"Really?" Hope flickered back in her eyes. "When can you come see the baby horses? Ivan says there are lots of new foals in the manor's pasture!"
"Really," I forced a smile. "Once I finish these things, we'll see the foals and go to the amusement park, okay?"
"Yay!" She threw her arms around my neck. "You're the best!"
But after she left, I knew I'd made another promise I might not be able to keep.
Anna appeared in the doorway, worry in her eyes as she took in my bloodshot gaze. She said nothing, just walked over and gently smoothed my furrowed brow.
"Alexander, you'll collapse if you keep this up. Maybe you should rest—"
"I'm fine," I cut her off, catching her hand. "This has to be resolved quickly. I won't let anyone hurt you two."
She sat in the chair beside me, her familiar warmth easing some tension in myrigid nerves.
"But if you collapse, who'll protect us?" she said quietly. "Alexander, I need you alive and healthy, not dead at this desk."
I knew she was right, but I also knew this wasn't the time to rest. Enemies don't pause their attacks because I'm tired.
That afternoon, while studying Kolov's latest moves in my study, Ivan knocked and entered. His expression was tense—unusual for Ivan, who was always steady.
"Sir, Miss Tatyana Romanova is here. Says she has important intel about that underground organization leader."
I wanted to refuse—now wasn't the time to get tangled up with her, and Anna was home. I didn't want them meeting and creating unnecessary misunderstandings. But the intel Tatyana mentioned made me hesitate.
"Where is she?"
"Waiting in the front hall. She says if you won't see her, she can leave the information and go."
That made me more suspicious. Tatyana never gave up easily.
"Bring her in," I finally decided. "But only ten minutes." Then I paused and added, "Keep her away from Anna."
Minutes later, Tatyana entered the study. She wore a simple black suit today, none of her usual jewelry, looking more like she was here for business than socializing.
I watched her coldly, didn't stand, didn't offer her a seat. Our last conversation two years ago during our breakup was still fresh—her angry words that I'd never truly love anyone because revenge had filled my heart.
"What intel?" I cut straight to business.
She caught my coldness, a flash of bitterness in her eyes, then pulled a thick file from her handbag and placed it on my desk. "About Marcus Warren."
I opened the file. Scattered but valuable leads—possible hideouts, records of secret meetings between him and Director Black, some financial trails. Not detailed enough, but far more than we currently had.
The value of this information exceeded my expectations. With this,I could almost map out his entire organization's operations.
"Where did you get this?" I looked at her suspiciously.
Tatyana sat in the chair across from me, her expression serious. "Marcus Warren is also a thorn in my father's side. No, more accurately, he's a common enemy to all East Coast underground powers."
She paused, organizing her thoughts. "Two years ago, Warren started cooperating with the federal government, providing intel on other families in exchange for his own safety. His existence threatens all our... arrangements within the government."
That explained why he always got advance warning. Warren wasn't just a criminal—he was an informant.
"So the Romanov family is tracking him too?"
"Not just us," Tatyana shook her head. "This is a joint operation between five families. We share intel, coordinate actions. Your enemy is our enemy too."
Her words made me reassess the entire situation. If this was true, I wasn't facing a simple threat, but part of a larger game.
