How did this guy put off so much freaking heat? It was like sitting next to a bonfire. And I wasn't wearing enough layers. Pushing thoughts of Ark from my mind, I powered up the phone. Prayed the startup didn't take as long as it had the first time. I wasn't sure I'd be able to stand it. He was being too nice. Too understanding. Too...not evil. Finally, the phone showed the home screen. I couldn't be certain, but I thought we both let out sighs of relief. Focusing solely on the phone, I punched in Willow's number. Ark finally got back down, scooted over until his hip was against mine. "I don't want to try the speaker, just in case it's too loud." I just prayed I wasn't waking her up. Or disturbing her. Or pulling her from sexy times. That girl deserved all the sexy times she could ge-"Tali!" she shrieked in my ear. "Let me get everyone else on. We've set up a whole system. Give me two seconds, but don't you dare hang up on me."I looked at Arkady. "She's my sister."

Pushing through the door to my room, I made sure to lock it and secure it with a secondary implement to keep anyone from coming in. Even if they had a key. I stood in the quiet for a moment, just looked around my quarters. For the regular observer, it would look pretty normal. Bland walls, huge bed with a single pillow and blanket to go with the dark sheets. No plants to speak of and no pictures to show any relationship outside of the family I'd joined. But if someone were to look a little harder, they would see the cage this room really was. The cameras in each corner of the room that recorded every breath, movement, fart, and nut scratch. The bars on the windows that were supposedly to help keep us safe. Even the attached bathroom had bars on its windows.Opposite the bed was a huge computer setup. Four screens held over forty-eight camera feeds. My own room included in the number. Being the second in command of the building and family security held its own special torment.

Pulling up to the curb at the arrivals section of the Moscow airport, I ran the information Nik had given me through my mind again. Antonia had been moving product into Russia for a couple years now. Karine had been her contact. Her broker. Her go-between. According to Mas, who still hadn't arrived yet, Antonia had been meeting with the Russians two years ago in Italy. That's when they'd hooked up and Antonia had gotten pregnant. The front passenger door opened moments before the other doors did. I wasn't really surprised when I saw Mas slide into the front seat. Nor was I really surprised when he had a knife at my throat in the next breath. "My sister dies, you die," he said in his broken whispered voice.I nodded carefully. "As your entire family has stated. I'm bringing her back Mas.""My name is Wraith until this is over." He pulled the blade from my neck. "You got it, Wraith. Your handler said you would be here earlier." I turned to look at him. A wry smile pul

"Talia," Nik said. "Can you hear me?""TALIA!" Willow screamed. "She's gone. The line is dark. And we can't risk calling them. That could give away their position." "That's assuming they cut the call themselves," Striker said. "If they've been found out..." he let his voice trail off.I wanted to punch him in the face. But I knew he was right. "Nik, get us hooked up with Arkady's handler's supervisor. Now." Anger, fear, and horror dug into my guts. Wrenched and whipped them around. And, as if that weren't enough, it felt like urgency was an acid that drenched everything. "Dialing him in," she said quickly. "Who's taking lead?""I am," I said immediately. "This is Amber Hershel. How can I help you?"I stayed silent. Obviously, this wasn't the person we were hoping to talk to. "Hey Amber. I need to speak to Raymond again, please," Nik said. "Of course, Ms. Pelaez. Could you verify your access code, please?"Nik rattled off the string of letters and numbers so

I double clicked the mic on my rifle. The pre-arranged signal for all clear. We'd taken down at least three perimeter guards. Someone was expecting something. I would be willing to bet it was Karine. She was brilliant at making sure every contingency was covered.I waited at the head of my tunnel. Mas and his team had split up to cover our backtrail. Make sure there weren't any surprises for us on the way back out. That was even assuming we'd get to come out the back way. I felt a hand on my shoulder. It squeezed twice before I rammed the knife into his belly. "All clear," Mas said. In this type of situation, it was probably good that he had a damaged voice that rarely went above a whisper. "On your go."Nodding, I moved forward. We were two tunnels away from breaching the Kuznetsov property if the blueprints Nik had given us were correct. Please, deities, let them be correct. I would rain hell down on the Kuznetsov family if they thought to broadcast the gang rape and murder of