Deadly Vows (Avilov Bratva #2)

2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Aleksandr

My fingers drummed against the polished mahogany desk, each tap marking the situation’s urgency. The air felt thick as molasses, which made it hard to breathe, let alone think. Across from me, Olga and Lev sat with the world’s weight on their shoulders. Olga’s eyes were red-rimmed, her hands trembling slightly as she twisted a handkerchief. A loose strand of grey hair fell out of her usually perfect bun. Lev looked pale, his jaw clenched so tightly I feared it might shatter.

“Tell me again,” I said, my voice low but with the authority of being pakhan. “Tell me everything you remember about the park.”

Olga swallowed hard, her eyes darting to Lev for reassurance before she spoke. “We arrived at the park around eleven. The children were excited. Talia took them to the carousel while Lev, Josh, and I stayed nearby.” At the mention of Josh, a tear rolled down Olga’s plump cheek. “We didn’t see anyone suspicious, Mr. Avilov. Just families and children.”

Lev nodded in agreement. “It was a normal day. Nothing stood out. Josh and I kept watch, but there was nothing unusual. When I left to escort Olga to the restrooms, Josh was just a few feet away from Talia and the kids.”

I leaned back, frustration gnawing at my insides. “Did you see anyone near them before you left? Anyone at all?”

Olga shook her head, tears welled up in her dark blue eyes. “No one. Just the ride operator, other children, and their parents.”

Dimitri, who had been pacing the length of the room, stopped and turned to me. His coffee-colored eyes were sharp and calculating. “We need to call Denis. He might have more information.”

I nodded, signaling Anton to get Denis on the line. Anton, the head of my security, was a man of action and few words. He embodied reliability with his tall, athletic frame and perpetually calm demeanor. He moved swiftly, dialing Denis’s number and putting the call on speaker.

“Denis,” I said as soon as he picked up. “We need an update.”

Denis’s voice crackled through the phone. “We have something. Street cameras picked up a suspicious white van leaving the park and heading upstate. We lost the trail a few miles from the city, but we’re working on it.”

“Upstate where?” I demanded, my patience wearing thin. My knuckles whitened as I gripped the edge of the desk.

“We’re not sure yet. The trail went cold. But we’re looking into all possible routes and locations.”

I clenched my fists, anger simmering just below the surface. “Keep working with Anton. I want every possible lead.”

Denis agreed, and I ended the call, returning my attention to the room. “Anton, coordinate with Denis. I want updates every hour.”

Anton nodded, already moving to his next task. I had to focus. I couldn’t let my emotions cloud my judgment.

“Olga, Lev,” I said, my voice softer but no less firm. “You’re sure there’s nothing else? No detail too small.”

Olga shook her head, tears streaming down her weary face now. “I’m sorry, Mr. Avilov. I wish I could remember more.”

Lev placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We’ll keep thinking, pakhan . If we remember anything, we’ll tell you right away.”

I dismissed them with a nod, watching as they left the room. The door closed behind them with a heavy thud, leaving me with Dimitri and my thoughts.

Dimitri approached, concern etched on his face. “What’s our next move?”

I rubbed my temples, the weight of the situation threatening to suffocate me. “We need more information. I’m going to call Tommy Lansky. He might have an idea where Vic took them.”

Dimitri nodded. “I’ll leave you to it.” He hesitated, then added, “We’ll find them, brat . We always do.”

As he exited the room, I picked up the phone and dialed Tommy’s number. It rang a few times before he answered, his voice gruff and impatient.

“Aleksandr,” he said. “What do you need?”

“Vic has Talia and my niece and nephew,” I replied, cutting straight to the point. “I need to know where he might have taken them. I have information that it is somewhere upstate.”

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a low curse. “That son of a bitch. He crossed the line. I’ll ask my men. Give me some time.”

“Hurry,” I urged. “Every minute counts.”

“If I find him first, I’ll make sure he doesn’t live to see another day,” Tommy promised and hung up. I placed the phone down, the room’s silence closing in around me. My thoughts drifted to Talia and the children. Sasha and Maxim, their innocent faces filled with joy and laughter, were now in the hands of a madman. And Talia… My feelings for her and my unborn child were complicated, a tangled web of love, desire, and something deeper, something primal.

I stood and walked to the window, staring at the sprawling estate. The gardens, usually a source of tranquility, offered no peace today. My mind raced with scenarios, each more dire than the last. I couldn’t lose them. I wouldn’t.

Hours passed in a blur of phone calls and dead ends. Anton and Denis worked tirelessly, chasing every lead, no matter how small. But the trail remained cold. My frustration grew with each passing minute, the helplessness gnawing at my insides.

Finally, as the sun slipped below the horizon, my phone rang. It was Tommy.

“Aleksandr,” he said, his voice tense. “I’ve got something. One of my men heard chatter about a cabin Vic owns upstate. It’s a long shot, but it’s our best lead.”

I grabbed a pen and scribbled down the details. “Thank you, Tommy. I owe you.”

“Just find them,” he replied, his voice softer. “And make Vic pay.”

I ended the call and immediately dialed Anton. “We have a lead. A cabin upstate. Get a team ready. We leave now.”

Anton didn’t need more instructions. Within minutes, my vors were assembled and ready to move. I grabbed my coat, my mind set on one thing, bringing Talia and the children home safely.

The drive was long and tense, the silence in the car heavy with anticipation. My thoughts kept drifting to Talia, her smile, her laugh. The way she looked at me, with love and defiance. I couldn’t bear the thought of her in Vic’s hands.

As we neared the location, Dimitri spoke up. “We should approach quietly. No need to alert them.”

I nodded, my focus narrowing to a single point. “Let’s go.”

We moved through the trees, the cabin coming into view. It was small and isolated, the perfect place to hide. My heart pounded as we approached.

Anton signaled for us to spread out, surrounding the cabin. I moved to the front, my gun drawn, every sense on high alert. With a nod from Anton, we moved in.

The door burst open under the force of my kick, and we stormed inside. The cabin was deserted, with nothing but dust and discarded furniture.

“It’s a dead end,” Anton said, his voice dripping with frustration. “No one’s here.”

I clenched my fists, the bitter taste of failure burning my tongue. “We need to get back. Regroup and come up with another plan.”

The drive back to the mansion was even more tense than the journey out. Every second felt like an eternity, each mile a reminder of how far away Talia and the children were. I couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

I called a meeting with my council. Dimitri and my vors gathered in the art gallery. The tension in the air was so thick I felt like I could reach out and grab it. The gallery, usually a sanctuary filled with masterpieces, now felt like a war room.

I stood before them, my expression hard. “We followed a lead, but it was a dead end. Vic has Talia and the children, and we have no idea where they are. We need to find them, and we need to find them fast.”

They all nodded, their faces grim. Each of them knew what was at stake.

“Everyone needs to reach out to their contacts,” I continued. “Go underground, grill our informants and anyone who might have information. I want to know every place Vic could be hiding. Every connection he has, every debt he owes.”

Dimitri stepped forward, his eyes determined. “We’ll find them, pakhan . We won’t stop until we do.”

I nodded, a fierce resolve settling over me. “Good. We start now. Anton, coordinate with Denis. Keep pressure on the police to follow any leads they get. The rest of you start making calls. I want updates regularly.”

They dispersed, each moving with purpose. I watched them go, a sense of hope peeking through the desperation. We would find them. We had to.

Dimitri stayed behind, his eyes meeting mine. “We’ll get them back, brat . Vic won’t get away with this.”

I nodded, my jaw set. “He won’t. And when we find him, he’ll pay for what he’s done.”

I looked around the gallery, taking in the paintings that had once brought me contentment. Talia and the children were out there, somewhere, and I would move heaven and earth to bring them home. “Contact Adachi. Get the Yakuza to help us with the search.”

“Good idea. He has a far reach and a lot of men.” Dimitri pulled out his phone and made the call.

I glanced at a large painting on the wall depicting a stormy sea. It had always been one of my favorites, symbolizing the tumultuous nature of life and the resilience required to navigate it. It felt like a mirror of my mind tonight, chaotic and relentless. The need to get back to the mansion was overwhelming.

The drive was quick, and as the night stretched on, the mansion buzzed with activity as calls were made and leads were followed. I paced the halls, my mind racing. But with every passing moment, my resolve grew stronger. I settled into the office, determined to end this nightmare.

Anton lingered, fatigue shadowing his features. “Denis is pushing the police hard. They’re checking every known hideout, every lead. We’ll find them.”

I nodded, appreciating his unwavering dedication. “Thank you, Anton. We need everyone on this. Every connection, every resource.”

As dawn approached, Dimitri sat across from me, his face weary but his eyes alert.

“We need to double our efforts,” I demanded. “I won’t rest until Talia and the children are back safely. Vic will regret the day he was fucking born,” I growled.

My phone pinged with a text from Tommy: Heard more chatter. Possible location closer to the city. Will confirm.

Hope flared within me. It wasn’t much, but it was something. Another lead, another chance. I showed the message to Anton and then steeled myself for the next phase of the search. Failure was not an option.