Page 265 of Hate to Love You
Igor was a whore. Everyone knew that, even my sister. And I of all people certainly enjoyed the thrill of the hunt along with the next rich, egotistical, fuckboy.
But I never did this shit.
This is predatory.
And with everything I’m learning about Polina, and whatever her association with these “Jewel Rose” girls, my stomach clenches thinking at the possibility of where those two drunk girls may have ended up.
“Cillian, I can assure you I knew nothing about this—”
“I don’t want your fucking assurances!” He roars. “I want my sister back! And since you clearly had no idea, this was even going on in your organization, I knew that your incompetent ass would try to pin this shit on me. And I refuse to have my name associated with your sins.”
I open my mouth to say something, but no words come to my lips. In truth, there’s nothing I can say.
“I never wanted war with you Russian pricks, but war is what you got when your men came across the line, into our territory and took my sister Aoife, and her roommate Erin,” he says darkly. “So, as they act for you, this atrocity is on your fucking hands! And war is what you will get!”
“...And what if I can get her back?”
Cillian laughs.
“You wouldn’t even know where to start,” he snorts sarcastically. “Hell, you don’t even know where your own girlfriend is.”
My fist clenches.
“But,” he continues with a sigh. “I might.”
I freeze, hearing my heartbeat in my ears.
“What do you mean?”
“I haven’t just been watching you and your little band of heathens,” Cillian says darkly. “I’ve been keeping a close eye on your brother-in-law, and your sister.”
“Where are they?” I snarl, glancing at my watch.
Fuck we’re wasting time.
“...Although, I did find it a bit suspicious when he wound up dead,” Cillian continues, ignoring me. “I heard the papers said it was a heart attack, though to be honest, I always thought it was his spoiled cunt of a wife who offed him.”
“Cillian…” I growl. “Where are they?”
“But after studying them for quite some time, I discovered something…interesting. There was one place they both used to go, when they thought the other wasn’t paying attention.”
My fist clenches and I inhale deeply, frustrated as fuck that this bastard is wasting so much time telling this long-winded story.
“I’ll tell you where I think they are holding her,” Cillian says, evidently sensing my irritation. “But in return I want my sister back.”
“I’ll find her for you,” I growl. “I promise.”
Cillian snorts.
“The promise of a liar is never worth very much to me, Mr. Antonov. No, I want your commitment to finding her. And you will find her, or you will find every single person you love dead by spring…Including your little brother in Chicago.”
My heart stops beating.
“Chelsea Pier, three buildings west of the one I had you meet me at,” Cillian says softly. “And if I were you, I’d come loaded, because from what I’ve seen, they already are.”
Then the line goes dead.
“Cillian must’ve known I didn’t know about Polina and Igor’s little warehouse the night we found Stetson. He was watching us that night, and would’ve seen how unfamiliar we were with this side of the marina,” I say as I load my weapon from the backseat of the Cadillac. “But what he couldn’t tell us, about how to get into the place, I know you can…Heather.”