"How did you let it happen, Vadim?" Dimitri shouted at him, standing on the other side of the dining room. Vadim had let him free after the incident that happened an hour ago. His 6 year old nephew saw him murder someone. It wasn't suppose to happen, a nanny was watching over him, but apparently he slipped away. Now he had put the nannies and an extra security team on both Nickolai and Karina, to make sure nothing else would happen to them today. Literally everything had gone to shit today, there was no way in Vadim's mind that it could have gone worse.
He had killed the mother of his child, he had let his brother-in-law be harmed to the point he could hardly stand - Vadim looked up at the crutches holding Dimitri up - and to top it all off his sister had gone to who knows where, nobody knew where she was. He had put almost all his resources into finding Anastasia, he had lots of enemies and for all he knew someone could have kidnapped her. Although he did doubt it, after her being so adamant on leaving the day before.
"I told you he got away, the nanny was watching him. I didn't know." He shouted back, fed up with Dimitri's attitude. Vadim knew he fucked up, but still he wasn't going to let him talk to him like that. He was the one in charge and Dimitri would have to deal with that.
"Are you sure you don't know where Anastasia is?" Vadim asked again, looking at Dimitri.
"No, I don't"
"How can I know you are not lying? You betrayed me before." Vadim stated, unsure whether to trust him.
"Yeah, but then my wife's safety wasn't a concern. Now it is." Dimitri turned around, struggling a bit due to the crutches, "Now if you don't mind, I am going to my son. See how bad the trauma is." Dimitri said bitterly. He wasn't too concerned for his wife, Anastasia always knew how to manage herself. He was sure there was a good reason she had left and felt confident she would return safely.
As he walked out of the door, Alexei passed him walking into the room. Dimitri cringed, thinking about the beating and torture this man had put him through, all to get to know where Anastasia was. But he didn't know where she was, if only they had trusted him when he said he didn't know. He would have been with his son and Nickolai would have never had to witness the horror he had.
As Alexei walked into the room he threw the files on the table, making Vadim walk towards them and look what was inside.
"Manchester?" Vadim stated, looking at the files disclosing that his sister had taken a flight from Russia airport to Manchester. Of course it wasn't with her real name, but Vadim had managed to gather all her fake names and information on them over ghe years. So he was certain that it was his sister.
"She took the flight early in the morning, but please look at the other file. It might surprise you." Alexei told his boss, unsure of how Vadim would react to the news.
"Manuel? That traitor, he took a flight earlier than her?" Vadim asked in disbelief. That guy had ran away from his duties, when his parents died. Before that he had always watched over his sister, even when she traveled the world for 4 years after her 19th birthday. But when his parents died, he had disappeared from the radar, probably afraid that Vadim would torture him, or even worse kill. After all, the guy held his little sister hidden, when Vadim had specifically asked him to return Anastasia to him. He was happy that the guy kept Anastasia safe, but not listening to what Vadim had commanded him was a big crime.
"I am afraid that they might be up to something together." Alexei told his boss.
"I don't have the power or allies to properly go searching for her in the UK, especially when she is using a fake name." Vadim stated, not specifically talking to Alexei. He was just stating the facts, on his own he would never find her.
"Alexei can you ask Emilio De Luca to call me immediately?" Vadim asked before putting the files back down.
Meanwhile in England, Leonardo was standing in his bedroom. He was residing in his mansion close to Manchester. He picked up the phone as it rang.
"Hey darling." He simply spoke.
On the other end of the line was Nya, his wife that he loved dearly. She greeted him with a monotone voice, worried for what had happened. Leonardo had informed her that he had to do business in the UK, but as she heard his voice she knew something was wrong.
"I caught Anastasia, she was indeed hiding something from me."
"What was she hiding, Leo?" She asked him, not sure if she even wanted to know the answer. Nya had always been a bit wary when it came to Anastasia Nabatova, she knew they had a past and although she was certain her husband loved her more than anything. She still wasn't sure how her husband felt towards Anastasia. After all Vadim had murder Leonardo's parents, after they had murdered Vadim's parents, Anastasia was his sister. But she also was Leonardo's ex.
"She had a son 18 years ago, Nya. He is my son." This information shook Nya to her core, this was not what she had anticipated.
"How do you feel about it, sweetheart?" She asked, trying to be supportive.
"I am not sure." Leonardo said, he was deep in thoughts. The boy was no material for the crime world, Anastasia had been right about that when she had told him that. However maybe it could be reversed, he could be trained. He was only 18, there was enough time to do so.
Leonardo Martínez had always wanted a son, after him and Nya got married they immediately started trying for a baby. After all they had both been in their early 40's, they were both older meaning it would be harder to conceive. After 2 years of trying they had started IVF, resulting in Malika. She had not been the son he hoped for. They had tried for a son afterwards, but they had not been lucky. After the traumatic c-section, it had left behind scar tissue. Making it even harder to conceive, when they already were having so much trouble. But now he had a son after all, maybe this would fix all their problems. For Leonardo this would be a new start, hope to finally have his heir. This hope however would fade soon, turning this new hope into his worst nightmare.
Back in Russia Vadim was sitting in his office smoking a cigar, waiting for Emilio to call. So when he finally did, he picked up the phone as fast as he could.
"Emilio"
"Vadim, nice to hear you again. I heard you have a daughter now. You know my wife is about to have our daughter too." Emilio spoke, "I am sure they would get along great when she is finally here, maybe you could come and visit Italy for the summer?"
"Yes, I do have a daughter, but that's not why I called. Since you heard the news about my daughter, I am sure Alexei also informed you about the reason why I need your help." Vadim spoke, not in the mood for chit chat. He had more important things to do, like find his sister. Although he did make a mental note, to visit Italy in the summer.
"Of course he did, your little sister ran off to the UK and you need my help to find her."
"You have allies in the UK, they could help me. You know you owe me for everything I did for you all those years ago. Without my help you and Constance wouldn't have been together at all." Vadim reminded him, he knew Emilio wouldn't refuse helping him.
"Of course, I will. My allies will be searching for her within the hour. Although you still haven't answered my question, will you be visiting in the summer?" Emilio asked again.
Vadim sighed, before agreeing. At least his daughter would have someone to play with, he thought.
——-
Hello dear readers,
I am sorry for being absent for so long, but I hope to resume and finish this story now :)
I know the story has gotten a bit intense, with the killing and kidnapping. Hopefully you all don't mind, I just don't like it when a story is too soft and has no hardship. Especially them being in such a violent world, it wouldn't be realistic if it was only rainbows, romance and sunshines.
However if you do enjoy romance more, I am starting a story that is more focused on that. Or maybe if you just enjoy my writing style you could take a look. It takes place in the same universe, about Emilio and Constance. It takes place roughly 8 years before this book takes place and the first 2 chapters are available now.