just be playing hide-and-seek. That’s why they’re not answering when I call out to them.
But there’s a voice in the back of my head going off like an alarm bell.
They’re not hiding.
They’re gone.
“Fuck,” I growl, starting up the stairs to look for them. Adrenaline races through me like the blood in my veins. When I get into the kitchen, the smell of smoke and the burn marks left on the stove stop me in my place.
What the fuck happened?
I tear through the rest of the house. When I come up empty-handed, I head outside to the garage. Just as expected, one of my cars is missing, and so are the keys.
She took him. She took him and she ran.
I yank my phone out of my pocket to call and direct men to the highways leading out of the city. When I get off the call, I notice there’s a blinking light letting me know I have a voicemail I must have missed.
It’s from Victoria. I pause to listen to it.
“I’ve tried calling you over and over again, Matvei, but there was a fire. Nikolas was burned, so I’ve taken him to Holzman Hospital. If you get this, please hurry. Nikolas needs you.”
“Fuck!” I shout, throwing the phone down and running back to the garage. I’m backing out of the garage before I even have my seat belt on. I’d just been prepared to call my soldiers to locate Victoria and bring Nikolas back, but this is a different kind of beast.
I’ll handle this myself.
My nephew is injured, and I need to get to him as quickly as I can. My blinders come on. Making it to that hospital is the only thing replaying in my mind. Get to Nikolas. Make sure the boy is alright.
I’ve already lost my brother and sister-in-law. I can’t let any harm come to the only family I have left in this world.
Traffic is pure insanity, and I nearly crash as I speed through cars, maneuvering around a red minivan that won’t speed up. The driver flips me the bird when I pass her, but I can’t even manage to return the gesture. None of that is important as long as Nikolas is hurt.
When I make it to Holzman, I leave the door unlocked and push past a few nurses on my way inside. Out of breath, I find Victoria in the waiting room pacing back and forth, clutching her hand. Her face sinks when she spots me, but she walks over regardless.
“Matvei,” she says with relief.
“Where is he?” I demand. “Where is Nikolas? What happened?” There’s no time for formalities. I need information now.
“He’s in the room with his doctor. They’re checking him to see how bad his injuries are.”
“What happened?” I nearly shout.
Tears form in her eyes, and she stammers out, “I don’t know! He wanted to be alone, and while I was reading, I heard him scream for help. I ran to the kitchen, but it was on fire. He was trying to cook and threw water on the grease to try and put the fire out. That only made it worse. I’m so sorry,” she says, dropping her head and crying.
When I put my hands on my head, she flinches instinctively, turning away from me. I consider reaching out for her, but I can’t worry about Victoria right now.
Niko is the one who needs my help.
I head to the nurses’ desk and place my hands flat on top. “I need to see whatever doctor is with my nephew right now,” I say.
The woman directly in front of me gives me a lazy look. “If you’re here about the burn, then we’re not letting—”
“I don’t give a fuck what you’re not letting happen,” I say in a low voice. I lean forward, inching closer to her. A look of fear pops onto her face, and she leans back. “Unless you want me to put you in the ER myself, I need that room number, do you understand me?”
Silently, she nods.
“Good.”
While the nurse searches through the database for the information, I return to Victoria. She flinches again, and I say, “Why are you afraid? I’m not going to hit you.”
She gives me an incredulous look. “You beat my father right in front of me,” she whispers, looking around. “I let Nikolas get hurt while I was supposed to be taking care of him. I don’t know what you’ll do to me.”
I feel sick—something that doesn’t hit me very often. She sees me as a