"How many?" I asked, already moving toward the far wall.
"Six. All armed. They have papers that look real enough."
I glanced at Mishka, who had gone completely still, his face a mask of controlled terror. He'd been running from O'Rourke for months before stumbling into my territory. Now the hunter had found him.
"Come," I ordered, grabbing Mishka's hand and pulling him toward my private study. My mind raced through options, discarding each as insufficient until only one remained. "Yuri, delay them. Protocol seven."
Yuri nodded once, sharply, before disappearing back down the hallway. I could hear him speaking into his communication device, alerting our security teams.
"What's happening?" Mishka whispered, his voice barely audible as I pulled him into my study and locked the door behind us.
"O'Rourke's men. Dressed as police." I moved directly to the antique bookcase that covered the eastern wall. "They've come for you."
Fear flashed across his face, but there was resignation there too. He'd been expecting this. "I should go. I can't put you in danger—"
"No." The word came out as a growl, more bear than man. "You are under my protection."
I reached for a leather-bound copy of War and Peace, tilting it forward rather than removing it. The mechanical click was barely audible, but I felt Mishka tense beside me.
"You have a secret passage?" he asked, eyes widening as a section of the bookcase silently slid back, revealing a steel door behind it.
"A panic room," I corrected, punching a code into the keypad. The heavy door swung open with a soft hiss of hydraulics. "Get inside. Now."
Mishka hesitated only for a second before ducking inside. I followed him, guiding him with one hand at the small of his back. The room was utilitarian—reinforced concrete walls lined with monitors showing feeds from throughout the building.
A small cot stood against one wall, next to shelves stocked with water, non-perishable food, and emergency medical supplies. A weapons locker was secured to the far wall.
"This place could withstand a bomb," I explained, watching as Mishka took in his surroundings. "The walls are two feet thick. Soundproof. Air filtration system. Independent power supply."
"You were prepared for this," he said quietly, looking up at me.
"I've been alive for over a century,malysh. I'm prepared for everything."
I moved to the control panel and activated the surveillance system, watching as six uniformed officers pushed past my security at the main entrance. One face in particular caught my attention—Marcus "Sparky" Denton. O'Rourke's muscle.
I felt my lip curl into a snarl. My bear clawed more insistently beneath my skin, desperate to defend what was ours.
"You need to stay in here," I said, turning back to Mishka. "No matter what happens, no matter what you see on these monitors, you do not come out until I or Yuri come for you. Understood?"
His eyes searched mine, fear giving way to determination. "You're going out there? To face them?"
"This is my territory," I growled. "No one violates it."
"They have weapons," he protested. "They could kill you."
I allowed myself a small, cold smile. "Many have tried over the years. None have succeeded."
Stepping closer to him, I cupped his face in my hands, feeling how delicate his human bones were beneath my massive palms. My bear howled possessively within me. This human was ours to protect.
"Stay silent,malysh. No matter what you hear," I instructed, watching his eyes widen in understanding. "The room is secure, but it's better if they don't suspect anyone is here."
Reluctantly, I released him and moved back toward the door. Each step away from him felt wrong, my bear protesting at leaving our most valuable possession unguarded, but I needed to eliminate the threat.
"Nicolai," he called just as I reached the threshold. I turned back to find him standing straight, his jaw set with determination despite the fear in his eyes. "Be careful."
I nodded once, then stepped out. The wall slid shut behind me with a soft mechanical click, sealing Mishka inside the reinforced chamber. The bookcase moved back into position, concealing any evidence of the hidden room.
For a moment, I stood there, centering myself, feeling the bear's rage coursing through my veins. I did not shift—that would come later, if needed—but I allowed the strength of my other form to fill me, sharpening my senses and heightening my already considerable strength.
