food service station through the door that Maxim and his men must have disappeared behind.

As I went down the stairs, I heard roars and grunts of pain down the bottom of the narrow stairs.

Just as I arrived at the bottom, someone was thrown into the door at the base. The door flew off its hinges with the weight of the man. He lay mangled at my feet.

One of Maxim’s guys, Otarim arrived at the door. His gun was pointed at us, until he recognized us. Then his eyes widened in shock and he instantly put his weapon away. “Boss.” He gave a deep bow to show he was sorry.

More men came running towards us. When they saw me, they parted and made way for me, so I could move through the doorway.

“Where’s the girl?” I asked, stepping over the prone man.

One of the men jerked his head towards the interior of the room.

I walked into the room I’d seen in the video. There were about eight more men in that storage room. My gaze instantly went to Aldie, still bound, her eyes widened in shock at the sight of me.

Three other men were on the ground … two unconscious … one with his head busted open and a pool of blood around it. Another of Bogdan’s men was on his knees with his hands knitted behind his head. I looked around and found Maxim in the shadows, his arms folded across his chest, as he leaned against a wall. His eyes were veiled, but he was watching me. As if this was a test to see what I would do.

One of Maxim’s men went to Aldie, perhaps to help her, but I lashed out in Russian. He jumped back in fright, his gaze moving between me and Maxim, as if he couldn’t understand what he was supposed to do.

I went over to Aldie and carefully pulled the duct tape off her mouth.

Tears rolled down her eyes. “Levan …” she cried, her chest rising and falling.

“It’s alright. I’m here now. Nothing can hurt you.”

“Levan,” she howled, and there was a note of accusation in her voice, as if she had trusted me and I betrayed that trust.

“I’m so sorry, Aldie.” I pulled her into a hug.

She sobbed uncontrollably against my chest.

I shut my eyes, my chest tightening in pain at the trauma she had gone through. “Are you hurt?” I whispered as I patted her back. “Did they touch you?”

She shook her head.

I sighed with relief even though obvious bruises told a different story and reached to pull her up. “We need to leave before Bogdan’s men return.”

She immediately shot to her feet and turned around, so I could undo the ties that bound her hands together.

“Alex!” I called. “I need a knife.”

He came into the room to hand one over.

I set her free with it. “Take her to the car,” I said.

She grabbed onto my arm, reluctant to leave me.

“It’s fine,” I assured her, my gaze on hers. “I’ll be right there.”

She went with Alex.

I turned to face my brother.

He had only one question for me, “What’s your plan, little brother? You’re still going to burn us all for that woman?”

I turned around and walked out of there, leaving a place that smelt of death and torture.

26

Bianca

I figured out what to do and I was certain it would work.

I called 911.

“I can’t breathe,” I croaked to the operator, making my voice weak and breathless. “I think I’m about to pass out.”

“Can you give me your location?” the operator asked calmly.

“105, Norwood Avenue, Elberon. Help. Please help me,” I gasped dramatically and ended the call before she could extract any more information. Rushing to the foyer, I threw myself to the ground. I knew I had to look ill enough to warrant the call.