Chapter 64

Chapter 63

Sophia

EVERYONE'S ALREADY out of the room, heading to get ice cream. A brief moment of privacy.

"Breathe in, breathe out, it's simple. Just keep telling yourself: We can handle this." Luka's arms wrap around me, drawing me close to his solid, reassuring chest. I can feel his heartbeat, steady and strong, as he leans down to kiss my forehead.

"Everything's fine," I say to myself, wanting to believe it. But the tremble in my voice gives away the fear I'm trying so hard to hide.

"We got this, krasotka," he whispers, his breath warm against my skin. "Trust me."

I want to believe him. I want to feel safe and protected. But I can't shake the nagging doubt, the gnawing fear that something's off.

"Why do you think she wants me to bring Yulia to the barn at eight?" I ask. "I'm scared, Luka," I confess, looking up into his eyes. "Anya, or whatever her name is… She seemed…evil."

I see a flicker of something in his eyes, a tightening of his jaw. But then he's pulling me closer, his arms like steel bands around me, as if he could physically shield me from the world.

"Go to the barn as she asked, krasotka."

"But- but…" I stutter, my eyes searching his for reassurance. Luka's fingers gently cup my face, forcing me to focus on him.

"I have people watching over you and Yulia," he says firmly, his gaze unyielding. "You won't be alone."

"We are putting Yulia in danger, too!"

He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch lingering on my skin. "That's why I've taken precautions. Every move, every corner, someone will have eyes on it."

I can see the sincerity in his eyes, the determination. It's evident that he has gone to great lengths to ensure our safety. But the weight of the situation, the responsibility, makes me hesitate.

"What if something goes wrong? What if—"

"Hey," he interrupts gently, his thumb tracing the curve of my cheek. "Trust me."

I nod slowly, drawing a shaky breath. "Okay, I trust you."

Luka leans in, his forehead resting against mine. It's crazy how much I understand him. Even in silence. I know…

I can trust him. Completely.

The second Luka steps onto the cool, gleaming expanse of the main hall's marble, a distinct hush falls. Eyes, previously busy in conversation, now fixate on him. My heart swells, pride bubbling up, and there's this silent acknowledgment within me: he belongs to me.

Under the hall's bright chandeliers, Luka moves with an effortless grace, engaging with the guests – a nod of recognition here, a brief yet meaningful exchange there. As he weaves through the crowd, I can't help but laugh at our first encounter. It seems like a lifetime ago.

"Max! That's too big of a bite." I look over to a marvelously designed ice cream stand, where Dimitri, Erik, and Yulia are engrossed in their frozen delights. The stand itself looks like it's straight out of a fairy tale, with silver swirls and golden stars shimmering around its canopy and ethereal lights floating like fireflies. An array of exotic flavors, some even glowing faintly, are displayed decadently.

Yulia, her face smeared with strawberry ice cream, is gleefully trying to get a taste of Erik's triple-vanilla cone. Beside them, Max looks on with keen interest, licking his lips, clearly yearning for another taste.

I laugh, covering my mouth with my hand at the adorable sight before me. "Oh, Yulia, you've got a little…" I gesture around my mouth, mimicking the smear of ice cream on her face.

She giggles, wiping her chin with the back of her hand. "It's just so yummy, Sophia!"

Before I can respond, a couple approaches Yulia. The woman wears a sapphire silk gown, her raven-black hair in an elegant updo, her throat highlighted by a glinting diamond necklace. Beside her, a tall man in a charcoal gray three-piece suit and polished shoes stands proudly. They bend slightly to greet Yulia.

"Happy birthday, darling," the woman coos.

"Thank you, Mrs. Montague," Erik replies with practiced politeness.

Mafia boss playing businessman now, huh?

The woman bats her heavily mascaraed eyelashes, stretching a grin so wide it looks painful. "I hope you like it, sweety." A maid steps up, handing Yulia a big, fancy velvet box.

Bet that's not a stuffed toy inside.

The Montagues aren't the only ones. One by one, influential figures, from politicians to business moguls, come forward, showering Yulia with their extravagant gifts. The weight of their offerings and the glint in their eyes betray their intentions – these aren't simple birthday gifts. They're offerings, gestures of goodwill to the Ivankov Bratva.

CLINK. CLINK. CLINK.

I turn my head as Svetlana's wine glass makes a sound louder than her voice ever did. She's dressed to kill. Who would've thought the stern head-maid had legs for days?

Instead of that drab uniform, she's squeezed into a snug black cocktail dress that seems to challenge her usual stiff posture.

Damn, she looks breathtaking…and is that a glint of excitement in her eyes?

"Ladies and gentlemen, if I may usher you outside? We have an exquisite circus performance lined up."

I steal a quick glance at Luka as he leads a group of guests outside. Just before he disappears from view, he catches my eye and shoots me a smile – quick, secretive, filled with meaning only we understand.

A confirmation.

"Ready for some fun, Yulia?" I ask, bending down to her level.

She nods eagerly. "Do you think they'll have magicians? I want to see magic!"

"I'm sure there'll be something magical out there. Maybe not a magician, but something equally exciting," I teased.

Walking out with Yulia, I get this weird feeling. The noise of the party feels far away, and my heart is going crazy.

I look around and see Anya.

She's watching us…

Chapter 64

Luka

IN THE newly set courtyard, lights flicker from the mansion, illuminating the stage at its center. There's an acrobat on it, every move so bloody calculated, it reminds me of our world.

Just like walking a tightrope. One wrong move in our world, and you're fucking dead.

Out of the blue, Dimitri's voice cuts in, "Aleks's van just pulled in." His eyes are still on the stage, but I know he's seen everything. Every entrance and exit, every face.

Erik, ever the epitome of cool, lounges back, playing with that pocket watch of his. "Figures. Man's punctual even when he's walking into a trap."

"Guess we put on a good show." From the corner of my eye, I see Sophia. She's jittery, constantly checking her watch. Every tick seems to make her more anxious. Yulia, blissfully unaware, is clapping in delight at the acrobatics, her eyes shining with childlike wonder.

"Fuck, this is a shitty move," I grumble, the distaste thick in my throat. "Using them as bait… It's fucked up."

What's really fucked up?

Throwing this damn party for Yulia was a colossal mistake. I'd thought it'd be a way to make up for all the time I'd missed in her life, but now I know better. The kid would've been happy with just a damned ice cream cone shared with those she loves.

Erik, reading me like the damn open book I never wanted to be, leans in close, his smirk heavy with mischief. "Chill the fuck out; our boys have the barn on lockdown. Aleks is walking right into hell."

"We better make sure he does," I snap, my hands clenched into fists. "Let's gear up. It's showtime."

Walking out of the courtyard, I'm boiling inside. Every fake smile, every nod to these phonies, it's like trading away bits of myself. Screw the flattery game, I'm done. All I want now is to set things right, no BS.

The moment I step into the bunker, the mood's thick. You can still hear the party noise from outside, but in here, it's all business. We've swapped our fancy threads for vests and all-black gear.

Erik's already here, propped against a table. Dimitri's going through some guns, making sure they're good to go.

Then the radio comes alive. "Aleks and his men are in the mansion," the voice says.

I feel my blood freeze. "Which part exactly?" I shoot back.

"West entrance. Guy's in a hat and thick glasses. Moving with three men."

"Twenty minutes ‘til Sophia and Yulia get to the barn," Erik chimes in, glancing at his watch.

I suck in a deep breath. "I'll be there. No one's laying a finger on Yulia…or Sophia."

I grab my earpiece from the table, quickly fitting it into my ear and giving it a tap to sync it with the team's channel. Dimitri and Erik do the same, our eyes meeting for just a second as if to say, "This is it." My grip tightens around my weapon; it's like an extension of me now.

"I hope you are right about Sophia."

"I am right," I snap back. His eyes are like a weight, but I don't waver.

He raises an eyebrow. "Even after all the crap we've been through?"

I don't break eye contact. "She's different, D. I'd bet my life on her."

Dimitri takes a deep breath and nods. "I trust you, brother. Let's roll."

Ollie's voice crackles over the earpiece, interrupting the tension. "Erm, hey guys, it's Ollie. So, uh, these bad hombres – shit, I mean Aleks's dudes – are, erm, splitting into three groups. Looks like they're…you know, setting up explosives? Like, at the party and also inside the mansion? So, yeah, FYI."

Rolling my eyes at Erik, I can't help but mutter, "Really, Ollie? That's the best you could do for intel?"

Erik just smirks, clearly amused. "Hey, the kid's got skill."

He turns to his crew, eyes steely. "Ivan, Alexei, you are with me. We're securing this goddamn mansion.

Ollie's voice comes through again, breaking into our gritty preparations.

"Uh, hey, it's Ollie again. Erm, so yeah, Sophia and Ms. Ivankov? They're, like, en route to the barn. Okay, thanks. Oh, and umm…we've spotted Anya. She left the kitchen about five minutes ago. So…yeah."

I shake my head "Goddamn, Erik, where'd you find this guy, a comic convention?"

"Hey, don't underestimate the nerds, man. They see everything."

Fuck. If Anya's moving, then shit's about to get real complicated, real fast.

We hustle out of the bunker, breaking into different directions.

My boots pound on the ground as I make a beeline for the barn. The air's heavy, like it's holding its breath for the shitstorm that's about to hit. A chill snakes down my spine, and it's got nothing to do with the weather. Tonight's sticky as hell, but this? This is the feeling you get when you know everything's on the line.

Almost there. I rush toward the barn.

The horses are already uneasy when I slip inside the barn, their whinnies low and nervous, hooves scraping against the wooden floors. Something's spooking them; they can sense the tension in the air.

I tap my earpiece. "Zakhary, Ilya – Sophia and Yulia should be here any minute. Eyes sharp, no fucking mistakes."

"Understood," Zakhary mutters back. Ilya just grunts an acknowledgment.

I switch channels. "Ollie, where the hell is Aleks? I need him to make a move."

My hiding spot is carefully chosen – a haystack near the back, shielded by the shadows but close enough for me to spring into action. I have a clear view of the entrance. It's perfect for what's coming next.

Then the barn door creaks, and a shadow inches its way inside. The horses stir, their eyes wide and wild. I grip my gun tighter. If that's Aleks, the son of a bitch is even quieter than I remember.

It's not Aleks. A woman materializes from the shadows – Katerina!

"Blyat," I swear under my breath.

I want to rush out and slice this bitch's throat, but it's not the right time. Not yet. My finger hovers over the earpiece, hesitant. I need Aleks to show himself.

Just then, the barn door creaks open wider, and Sophia and Yulia step in, their eyes scanning the dim interior. The air's thick enough to cut with a knife. I can almost hear their hearts pounding from here. They don't see Katerina. Not yet.

I tap my earpiece again. Whispering even lower, "Sophia and Yulia are in the barn. Aleks still hasn't shown. Katerina's here; keep a fucking eye on her."

I hear Zakhary's voice crackling in my ear, "Got it, target locking on Katerina."

"We are here," Sophia says, walking in slowly, trying not to appear so obvious in looking around for danger. Holding hands with Yulia, they walk toward Katerina.

"Right on time," Katerina says, grinning.

"Why do you want us here?" I hear Sophia almost whispering. Horses are kicking the ground, their eyes wide. Sophia holds Yulia's hand even tighter.

"I am scared, Sophia," Yulia says, and I feel a sharp pang of guilt. "I thought we were going to see the circus."

"It's okay, Yulia. We'll go there in a minute. No one is going to hurt you," Sophia reassures her.

"Are you sure about that, Sophia?" Katerina hisses. "The Ivankov Bratva will die here today," Katerina sneers. "And so will your pathetic brother and friend."

Yulia's clearly aware that something is wrong now, and her sobs fill the air, an awful soundtrack to an awful night.

"Fuck! Where the fuck is Aleks?" I mutter, my heart pounding out of my chest.

"Ssshhh…it's okay, Yulia," Sophia tries to comfort her, but the undercurrent of her own fear betrays her words.

"Oh yes, be scared, little princess. Be very scared," Katerina coos. "Because when we're done tonight, you'll be the last living Ivankov. And all that wealth? All those dirty millions? They'll go to your only family left – Aleks. How poetic." Katerina's cackle slices through the air like broken glass. "Sophia, your pitiful goody-two-shoes act makes me want to puke. You had one job: protecting Yulia. Guess you screwed that up."

"Fucking unbelievable," I growl, my grip on the gun so tight my knuckles go white. Aleks, that conniving piece of shit, is planning to erase us, and for what? So he can be daddy to little Yulia and snag the Ivankov goldmine?

Over my dead body.

I want to burst out and redecorate the barn with her brains, but I hold back. Just a moment longer.

That's when Ollie's voice hacks through my earpiece. "Aleks is—" Gunfire drowns him out. My guts churn; something bad's going down outside.

"Boss, Aleks took out Boris and Pyotr. He's found out about our ambush!" Zakhary spits the update into my ear, the urgency in his voice like a shot of adrenaline. "Do I take the shot at Katerina now?"

"Hold your goddamn fire, Zakhary," I snap. The barn's gone full-blown circus of hell. Horses are losing their shit, kicking and screaming, making the whole place quake. Yulia's wails mix with the frenetic symphony, and it takes everything in me not to lose it.

I spin around, ready to make my move, but what I see nails me to the floor. Sophia, that brave fool, is tussling with Katerina, trying to pry Yulia away from her.

It's now or never. I step out, ready to put an end to this sadistic game.

Then, a loud bang rips through the barn, and a body crumples to the ground in the shadows.

And just like that, my heart stops.