Chapter 74 Nikolai
I sat in my study for hours, staring at nothing.
Anya's words echoed in my head. “You are not enough.”
She was right. I was not enough. I could not save Dmitri. I could not stop Viktor.
I was useless.
A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.
"Come in," I said.
Mikhail entered. His face was grim.
"What now?" I asked.
"Boris called. He has information on Ivanov. He wants to meet tonight."
"Where?"
"The old warehouse by the docks."
I checked my watch. "I will be there."
"Understood. Also, have you spoken to Anya? She seemed upset earlier."
"We fought. She blames me for everything."
"She is just hurting. She does not mean it."
"She meant every word." I stood up. "I need to check on her. To make sure she is okay."
I left my study and went upstairs to our bedroom.
The door was closed. I knocked.
"Anya? Can I come in?"
There was no answer.
I opened the door. The room was empty.
"Anya?" I called out. Still no response.
I walked further in and looked around. Her closet was open. Some clothes were missing.
My heart started racing.
Then I saw a note on the bed. I grabbed it and started reading it. My blood turned to ice.
I am going to Ivanov for one year. In exchange for seeing Dmitri.
"No," I whispered. "No, no, no!"
I ran out of the room.
"Mikhail!" I roared. "MIKHAIL!"
He came running. "What is wrong?"
"Anya is gone! She went to Ivanov!"
"What? When?"
"I do not know! She left a note!" I shoved it at him.
Mikhail read it. His face went pale. "She made a deal with him."
"I know that! We need to get her back! Now!"
"How? If she signed a contract..."
"I do not care about the contract! She is walking into a trap!"
"What do you mean?"
"Ivanov is playing us! He wanted Anya all along! That is why he took Dmitri to lure her in!"
Understanding dawned on Mikhail's face.
I grabbed my coat and my gun.
"Get the men. All of them. We are going to Ivanov's estate. And we are bringing Anya home."
Mikhail nodded. "I will gather everyone. Give me ten minutes."
"You have five."
He ran out.
I stood there, shaking with rage and fear.
Anya had walked right into Ivanov's hands. And it was my fault.
My phone rang. It was an unknown number.
I answered. "What?"
"Nikolai Markov." Ivanov's smooth voice came through. "I thought you would call sooner."
"Where is she? Where is Anya?"
"Safe. She is here with me. Just as we agreed."
"You manipulated her! Used her brother to lure her in!"
"I simply provided an opportunity. She chose to take it."
"Let her go. Now. Or I will burn your estate to the ground."
Ivanov laughed. "Empty threats. You know you cannot touch me. Not without consequences."
"Try me."
"Very well. Come to my estate. Alone. And we will discuss terms."
"I am not coming alone."
"Then you will not see Anya. Ever again."
My grip tightened on the phone. "What do you want?"
"What I have always wanted. Your submission. Your loyalty. Your complete and total obedience."
"Never."
"Then Anya stays with me. For a year. Maybe longer. Depends on how cooperative she is."
"You touch her and I will kill you slowly."
"Such passion. It is almost admirable." He paused. "You have one hour. Come alone. Or lose her forever."
He hung up.
I stood there. My mind raced.
It's either I submit to Ivanov or I lose Anya.
There was no third option.
Unless…
I called Boris.
"Nikolai? I thought we were meeting at midnight."
"Change of plans. I need that information now. Whatever you have on Ivanov. Send it to me immediately."
"I am still compiling..."
"I do not have time! Send me what you have!"
"Fine. Give me five minutes."
I hung up. And waited.
Finally, my phone buzzed. It was an email from Boris.
I opened it and read quickly.
Bank records. Offshore accounts. Names. Dates. But there was nothing that could save Anya. I kept looking, then I saw something at the bottom.
Subject has a daughter. Location unknown. Age 16. Born out of wedlock.
A daughter. Ivanov had a daughter.
And if he was hiding her, that meant she was his weakness.
I called Boris back.
"The daughter. Where is she?"
"I do not know yet. I am still tracking her down."
"Find her. Now. I will pay you anything."
"It will take time..."
"You have thirty minutes. Or the deal is off."
I hung up.
This was my only chance.
If I could find Ivanov's daughter, I could trade her for Anya and Dmitri.
But I had to move fast.
Mikhail came back. "The men are ready."
"Good. We leave in twenty minutes. But not for Ivanov's estate."
"Where then?"
"Wherever his daughter is hiding. We are going to find her. And bring her to him."
"You want to kidnap a child?"
"She is sixteen. And yes. It is the only way."
Mikhail looked uncomfortable. "Nikolai, this is..."
"Wrong? I know. But I am out of options. Ivanov has Anya. And I will do whatever it takes to get her back."
"What if we cannot find her in time?"
"Then I go to Ivanov alone. And I trade myself for Anya."
"That is suicide."
"I know. But I would rather die than let him have her."
My phone buzzed.
"I found her. She's in a boarding school in Switzerland. St. Catherine's Academy."
"Send me the address. And charter a plane. Now."
"That will take hours. You cannot get there in time."
"Then find me another way. Bribe someone. Threaten someone. I do not care. Just get me that girl."
"Understood."
I turned to Mikhail. "Change of plans. We are not going anywhere. We wait for Boris to bring Ivanov's daughter here."
The next hour was torture. I called Boris every five minutes. I imagined what Ivanov was doing to Anya.
Finally, my phone rang.
"I have her," Boris said. "Or rather, I have someone who can get her. A teacher at the school. She owes me a favor."
"How long?"
"Six hours. Maybe less. She is putting the girl on a private plane right now."
"Six hours is too long!"
"It is the best I can do."
I hung up.
I looked at the clock. I had forty minutes before Ivanov's deadline.
I could not wait six hours. Anya could not wait six hours.
"Mikhail," I said. "I am going to Ivanov. Alone. Like he asked."
"That is insane!"
"It's the only way to buy time. You stay here, wait for Boris. When the girl arrives, bring her to Ivanov's estate. Use her as leverage to get me and Anya out."
"And if something goes wrong?"
"Then you blow the whole place up. Kill Ivanov. Save Anya. And forget about me."
"I am not leaving you behind."
"That is an order."
Mikhail's jaw tightened. But he nodded. "Yes, Pakhan."
I grabbed my gun. One last weapon.
Then I drove to Ivanov's estate alone, unarmed except for the small pistol hidden in my boot.
The gates opened. Guards searched me, found the gun and took it.
"Mr. Ivanov is waiting for you in his study," one said.
I walked through the mansion. Every step felt like walking to my execution.
Finally, I reached the study. The door
was open. Ivanov sat behind his desk, smiling.
"Nikolai. Right on time. I am impressed."
"Where is Anya?"
"All in good time. First, we let's discuss the terms."
"I came alone like you asked. Now give her back."
"Not quite yet. You see, I have one more condition."
"What condition?"
He pulled out a contract and slid it across the desk.
"Sign this. And you can have Anya back."
I picked it up and read it. My stomach dropped.
It was a transfer of power to Ivanov. Everything I owned.
"You want me to sign over my entire empire?"
"Yes. In exchange for Anya. Simple trade."
"This is insane!"
"This is the price. Take it or leave it."
I stared at the contract. My entire life in black and white.
Everything I built would be gone. But what was it worth without Anya?
No.
I picked up the pen.
"Wait," Ivanov said. "There is one more thing you should know before you sign."
"What?"
He smiled. "Dmitri is dead."
The words did not register at first.
"What?" I whispered.
"Anya's brother is dead. He died three days ago. A tragic accident in my factory."
"You are lying." My voice cracked.
"Am I? Would you like to see the body?"
My hands started shaking. "You killed him."
"I did no such thing. He simply... could not handle the work. His heart gave out."
"You killed him! You murdered him!"
"Prove it." Ivanov leaned back. "Now. Are you going to sign? Or should I tell Anya the good news? That her brother is dead. And that you failed to save him?"