114. Recovering Katrina

114. Recovering Katrina
Margaret 

The next morning, I changed my clothes and headed towards Katrina's room. It had been some time since I had set up her crib in the adjoining room, and I felt very strange without my little one nearby. Although thanks to her and John, Nikolay was back by my side, and this time I wasn't going to lose him for anything in the world.

I had arranged to meet him in Central Park, but first I needed to feed and bathe Katrina.

I entered her room and approached the crib with a smile... a smile that froze on my face when I saw the empty crib. I tried not to lose my mind, but it was very difficult.

Then, I remembered the kind conversation I had with Mike, and something didn't add up.

I had never wanted to harm anyone, but I knew that if I found the man I once called brother, it would be very difficult for me not to kill him for taking my daughter.

I ran to the living room and called Nikolay, who answered on the second ring. I couldn't help but tell him the events hastily. He asked me to wait for him and stay calm.

I knew he would handle this matter, or at least I hoped so because it was distressing not knowing where my daughter might be or if she was okay.

Although Nikolay hadn't taken more than five minutes to arrive, I couldn't stay still. He was making a couple of calls while I was biting my nails trying not to have a nervous breakdown.

I had to admit that I was surprised by the fact that he knew so many people, especially being outside of his country, but I was grateful for it, and I wasn't even Catholic.

My Katrina... Would she be okay? I hoped that at least Mike would have some qualms about treating that girl well because if he hurt her, I wouldn't be responsible for my actions...

"Margo, I've spoken to a friend who works at the airport," Nikolay spoke to me, turning to face me. "He says Mike took a flight to Spain."

"Don't take offense, Nikolay, but Spain is very large," I said anxiously, my head aching.

"I know. According to my contact, he's in Madrid," he said calmly, surprising me with his composure.

"What are we waiting for?" I said eagerly.

"Some friends owe me a favor and will keep Mike busy until we arrive," he informed me, and I nodded.

"Let's go..." I pulled his arm, but he stopped me.

"We're waiting for my private jet, darling," he caressed my cheek, and his touch calmed me a little. I knew he wouldn't let me down.

"I'm sorry, I'm very nervous..." I bit my lip, closing my eyes tightly.

"I understand, babe. But you have nothing to worry about. Katrina will be okay... but Mike is a dead man," he said with a hard voice, his gaze icy.

Despite him being my brother and having kidnapped me, I was willing to forgive and forget, but he had crossed the line by messing with my treasure, and for once, I agreed with Nikolay.

The fact that I didn't want to be with Mike wasn't a reason for him to kidnap my daughter. The situation was intense, and I still couldn't believe it; he was a damn sicko who had known how to manipulate me from the start. Thank goodness I had met Nikolay.

If I had found myself alone in this situation, I would have called the police, but Nikolay handled everything as he pleased. Fortunately, he treated me in a very different way.

I still couldn't believe that when things were resolved, I would marry him and that he would also leave the mafia. He was doing it for his family, and that filled me with joy.

Nikolay had truly changed; he was no longer the cold and cruel man he seemed to be at first.

The doorbell ringing snapped me out of my daydreams, and I went to open it. I found two men who looked like nightclub bouncers. They glanced inside the house and completely ignored me to enter.

I followed them, very angry, and then I realized they were shaking hands with Nikolay. Were they the men we were expecting?

Nikolay approached me, took my hand, and led me out towards the rooftop of the building across the street where his private plane awaited us.

The journey to Madrid felt endless. I couldn't relax, and several times I found myself tapping my leg in nervousness. At that moment, Nikolay held my hand and kissed my forehead, conveying confidence and security that managed to calm me a little.

Once in Madrid, Nikolay and his men armed themselves with a large arsenal of weapons, and we set out in search of Mike and my little Katrina.



Mike 

Katrina hadn't stopped crying since we arrived in Madrid, and I was starting to lose my patience. I had fed her and changed her diaper, but she didn't seem happy with that.

I guessed she missed Margaret a lot, just like I did.

Had she realized that I was to blame? Would this make her reconsider things? No, she probably hated me even more, and Nikolay was very aware of all this... I knew my death was more than certain, but I was eagerly awaiting it.

Life without Margaret made no sense to me.

"Do you mind shutting up, little girl? We wouldn't be in this situation if Nikolay hadn't crossed paths with Margaret. You're the son of my enemy; I shouldn't have to put up with you..."

At that moment, the door of the room in the hostel where I was staying was kicked down, and I didn't have time to react before I found myself pinned down by two very strong guys. And behind them, Nikolay and Margaret entered.

He reached for the holster at his belt, where I assumed he carried his gun. Margaret was by his side as if she were accustomed to the situation; she seemed like a real lady. However, she looked at me with such hatred that it scared me.

Margo had always been the kindest woman on earth, but I understood her hatred. I had finally lost her.

She rushed to the bed to hug her little one and make sure she was okay, and then the baby stopped crying. Incredible, no doubt.

Margaret stood up again with Katrina in her arms and looked at me.

"You've gone mad! What were you thinking? Why did you do this to me?" she yelled furiously, red with anger.

"I thought that by taking Katrina away from you, you would reconsider a relationship with me..." I began to say, but she interrupted me.

"I've explained to you thousands of times that I love Nikolay and I'm not going to change my mind. I'm sorry things have come to this extreme," her voice breaks for a moment, but it's only a fraction of a second because she continues to look at me with deep hatred.

"I'm so sorry, Margaret..."

"I'm sorry too, Mike.”

Nikolay pulled the gun from his belt, and Margaret left the room. I knew very well what was about to happen now.

Nikolay was going to do to me what he should have done a long time ago. I was going to die because I would never have Margaret's love, and seeing her with Nikolay was too much to bear.

"No one messes with my family, Mike," he said with a sharp voice, as cold as ice. Just as I knew him from before.

"Do it already. You should have done it a long time ago, before you dragged Margaret into your path," I spat with hatred, cursing the day I had become indebted to that damn Russian dog.

"I can assure you that she will be my wife, and I will do to you what I should have done a long time ago," he said relentlessly, with no trace of remorse in his features.

Then Nikolay pulled the trigger, and I closed my eyes with a smile.

I could already taste the flavor of death, the peace, the cold, and the darkness that would never leave me again…