Page 270 of Sexting His Assistant

“Have Meredith traced,” I say.

He frowns. “Why?”

I look at him. “Because she has Nina.”

For the first time since I have known him, Pavel looks genuinely confused.

I step closer. “Trace her. Now.”

He turns immediately, fingers moving over his tablet. “Sergei, Dima, full team. Pull cell tower pings. Her main phone, office access card, parking exit, any vehicle registered to her, any known associate. Now.”

Sergei is already on his radio.

I go back into my office and take the gun from the biometric drawer.

Pavel enters behind me. “We have a ping.”

I turn.

“Not her main phone,” he says. “The burner connected briefly near the industrial quarter, east river road. Then went dark.”

“Address.”

“Old warehouse block. Building seventeen or eighteen. The coordinates bounce between them.”

I’m already moving.

Pavel says, “It could be bait.”

“Then we bite.”

He follows me into the hallway. “We need time to assemble enough men.”

“No.”

“Luka—”

“I don’t give a fuck about anything other than Nina,” I say. “We go right now.”

My phone is in my hand the entire time. I call Nina again. No answer.

I send one message.

Where are you?

Nothing.

Another.

Nina, answer me.

Nothing.

I can still see the last word she sent, one desperate attempt to reach me. And I’m going to answer, even if it takes all of me.

The elevator opens into the private garage.

Sergei has the car running before I reach it.