you to find your sister.” Talia smiled and said, “I want to meet her so badly, too.”
Zaal was still for what felt like an age. Then, releasing Talia, he approached Avto, who straightened where he stood. “I have few memories from my life. I regret that I do not remember you.”
Avto nodded his head slowly but hung on Zaal’s every word. “Firstly, I want to thank you”—Zaal’s voice was thick as he said this—“for saving my sister when I could not. You have my gratitude, and I am in your debt.”
“Lideri, no—” Avto went to argue, but Zaal held up his hand.
“You told me I have clan men here in New York?”
Avto nodded. “Many, Lideri, and more throughout the United States. They are good loyal men. Many were guards or advisors to your father.”
Zaal nodded again, then held out his hand. Talia walked over to stand beside him. Zaal brought Talia’s hand to his mouth, then puffed out his chest. “This is my Talia. She is a Tolstaia. I know that our families have a bitter history, but our coming marriage turns that into a bond. An alliance. If you have been living in New York, you will understand that the Bratva run this place. And now I am one of them.”
Avto swallowed but bowed his head. “You will get word to our people that I live and I am ready to take my place as the Kostava Lideri.” Avto smiled, but Zaal added, “You will let them know that we will work beside the Volkovs, and that any threat against them will be dealt with as though they had turned coat on a Kostava.”
“Yes, Lideri,” Avto said, then fidgeted with his hands. “But what about Zoya?” His eyes shone with fear. “We have no idea who took her, or what they may be doing to her.”
Zaal reached out and laid his large hand on Avto’s small shoulder. “We have an idea,” he said, “and they are Georgian.” Avto stiffened, but Zaal added, “Our people will be integral to rescuing her, Avto. To returning our Kostava daughter.”
Avto paused, then put his hand on Zaal’s arms. “Our people will die to save Miss Zoya, Lideri.”
Zaal dropped his hand, then let Talia cup his face with her hands. “We’ll find her, zolotse. My father”—Talia looked to me just for a second before looking back at Zaal—“and my brother will not rest until you see your sweet Zoya again.”
Zaal brought Talia into his chest as Kisa squeezed my hand and said, “Lyubov moya, you must do this for Zaal. You must give him the peace his sister will bring to his soul.”
Pressing a kiss to Kisa’s soft lips, I promised, “It’s just a matter of time, solnyshko. With Zaal inheriting the Kostava Lideri seat, the Volkov Bratva have just become the strongest underground crime family on the continental U.S.”
“So you’re saying you’ll get Zoya back?”
“I’m saying it’s just a matter of fucking time.”
10
194
I entered the back room, then slammed the door shut, snapping the metal locks tightly into place. My back hit the door and my legs became weak. I lifted my hand and stared at my rigid fingers. I’d almost touched her. A hollow feeling built in my chest, and I squeezed my eyes shut. I am alone. I have always been alone. They were all killed—parents, grandmama, my younger siblings, and my brothers who I adored. I survived.… Most days I wish that I had died, too.
My heart beat rapidly against my ribs. Her voice, her voice was broken and cut. I could hear the devastation in her every word.
She felt just like me.
She felt like me.
Fisting the hand that was still raised, I moved off the door. I walked to the desk, and my eyes immediately fixed on the screen. The female was crying, her head down and her body shaking with sobs. My stomach tightened, and without my meaning it to my finger lifted to touch the screen. My index finger traced the outline of her face and naked body.
She was so beautiful as she hung off that wall. I gritted my teeth as the thought ran through my mind. She was a Georgian. I hated all Georgians. They’d brought nothing but pain into my life. Mistress was Georgian. The Wraiths that would come to the orphanage, stealing kids, were Georgian.
But no matter how hard I wanted to hate this suka, seeing her like this, broken over her dead family, made it impossible. And … Yes, I think you’re