He shrugs casually, almost nonchalant. “We have properties almost everywhere in the world.”
I can’t help but laugh, half-nervous, half-incredulous. Of course they do. Of course he does. My chest tightens as I realize the world I’ve stepped into is vast, dangerous, and controlled by people like him.
I glance at him again, trying to read his expression, but there’s nothing, only that calm, lethal confidence that makesit impossible to look away. Somehow, it makes me feel ready. Ready to face whatever comes next.
The car winds up a private drive, flanked by tall hedges and sleek security posts. My hands press against the leather seat, knuckles white, and I can feel Lev’s eyes on the road, sharp and unyielding.
We pull up to the villa—a sprawling, modern fortress with clean lines, hidden behind high walls and guarded gates. I’m about to exhale when movement catches my eye across the street.
A man. Dark suit, too calm for the chaos of the city around him. He’s watching me. Smiling. That smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
I freeze, my stomach knotting. Before I can react, he slips into the crowd, swallowed by the afternoon bustle. My pulse spikes, but I don’t breathe a word. I can feel Lev’s gaze on me, and I don’t want him to worry—not now, not before we even step inside.
I stay silent as we park the car and exit, letting the villa’s imposing security swallow us whole. Every instinct screams to speak up, to warn him, but I clamp my lips shut. I’ll deal with the fear quietly, like I always do.
We step through the front doors of the villa, and the air changes immediately. Cool, crisp, almost antiseptic, but there’s a hum of power here that makes my skin prickle. Lev’s hand finds mine, firm and unyielding, and I instinctively squeeze back.
I try to steady my breathing, but my chest still feels tight from the man I saw outside. My mind spins, imagining all the ways someone could have gotten close, how easily the Greeks might slip in unnoticed. Every shadow feels heavier, every movement sharper.
Lev leads me further in, his grip never loosening. “Stay close,” he murmurs, just for me, his voice low, calm, like it’s the only anchor I have in this sudden storm.
I nod, forcing my body to relax even as my mind races. The tension in my shoulders refuses to go away. I want to tell him about the man, about the smile, the way he disappeared—but the words die in my throat. I can’t let Lev worry; he has enough to handle without me adding to it.
We move through the hallways, the sound of our footsteps muted against the polished marble floors. Every turn, every glance out of the windows, sets my nerves on edge.
My eyes keep darting, scanning, anticipating—alert to anything that feels off. And all the while, my fingers stay entwined in his, gripping him like a lifeline, silently hoping his calm can anchor me through what’s coming.
Lev guides me to the room, his hand still holding mine tightly, grounding me. “Freshen up,” he says softly, but there’s that underlying edge, the command beneath the words that makes my heart flutter. I nod, my legs stiff with tension, ready to finally let my body relax.
I start toward the bathroom, thinking about a quick shower to wash off the lingering anxiety from the flight and the airport. Before I can step in, Lev’s hand wraps around my waist, pulling me back. His lips crash against mine, and for a moment, everything—the villa, the guards, the danger outside—disappears.
“I love you,” he murmurs against my lips, his voice raw. “I want your life to be better than this, Sasha. I’ll make sure of it.”
The words hit me in the chest. I lean into him, letting a shiver run through me. “Lev…” I start, my voice trembling, then pause. I can’t hold it in any longer. “There was a man. Across the street before we got here. He…he was watching me. Smiling. Then he disappeared into the crowd.”
Lev stiffens immediately, his jaw tightening. His eyes darken, scanning the room like he wants to burn a hole through the walls just to make sure no threat remains. My pulse races as I watch the shift in him—from tenderness to predator.
He brushes a strand of hair from my face and cups my cheek gently. “You didn’t tell me before because you didn’t want me to worry,” he says, his tone soft, each word carrying the weight of concern.
I nod. “I…I didn’t want you to worry.”
His thumb traces my jawline, and he leans closer, his forehead resting against mine. “It’s okay.”
Lev pulls me into his arms again, and I rest my head against him, feeling the heat of his body and the strength of his presence. And I know I’ll follow him anywhere, through anything, because my heart has already chosen him.
Chapter 22 – Lev
I try not to think about the strange man Sasha reported seeing yesterday, though it’s almost impossible. I tripled security and spent the entire day with her. It’s morning now, and I left her in the room, still sleeping. It took every shred of my willpower to rise from the bed and leave her there.
But now, I’m in the foyer, with Mikhail, papers and digital pads spread across the table. My mind hasn’t stopped running—routes, threats, contingencies—but right now, it’s about strategy, about keeping Sasha safe.
The crunch of tires against the gravel catches my attention. Mikhail leans toward the window, squinting. “That’s Roman,” he says.
I glance at him, then back at the spread on the table. “Perfect timing,” I mutter.
We’ve got an hour before the meeting with Christos Petropoulos, and we agreed to convene here at the villa before traveling together.
Roman steps into the foyer, shoulders relaxed, but that coiled tension in his eyes never leaves him. He gives a quick nod and approaches us.
