Chapter 127 Rat from the Past
Dakota's P.O.V.
"How can something like this happen in broad daylight?" I ask the three men. Shouldn't they be watching these cameras?
"We're sorry. We'll begin looking for her right now." They run out of the office, and I run to the stairs. When I reach Ari's room, everyone is gathered, even Luka, who's in a wheelchair and looks like he's not doing well. I guess there's something to be said for so many people being admitted.
"My mom was kidnapped by a man claiming to be Yegor's son. There was blood on Mom's car, but that was from her elbowing the asshole in the nose. He forced her into the backseat of a car that someone else was driving. I couldn't see the tags, but it was a black sedan with tinted windows." I look around and see Tyler holding Shea's hand.
"What do you want me to do?" Galdino asks.
"Honestly, I don't know. We don't even know if this guy's real name is Dominick. I don't know where he took her or why. Right now, I want to run out of here and look for her, but I don't know where to begin." Yegor walks into the room.
"The security guys came to the car and roped it off. They told me about the car that took Anushka while I was on the phone. Detective Klein said he was on his way and would have someone look for video footage in the area to see where they went," he says. The rest of my uncles walk into the room with my dad. His eyes are red as if he's been crying.
"Yegor, you're sure you don't know this guy?" I ask as Noah pulls up the picture of Dominick. Yegor shakes his head.
"He looks familiar, but I don't know why. I also don't understand why he's claiming to be my son." I feel like screaming, but that will get me absolutely nowhere. Before I can say anything, my phone begins ringing. When I look at it, I see Mom on the screen.
"Mom?" I answer. I don't hear my mom. Instead, I hear a man laughing.
"No, this is not your precious mom. Hi, Dakota. You know I shouldn't be talking to you right now. You were supposed to be killed four years ago, but that idiot shoved you out of the way." I turn the phone on speaker and hold my finger to my lips so everyone will be quiet.
"I take it you're Dominick. What do you want?" I ask him.
"I want you. I want to slit your throat so I can take my place as the head of the Kondrati family." Ari looks like he's ready to jump out of bed. I take his hand and squeeze.
"Well, that sounds like a nice fantasy. What makes you think you should be the head of my family?" I want to ask about my mom, but I want to keep him talking.
"I'm older than you. My dad is Yegor Kondrati. As the oldest grandchild, I should be the head." I look at Yegor and shake my head when I see he's getting ready to argue.
"My grandfather picked me not because of my age. He picked me because he said I was the one he wanted to run the family businesses. Yegor said he has no idea who you are." Dominick sighs.
"Of course, he doesn't know who I am. My stupid mother never told him that she was pregnant with me because she didn't want me to be part of the Kondrati family. Well, she paid the price for keeping me away from what was rightfully mine." Fear fills my body. If he killed his own mother, then he won't have any problem killing mine.
"What do you want me to do to get my mom back?" He laughs a humorless laugh.
"I'd be willing to make a trade. You for her." I know he'll most likely kill us both, but I don't have a choice. Maybe we can set him up so we can both get out of this alive.
"Okay, where do I need to go?" I ask. Everyone in the room begins shaking their heads, but I ignore them.
"I'll text you the address. You'd better come alone, and I'll know if you call the police. In case you're waiting for Detective Klein to come to your rescue, I have a surprise for you." Oh, no, did he kidnap him, too?
"Hi, Dakota. I would apologize, but honestly, your family has broken so many laws, why shouldn’t I break some too? It's time for me to get paid. Now, do what he says, and I won't touch your pretty mom. If you don't do what he says, I can't make that same promise. She's just as beautiful as she was all those years ago. This may be my only chance to get close to her, and it would be a shame not to take advantage of this situation."