I sat in the living room, back to work. My phone buzzed. Artyom.
[Don, we've got something important.]
I called back. "Talk."
"We got one of Salvatore's men." Artyom's voice was low. "He was caught surveilling one of our safe houses."
"Interrogated?"
"He started talking." Artyom paused. "He said Salvatore's planning a major hit. The target—"
"What?" I clenched the phone.
"Elena and Stella."
My stomach dropped.
"What do they want?"
"Kidnap," Artyom said. "They plan to move in three days."
I gave orders without thinking. "Fortify everything. Now. Fill the apartment perimeter with my men. Any suspicious person—kill on sight."
"Yes, Don."
I hung up and leaned back on the couch, closing my eyes. I had to neutralize Salvatore before he got to them.
Elena came out of the bathroom and found me still. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I opened my eyes and reached for her. "Come here."
She settled on my lap in her sleepwear. I buried my face in her neck and breathed in the scent of her shower gel.
"Igor," she said, fingers in my hair, "tell me."
"We caught one of Salvatore's men," I said. "He talked. They're planning to hit the apartment in three days."
Elena went pale. "So what do we—"
"I will protect you." I held her hand. "I swear, Elena. I won't let anyone hurt you or Stella."
For the next three days, I barely left the apartment. I set men everywhere, checked every weak point. Artyom brought more guards; we had twenty around the building. Elena and Stella stayed inside, playing the treasure game. Watching Stella find the little surprises eased me, at least on the surface. She didn't know the storm was coming.
On the third evening, I stood on the balcony watching the street. The sun dropped, bathing the old stones in gold.
"They're coming, aren't they?" Elena walked up beside me.
"Yeah," I said. "Salvatore doesn't back down."
We were quiet for a minute. I kissed her forehead. "Stay with Stella. If you hear anything, lock yourselves in the bedroom and don't come out. Understand?"
She nodded and went back inside.
Night fell. My hand never left the gun at my hip.
At eight, it hit. Gunfire downstairs, then an explosion. The whole building shook.
"They're here!" Artyom shouted over the radio. "At least thirty men! Front and back assault!"
