No, what terrified me now was this, what would I become if he didn’t come back?
MISHA
She didn’t say much after the second letter.
Didn’t have to.
I saw it in the way she wrapped her arms around herself, like her body was trying to vanish. Saw it in the tension in her jaw, the flicker of something unspoken in her eyes. Not fear.
Worse.
The moment she left the room, I reread both letters again, slower this time. Let them settle into my bloodstream like poison.
Vargas wanted me.
Chernov wanted me to step down.
Together, they offered peace on paper. In reality, they wanted blood. And they thought I was weak enough to fold.
They weren’t wrong about one thing, I was vulnerable.
Because of her.
Because the thought of Chernov ever touching a strand of her hair, lit something feral in me.
I stared at the letter until the ink blurred. Then folded it, tucked it in the fire, and watched it burn.
As the fire consumed it, my phone rang.
The moment I answered the call, I knew it would end with blood.
“Still hiding in your fortress?” Chernov’s voice slithered through the receiver, smug and slow. “I thought you’d at least crawl out by now.”
I didn’t respond. Didn’t need to. He wanted the silence. Needed to feel like he was pulling the strings.
“I expected more spine from you,” he went on. “But then again, your men are turning on you for what you did to me. You don’t exactly inspire loyalty these days.”
I stared out at the city, knuckles white around the glass in my hand. The shadows looked different tonight. Meaner. Hungrier.
“I didn’t call to gloat,” he said, voice sharpening. “I called to let you know I’ve taken your father.”
Silence. It rang like gunfire in my ears.
“Moscow,” he added, like he was describing the weather. “He put up a fight. Proud old bastard. But he’s under my care now. Comfortable... for the moment.”
Rage crawled up my throat. “If you touch him—”
“You’ll what?” He laughed. “March into Volograd estate tomorrow with your pretty little whore and expect applause?”
My hand gripped the desk so hard it groaned.
“There’s already an order. The second you’re sighted at the banquet, your father dies. Quietly. Without spectacle. No one will ever find the body.”
I could hear the smile in his voice.
“You really should’ve killed me when you had the chance,” he whispered. “But now? You’ve lost everything. The families are restless. The wolves are starving. And you... you’re clinging to a girl who’ll be dead before you make it to the podium.”
“She’s not part of this.”
