“Boss, I tried to stop her, but she took matters into her own hands,” Matvet said, urgency slicing through his words. “I had some men go after her and keep an eye on her while I figure out a way.”
Took matters into her own hands? I froze, my chest tightening. It better not be what I was thinking. “Where is Alessia?”
He exhaled. “She went to Italy with Leonid.”
My eyes narrowed, my mind racing to catch up. Leonid? Italy?
“I sent three men—”
“When?”
Silence. “Three days ago,” he said.
Yanking the IV from my arm, the pain stabbed beneath the skin. But it was nothing compared to the fire climbing my chest. Anger, frustration, and betrayal tangled together.
“Sir, I couldn’t stop her,” Matvet said, voice tight.
I looked up and scoffed. He was a joke, weak and pathetic. I threw the sheets aside and slid from the bed, every movement deliberate.
“Boss, I think—”
“You think nothing,” I snapped. “One more word and I will kill you.” My vision blurred as I crossed to the closet. The doctor wasright, I needed rest, but Alessia mattered more than pain. I had promised her there would be no more Leonid. She had been hurt and terrified then, and now this?
My steps trembled as I reached the closet. I gripped the handle and shut my eyes. I could not picture her face. The anesthesia had dulled everything to a fog. Fuck. I needed her.
The door opened, and someone walked in. “Why is he out of bed?” Grandmother’s voice only fueled the storm inside me.
I forced myself upright, though every muscle begged me to lie back down. That was the part that clawed at me the most. I had to stay in bed doing nothing while Alessia was away. What the hell did Matvet mean by saying she took matters into her own hands? She hated it.
And Leonid? That bastard only dug his own grave. What agreement did he think he had with me? The deal was over.
A hand pressed against my shoulder. I turned to Grandmother, her worried face out of place. “You shouldn’t be out of bed. It hasn’t even been a week, and you’re moving.”
What I needed was my phone to be charged before dealing with anyone. I went straight to the bed, grabbed the useless thing, and tossed it onto the mattress. I turned to Matvet, still standing in the room. “Get me a fucking charger.”
He limped out as Grandmother sank into the chair Alessia should have been in. Was she all right? God help me if anything were to happen to her.
Dorothy came back, adjusting the IV and sliding the needle under my skin. I let her. What mattered now was strength. The sooner I got out of this bed, the sooner I could find her. But first, I needed eyes on her. Every move Leonid made, every step he took. I needed updates.
I faced Dorothy. “What else should I know?” Her hands trembled around the blood pressure cuff. “Didn’t we agree on the donor and the deal?”
“Boss, I just did what I was ordered to do.”
“Who gave you the orders?” My voice cut through the room. “Who is the boss here?”
Grandmother cut in. “Get well and go yell at Dmitri.”
My blood boiled as I turned to her. “Dmitri?”
She sighed and waved Dorothy out. “Give us the room for a second.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Dorothy stammered and slipped out.
I did not need her to explain. I already knew whose blood I would spill. If Dmitri had taken her to Leonid, I would gut him myself.
Grandmother’s voice cut through my rage. “Alessia called Dmitri and begged him to do her a favour.” Damn Alessia. “And Dmitri agreed.”
I let out a low scoff. Where the fuck was that charger?