“You mean once Adrian got her out.”

I should have known where she was. I should have known she was sick. I should have helped.

But I didn’t.

He did.

“There has to be some trace of her,” I insist. “Even after she left the ring.”

“My contacts are inside of the ring, Kolya,” Milana points out. “Not out.”

“Then find other contacts,” I growl. “We don’t have answers. She could have survived it.”

“She very well could have,” Milana agrees. But it doesn’t take a genius to read the despair and pessimism in her face.

There’s only one answer. She’s avoiding saying it to avoid setting me off. But I’ve been set off for a long time now. There’s no going back. There’s only going forward.

I have to talk to Adrian.

The only question is, how do I stop myself from strangling him before I get a word in edgewise?

“First things first,” Milana says, punching my arm gently. “You need to get yourself fighting fit again.”

“Yeah, yeah. Give me a couple of minutes.”

She laughs, but it fades quickly. “He’s proved to be a lot bolder than we anticipated, Kolya.”

I shake my head. “It’s easy to be bold when you’re hiding behind richer, more powerful men. If I were to strip away his shields, I’d find the same scared coward who ran from the Bratva, only to realize he wasn’t cut out for the real world, either.”

Milana nods. “You may be right about that.”

“I am,” I say with determination. “My mistake was in blinding myself to who Adrian really is. But I’m done making excuses for him. It’s time to start holding him accountable for his sins.”

“And what about June?”

That monster in my gut roars again, demanding more, more, more. More grief. More pain. I know where June stands on this, but as much as I don’t want to hurt her in any way, I can’t just ignore it.

Protecting Adrian is one promise I can no longer afford to keep.

34

JUNE

“June?”

“Sorry,” I say, glancing towards Sara. “I’m a little out of it today.”

She’s on her feet immediately with her Dr. Sara face on. “Is it the baby? Are you feeling any fatigue or discomfort?”

I shake my head. “Bloated like a whale, but I think that’s normal.”

“So it’s Kolya then?” she surmises as she sinks back down, though she stays perched on the edge of her seat.

“Is it that obvious?”

Sara smiles apologetically. “We’re all living in close confines now. Noise filters through the walls somewhat.”

I sigh. “Joy.”

Milana had arrived at the suite last evening. She’d gone into Kolya’s room and stayed there for a few hours. When she reemerged, it was only to say a quick goodbye before she left.

I spent the whole night fuming internally, but still hoping that Kolya would come out of his room. I had things I wanted to say to him.

“How was he this morning?” I ask reluctantly, hating myself for how miserable I sound.