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I pushed the door open. She sat by the window, her back to me, moonlight casting a pale glow over her. The air around her felt heavy, like a wall between us.

"It's dangerous out there," I said, getting straight to the point. "I need you to go to Montana with Anya. It's safe there, out of reach of these families."

She didn't turn, just let out a bitter laugh. "What, exiling me to the middle of nowhere?"

"Cassie, it's not exile. Marco's teamed up with other families. They know how much you mean to me. Leaving Chicago is the only way to keep you safe."

"Mean to you?" She finally faced me, her eyes cold, her laugh sharp. "Oh, right. I'm your property." She spat the word like venom.

Her words cut like a knife. Seeing her look at me like that hurt worse than any bullet. "Cassie, I know we're fighting, but this isn't the time for grudges. Your life's at stake."

"My life?" She stood, her eyes blazing. "My life's been at risk since I met you! And now you wanna ship me off to some nowhere town like a criminal?"

"I'm trying to protect you!"

"You're trying to control me!" She stepped closer, each word dripping with anger. "I'm not going anywhere, Gennady. I'd rather face the danger than let you treat me like some burden you can just ship off!"

I stared into her eyes—no fear, just disappointment and fury. "Cassie," I said, reaching for her, but she stepped back.

"Don't touch me," she said, her voice like ice. "If you really cared, you'd let me make my own choices."

I stood there, my world crumbling. I wanted to protect her, but she saw it as exile. I wanted to love her, but she thought it was possession.

"Fine," I said, my voice raw. "Stay here if that's what you want. But I'm posting more guards outside your room."

"Do whatever," she said, turning back to the window. "Don't expect me to thank you."

I left her room, my heart hollowed out. In the hallway, Aisor was waiting. "Sir, did Cassie agree?"

I shook my head. "Double the security around her room. No one gets close."

I walked away, exhaustion crashing over me. Back in my office, I sank into my chair, hands covering my face.

What the hell am I fighting for?

Cassie

After Gennady left, I slid down the door to the floor, nausea hitting me hard. I bolted to the bathroom, dropping to my knees and retching into the toilet. My stomach emptied, but the sick feeling lingered.

When it finally stopped, I collapsed on the cold tile, gasping for air.

This was the third day in a row. Every morning, sometimes even a whiff of certain smells sent me running to puke. And my period was two weeks late.

A terrifying thought took shape.

No. Not now. It can't be.

I dragged myself to the dresser, staring into the mirror. The woman looking back was pale, with dark circles under her eyes, a ghost of herself.

I touched my stomach. Still flat, but I could sense something… different.

I was pregnant.

At the worst possible time, with my relationship with Gennady in pieces and danger closing in, I was pregnant.

Tears fell silently. I thought of Gennady's words: "Dreams don't pay the bills or stop bullets." In his world, dreams were a luxury.

What about a child?