Six long and fucking tiring weeks, and I still hadn’t gone after who I wanted. I blamed work, parents, but also the fact how he seemed happy. I could tell from the photographic proof sitting on my desk on my kitchen counter in front of me. I had lost count of the times I brought these out to look at. Like some stalker. Except, even when I tried to throw them away after seeing his smile, witnessing his happiness, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
My not seeking him out had nothing to do with the concern of rejection.
“Motherfucking stubborn ass,” I mumbled to myself in Russian. I was weak, too worried he would not want me. I worried where I should have been taking control and seeing him, telling him I wanted him in my life.
I picked an image up and brought it closer. It was of West leaving Polished with security following him, but he’d stopped near his car and looked off in the distance, as if seeing someone he knew.
Then another when he moved into a new house. Dimitri found out it was with his friend Lucas and his partner, Wreck, who was a part of the Diamond Motorcycle Club. I did not like seeing him laughing with another, but at least I knew they were only friends.
The most recent was of West walking from the college campus. The wind had made his hair fall into his eyes; his hand was up about to brush it away.
I missed him.
His smile, his eyes, his mouth as he spoke too much, but enough that I enjoyed seeing what would come from him.
Had I left it too long?
Did he have someone else?
He still worked at the escort agency. I clenched my jaw when my gaze landed on him out on a date with a client. A man old enough to be his father. I hated those photos the most. It seared my insides to a point I thought I would burn from the inside out.
Was he actually happy?
Did he care that he hadn’t seen me?
I knew nothing of his thoughts, but I wanted to.
Soon. I needed answers, and I was now impatient to get them. As soon as my parents were out of the States, I would approach West and see where things would go.
It had been good having my parents around, but they had stayed too long. I had thought Papa would want to get back for business, but something kept them here.
I lifted my head when I heard footsteps approach. Quickly, I moved the photos into one pile and managed to get them into the drawer just as my mother walked around the corner with Papa following.
“I thought I was meeting you downstairs for lunch?” I asked in Russian.
“We need to speak,” Papa replied.
Tensing, I nodded toward the table. Had my parents seen the photos? I moved around the counter, glancing back to make sure the drawer was closed. It was. After Mama sat, I took the chair opposite her while Papa took the head of the table.
“What is wrong?”
“You,” Papa barked in English.
“What about me?”
Mama rested a hand on Papa’s arm. “My boy, we have been here a long time now, and you’ve kept us busy seeing sights, which we have loved. But we worry about you since all we see is you working. No dates. No life.”
“Mama, I’m not interested in them.”
“Is it too much running three casinos and the bars?” Papa asked.
“No.”
“It’s not only that,” Mama stated, back in English. It was no wonder I switched languages so much when Mama always did. Papa nodded and sat back, letting Mama lead. “We notice a sadness in you, my boy. A sadness only a person can put there. Was there someone who broke your heart?”
“I will kill them,” Papa clipped, banging the table with his fist.
Leaning forward, I placed my elbows on the table and rubbed a hand over my face. “I am fine. There is nothing to worry about.”
“So there isn’t anyone?”
“No.”
My phone, thankfully, picked that moment to ring. I held up a finger and took it out of my pocket. When I saw Leonid’s name, I said, “I have to take this.”
“Of course,” Mama replied.
“Da?”
“The guard Ben had is here. He needs to speak with you.”
My gut dropped. Something has happened. “Send him up,” I ordered, and then hung up, only to press in another number and place it back to my ear as I stood and started pacing.
“Dimitri, where is he?”
“I was about to call you. We don’t know.”
My blood seized in my veins. “What do you mean?” I snarled.
“I had Pavel on West at college. When he didn’t call in, I rang him, but there was no answer.” He took a breath. “Fuck, Adrik, I’m here now. Pavel was knocked out; looks like a drug was used because I see no wound. He hasn’t woken in the time I got here. How did you know something had happened?”
“The guard from his work is here. I’ll call you back. Check his car is there.”
“I will.”
“Adrik, what is it?” Papa asked as soon as I hung up.
“Wait, please,” I said, and made my way out to the elevator. I knew my parents were following, but I had no care what they heard. I only needed information on what was going on.
I stepped around the corner as the doors slid open.
“Is Ben here?” the man demanded.
“West is not here—”
“How do you know his fuckin’ name?” He stepped off the elevator.
I pulled the gun from my back holster and raised it. “Do not move again. I know his name like you probably know things about me. Research. Tell me what you know of his whereabouts and also your name.”
“Death.”
“Death? What is this?” Papa called.
“My name.” He didn’t look away from me as he spoke. “West’s friend said he should be home, but he’s not. He got worried when West didn’t answer his phone. I was in the area. I had to check if he was here.”
“Why would he be here?”
Death glared. “A hunch.”
I lowered my gun and put it away. “I had a man on him, but that man is unconscious. West was taken from college.”
“Jesus motherfuckin’ Christ,” he bellowed and pulled his phone from his pocket. With jerky movements, he then put it to his ear. “Wreck, he’s not here. Hail had a man on him…. I don’t fuckin’ know why…. Yeah, said the guy’s unconscious, and West was taken from college. Get the brothers on it—”
“I have a man at the college. He will help—”
“We don’t need your help.”
“He will be fucking helping whether you like it or not.”
“Fuck! You get that? Yeah….” To me, he asked, “What’s the guy’s name?”
“Dimitri.”
“It’s Dimitri. All right, I’ll be there soon. Yeah, of course. Stay with Lucas. Shit, you better call Saint. He can tell Gun. Okay,” he clipped and then hung up. He glanced to the panel and pressed the button. The doors opened.
“I am coming with you,” I demanded.
“No, you ain’t. I’m not goin’ to the scene, but to his house to—”
“I either come or I go on my own but believe me, I will find information in any way I can.”
“Fucking hell, fine. Then I can keep an eye on you.”
I started for the elevator when Mama called, “Adrik?”
Stopping, I glanced back to see her holding Papa’s arm, frowning. “Wait in the lobby,” I ordered Death.
Death glanced from me over my shoulder and back again. He sighed. “Hurry.” The doors closed, and I heard the elevator leave the floor.
I faced my parents. “I’m sorry I won’t be attending lunch.”
“We figured, son. What’s going on. Do you need me to come? To call more men in?”
“No. I will handle it. Someone I know has been taken, and we need to find him.”
“Is it someone you care for? A man?” Mama asked gently.
My heart doubled its beat. Sweat beaded at the back of my neck. Still, I said, “Yes. A man, a good man who I care for.”
Mama smiled. I looked at my father. He seemed tense, but he nodded. “Then go.”
“Papa—”
He shook his head and stepped in front of me, where he cupped the side of my neck. “The Mikhaillova family is ruthless and cruel, but we love one another fiercely. No matter what, son, I will always love you. Find this man so we can meet the person who has captured my son’s heart.”
I found it hard to breathe as I stared into my father’s unwavering gaze. He meant it. Every word. He would support me, love me, even when I wanted to be with a man. Dimitri had been right. I was a fool thinking otherwise.
“I love you.”
He pounded his chest with his fist. “You’ll always have my heart.” He gently pushed me back. “Now go.”
I nodded, glancing over my father’s shoulder. “Mama, I love you.”
Tears brimmed her eyes, her hands clasped in front of her. “I love you, my boy. Through everything. Call us if you need anything.”
“Da, anything,” Papa stated with a nod before he turned and collected Mama under his arm. “Come, my precious, we will have lunch in our place and wait for our son to call.”
How could I be happy and filled with dread all at the same time? No matter, all I knew was that I had to find West.
Kylo
“Where the fuck is he? And where in the motherfuck are you taking me?” I demanded harshly to my man.
His hand on my thigh tightened. “We’re going to Lucas. You can help him. Wreck and I’ll head out to help the other brothers.”
“You are not keeping me fuckin’ locked away like some soft bitch.”
“Kylo, babe, please. You know me better than that. I’d have you at my side, but what about Lucas? My brother, your friend? He’s out of his mind crazy right now, and since you’re both close friends to West, it’ll be better having you at his side than me or even Wreck.”
I shook my head. “That’s bullshit.”
“I’m not fuckin’ with you. Just take a damn breath and think about it.”
With my hands fisted, I pressed them into my eyes and breathed. Fear, all I could feel was fear. Lucas would be feeling the same. The others didn’t know West, hadn’t connected with West like we had.
Dropping my hands, I sighed. “You’re right. I’ll stay with Lucas.”
He picked up my hand and kissed the back of it while he parked out the front of Lucas and Wreck’s place. “Love you,” he said.
Still, my heart fluttered from hearing it. “Love you too.”
I grabbed my walking stick as we climbed out of the car, and before we reached the front door, it opened. Lucas’s hands covered his stomach, his brows pinched, and his eyes sad. “Have you heard anything new?” he asked.
“Nothin’,” I said, reaching him and bringing him into my arms. “We’ll find him.”
He nodded into my chest.
Wreck appeared behind us. His hands dropped to Lucas’s waist. “Babe, come back inside. You don’t have any shoes on, and it’s cold.”
Lucas turned into Wreck, who moved him inside, and we both followed. In the living room, Lucas sat curled into Wreck on the couch. I took an armchair while Saint sat on the arm of it with his hand on my shoulder.
“Maybe he’s out with other friends?” Saint suggested.
Lucas and I shook our heads. “We’re his only friends.”
“A date?” Wreck said.
“No, he would have told us,” Lucas replied. He sucked in his bottom lip and bit down. “What happened if a client… if they liked him too much and kidnapped him?”
“Death checks all backgrounds. He knows what to look for. It won’t be one of them,” Saint said.
“Can you be completely sure?” I asked.
Saint and Wreck shared a look. Wreck sighed. “Death was at the only one we weren’t sure about.” He shook his head. “He’d been looking out for West, had a man on him, but that man is unconscious at the college.”
“Who was the client, and why would he have someone watching West?” Lucas demanded before I could.
“Adrik Hail,” Wreck clipped.
I shared a look with Lucas. Adrik was the man West had feelings for. Had it been reciprocated this whole time? Fuck, it must have been if he had a guard on West.
I stood. “Then we need to go talk to him. He might have more information.”
“Not needed. That’s all the information he had—”
“But—”
There was a knock on the door before it opened, and Death strode in. Someone else followed. A guy I didn’t know.
“What the fuck is he doin’ here?” Wreck demanded, standing.
“Who is he?” Lucas asked, joining Wreck.
Death glared at the man beside him. “He wouldn’t take no for an answer. I thought it better I bring him, so he didn’t get anyone we know in trouble.”
“Why are there cars pulling up outside?” Saint asked. I hadn’t noticed he’d walked over to the window.
“They are my men.”
I spun my gaze back to the man with a Russian accent. Adrik Hail. And from Lucas’s gasp, he’d worked out who he was as well.
“You’re Adrik,” Lucas blurted.
Adrik’s cold gaze fell on Lucas. “Da.”
“Just found out his father’s Nicholai Mikhaillova,” Death announced.
Wreck was the only one who obviously knew the name. “Get the fuck outta my house.”
“Nyet, I am here to help. I will help.”
Wreck started for him but froze when Adrik swiftly pulled a gun and pointed it at him. “You will not stop me from helping.”
“Fuck, I shoulda taken the damn gun off you,” Death commented with a groan.
“Wade,” Lucas said softly. He stepped up and curled his hands around Wreck’s arm. “Let’s calm down a second and find out more information.”
“Yeah, like why Wreck had a freak-out over his father’s name,” I said, leaning into my cane. “Because I don’t have a fuckin’ clue, and I want to move this shit along so we can find West.”
“Da, I agree.” Adrik put his gun away. “My father runs the Russian mafia in Russia. I am no part of the mafia. I own businesses, and that is all. Nonetheless, I have killed and will kill for the people I care for.”
Of fucking course he just had to add that, which had Wreck growling under his breath.
Saint stepped forward, obviously sensing my lessening patience. “Right, so your dad’s the mafia, but none of it will touch us or the ones we care about.”
“Da.”
“I’m guessin’ that means yes?”
Adrik nodded.
“Okay, let’s join forces and move on. We all want the same thing. West home and safe.”
Everyone stayed silent for a moment.
“My men called from the college,” Adrik said. “They are with your men,” he said to Death, meaning our brothers. “West’s vehicle was found. Nothing was missing or broken.”
I shook my head, thinking. “He couldn’t just have been abducted in broad daylight without people noticing.”
Death cleared his throat. “Tech got a hold of the cameras. It caught West walkin’ outta the building, but the way he went to the parking lot didn’t have a camera angle.”
“Did he seem different? Scared? Agitated? Anything?” Lucas asked.
Death shook his head. “Tech said he looked fine. But he did mention he must have seen something off camera, the way West ended up going. He seemed shocked but then smiled as if—”
“He recognized someone,” I said.
“Exactly.” Death nodded.
“So it’s someone he knows,” Lucas commented.
“How about you three stay here and keep thinking, while Wreck, Death, and I get out there to help the others?” Saint suggested.
“You want me to stay here?” Adrik said with a sneer. “I have more men than your club has. I will go out there and look—”
“Saint’s right,” I told him. “You could help us here. I’m sure there are people you could call. Clubs, casinos, put out a description in case he’s out with someone he knew partying and just forgot about us.”
“He wouldn’t,” Lucas whispered.
Wreck wrapped an arm around Lucas’s chest. “It’s worth a try, right?”
Lucas sighed but nodded.
“What do you say?” I asked Adrik.
“Fine. I will speak with my men, leave half here, the rest will follow. They will take orders from you,” he said to Death. Adrik turned and walked out of the house to speak with his men.
“Got it. Let’s hit the road.” Death started for the door. Saint stepped in front of me, and I could see Wreck saying goodbye to Lucas.
“Be fuckin’ safe, you ass,” I told him.
Saint chuckled, leaned in, and kissed my nose, then mouth. “You know I will. Can’t have you missin’ me.”
“Damn right.”
“Fuck me, I need to get a woman,” Death grumbled. “Come the fuck on,” he bit out before he left.
Saint and Wreck walked out after a final kiss, and Lucas and I moved over to the window.
“He cares,” Lucas said. “A lot.”
I nodded, knowing he was talking about Adrik. “He does. We need West back to see it.”
“We do.”
Fuck, I hoped wherever he was, he was okay.