Chapter 98 Chapter 98

Chapter 98 Chapter 98
CHAPTER NINETY-EIGHT

Dimitri's POV 

I could not breathe.

The photo burned into my mind. 

Irina was tied to a chair with a gun pressed against her temple. Her eyes were wide with fear.

"Sergei!" I shouted.

He came running into my office.

"What is it?" He asked.

I showed him the photo. Sergei's face went pale. "When did you get this?" He demanded.

"Five minutes ago," I said. My voice was shaking. "They said I should come to the old docks at midnight. Alone."

"It is a trap," Sergei said immediately.

"I know," I replied. "But what choice do I have?"

I stood up and started pacing. My hands were clenched into fists.

"They have Irina and my son. I have to go."

"Let me come with you," Sergei insisted. "I can hide nearby and provide backup."

"They said, come alone," I repeated. "If they see you, they will kill her."

"If you go alone, they will kill you both," Sergei argued.

He was probably right. But I could not risk it.

"I need to talk to Mikhail," I said.

I found him in his room. He was sitting up in bed, reading a newspaper.

"Dimitri," he said when he saw my face. "What happened?"

I showed him the photo. Mikhail's expression darkened.

"Who sent this?" He asked.

"I do not know," I admitted. "But they want to meet tonight. At the old docks."

"How much do they want?" Mikhail asked.

I stopped.

"They... they did not say," I realized.

Mikhail raised an eyebrow.

"They did not ask for money?" He said. "That is strange."

My phone rang. It was the same unknown number.

I answered immediately. "Hello?"

"Dimitri Volkov," the voice said. "Did you enjoy the photo?"

"What do you want?" I demanded.

"What do I want?" The man laughed. "Money, of course. What else?"

Relief flooded through me.

Money. This was just about money.

"How much?" I asked.

"Ten million rubles," the voice said. "In cash. Unmarked bills."

"Fine," I agreed immediately. "I will bring it tonight."

"Good," the voice said. "Come alone with the money."

"Let me talk to her," I demanded. "Let me know she is alive."

There was a pause.

Then I heard Irina's voice. Faint and terrified. "Dimitri…"

Then the line went dead.

I stood there holding my phone. My heart was pounding. I didn't hear the voice correctly, but it was Irina.

"What did they say?" Mikhail asked.

"Ten million rubles," I replied. "For Irina and the baby."

"That is all?" Mikhail said. "That seems... low."

He was right. For a Volkov, ten million was nothing. We could pay a hundred million without blinking.

"Maybe they do not know how much we have," I suggested.

"Maybe," Mikhail said. But he sounded doubtful.

"I need to get the money," I said.

"Dimitri," Mikhail called as I headed for the door. "Be careful. Something about this does not feel right."

"I know," I replied. "But I have to save my family."

I went to the safe in my office. I started pulling out stacks of cash.

Sergei helped me count it. Ten million rubles exactly.

"This feels too easy," Sergei muttered.

"Easy?" I snapped. "My wife and son are being held hostage. How is that easy?"

"I just mean..." Sergei hesitated. "Usually kidnappers ask for more money. Or they make more demands."

"Maybe we will get lucky," I said. But I did not believe it either.

We packed the money into a black duffel bag.

Then I started preparing weapons. Guns. Knives. Everything I could hide on my body.

"If this goes wrong..." I started.

"It will not go wrong," Sergei interrupted. "I will be watching from a distance. If anything happens, I will come in."

"Thank you," I said.

The hours until midnight crawled by. I could not eat. I could not sit still.

This was my fault.

If I had controlled my temper with Alexei, she never would have left.

If I had been a better man, she would still be here.

"I will make this right," I muttered the myself. 

Finally, it was time to leave.

I grabbed the duffel bag full of money. I checked my weapons one last time.

"Sergei drove me to the docks. We stopped a block away.

"I will park here," Sergei said. "I can see the entrance from this position."

"Good," I said. "If I am not out in thirty minutes..."

"I am coming in," Sergei finished.

I nodded. Then I got out of the car.

The old docks were abandoned. 

Rusted shipping containers were everywhere. Weeds were growing through the cracks.

It was the perfect place for an ambush.

I walked slowly, carrying the duffel bag. My eyes scanned every shadow.

"Hello?" I called out. "I am here. I have your money."

There was no response.

Then a voice came from somewhere in the darkness.

"Leave the bag and walk away."

"No," I said firmly. "I want to see my wife first."

"That was not the deal," the voice said.

"I do not care," I replied. "Show me Irina. Then you get the money."

There was another silence.

Then I heard footsteps coming from behind a shipping container.

A man appeared. He was wearing a mask and black clothes. He was alone.

"Where is she?" I demanded.

"Safe," the man said. "Give me the money first."

"Show me proof she is alive," I insisted.

The man pulled out a phone and pressed a button.

A video started playing. Irina was tied to a chair, crying.

"Please, Dimitri," she said in the video. "Just give them what they want."

Then the video cut off.

"Satisfied?" The man asked.

Not really. That video could have been recorded anywhere at any time.

But what choice did I have?

I threw the duffel bag towards him.

"There," I said. "Now let her go."

The man picked up the bag. He opened it and looked inside.

Then he laughed.

"What is so funny?" I demanded.

"You actually brought it," the man said. "I did not
think you would be this stupid."

My blood went cold.

"Where is my wife?" I asked quietly.

"Your wife?" The man laughed again. "I do not have your wife."

"What?" I said.

"I made it all up," the man explained. "The photo. The video. All of it was fake."

Rage exploded inside me.

"You..." I started towards him. But he pulled out a gun.

"Do not move," he warned. "I will shoot."

"Where did you get that photo?" I demanded. "Where is Irina?"

"I have no idea," the man shrugged. 

"I just edited some stock photos. You never even asked for proof of life."

He was right. I had been so panicked that I never verified anything. That was when I realized her absy wasn

't with her. Irina would never let her so out of her sight 

"So this whole thing was just to steal money from

me?" I asked.

"Exactly," the man said. "Thank you for your donation."

He started backing away, keeping the gun pointed at me.

"You will not get far," I warned him. "I will find you."

"Good luck with that," the man said.

Then he turned and ran.

I pulled out my own gun. I could shoot him and end this right now. But killing him would not bring Irina back.

And I needed to know if there was any truth to what he said.

So I ran after him.