Chapter 38

Kyle had decided that she wanted the ordeal with her father to be over. She had decided she needed to do this alone. She waited for Max to fall asleep after the sex they had.

She quietly got up and dressed and snuck out of the hotel room with the car keys and the cash in Max’s wallet.

She hated leaving the boys without a car, but she knew they would call Anatoli to come and get them. She was hoping this would give her a little head start.

***

Max woke up the next morning and rolled over to grab Kyle. He thought this was the beginning to fixing them, but when he realized the spot was empty he left the bed to check the bathroom.

Once Max realized she wasn’t in the hotel room at all, he called his brother in a panic.

On his way to Max’s room, Dimitri noticed the car was gone. “She took the fucking car, Max.”

“She’s in so much trouble when we get her back.” Max was angry; he couldn’t believe he slept through her leaving.

“We need to go get her. Do you remember the address?” Dimitri asked his brother, hoping he would say yes.

“I do. Chances are she will make it there way before we do, especially since someone has to come and get us.”

“I’ll call Anatoli,” Dimitri said, heading outside.

***

Kyle had spent hours driving and finally went to the address that she had on the envelope. Before she could get out of the car, she was greeted by a man with a gun.

“Get out of the car slowly.”

Kyle did as the man said, and once she was out, the man grabbed her by the hair, forcing her inside the house.

“Before you stick me in a room, I’m here to see Viktor.”

The man laughed at Kyle and continued forcing her to walk.

“My name is Kylah, and I’m Viktor’s daughter.”

He dropped her hair and looked at her. “If you’re lying, I’ll kill you.”

“I’m not lying. If he’s here, go ask him.”

The man yelled toward a guard, telling him to watch her while he stepped away.

“You’re a pretty little thing,” the new man commented.

“Well, I’m taken, so back off.”

“I don’t care if you’re taken or not.” He leaned over and sniffed Kyle’s hair. “You smell good too.”

“Back off, Ian. You lay a hand on my daughter and I’ll kill you.”

Kyle looked at Viktor and couldn’t help but stare at him. She had pictured an old, heavyset guy forcing people to do his work.

Instead, it looked like Viktor had barely aged; he was built with slightly graying hair.

“I’m glad you found me, Kylah. Follow me.”

Kyle was hesitant, but she followed him. She followed him to an office that was upstairs and had two men guarding it.

“Sit down. I’m assuming you want answers.”

Kyle wanted more than answers; she wanted her father to back off, she wanted Max and Dimitri to be left alone, and she wanted her father gone.

***

Kyle sat across from her father, burning with questions, but she knew she had to wait. She had to look in control.

“I’m not surprised you found me. I’m just curious how,” Viktor said, looking at her.

“We both have our secrets—let’s leave it at that.”

“Very well. I’m assuming you have some questions.”

Kyle had questions, but she had to play it right. She needed to ask him questions that would help Max and Dimitri.

“What do you want with the Volkov brothers?”

“I want their territory and business. It’s as simple as that. That area and what the Volkovs are doing brings in good money, and it used to be mine before their family pushed me out.”

“And what about me? Why try to get me now?”

“I have different reasons. One reason being you are my daughter.”

“What are the other reasons?” Kyle wanted to get as much information as possible.

“Your mother.”

“What does she have to do with it?”

Viktor let out a sigh. “You’re full of questions.”

“Well, if you didn’t try to kill the people around me or try to kidnap me, I wouldn’t have so many questions,” Kyle snapped back.

Viktor chuckled. “Fair enough.”

“What did my mother leave me?

“Your mother was rich; she left you and Ryan everything.”

“No, she didn’t. We have nothing. I think Ryan and I would have noticed money.”

“Hmm. Interesting.” When Kyle heard Viktor say that, she realized she had given him too much information.

“Why would it take for you to leave the Volkov brothers alone?”

Viktor thought about it for a second.

“What do you have to offer?”

***

“I still can’t believe she fucking left without us.” Max was on the warpath, and he didn’t care who he took it out on.

“I couldn’t find her phone in the hotel room, so it’s safe to assume she took it with her. We should try calling her and go from there.” Dimitri was trying to calm his brother down.

“Are you trying to say I’m stupid?”

“No, I’m trying to be logical about all this, Max.”

“Well, give her a fucking call, Dimitri.”

Dimitri let out a sigh and called Kyle, but the call went to voicemail. He gave it a few more minutes and called her again. After the second ring, Kyle picked up.

“~Myshka~, are you ok?”

“I’m fine. I’m on my way home.”

“He’s letting you go?”

“Yeah, but he has a demand. We’ll talk about it when I get back. I love you and Max, and I would do anything for you guys, but we have a lot to discuss.”

“We’ll be waiting for you.”

Dimitri hung up the phone, hoping Kyle would make it home quickly and safely.

He could tell how determined she was by the tone of her voice, and it made him proud that she was finally becoming who she was meant to be.