And then he adds, low and certain, “And it ends with him.”
For a long moment, neither of us moves. The storm outside presses against the windows, loud and relentless, but the space between us feels strangely still.
Then I reach for him.
Not out of fear.
Not out of desperation.
But out of conviction.
“Then we end it together,” I say quietly.
Dimitri’s eyes change—softening at the edges, sharpening at the center. He takes my hand, lifts it slowly, and presses a kiss to my knuckles like he’s sealing an oath.
“Together,” he echoes.
Thunder rolls again, a low growl wrapping around the house.
But he’s already shaking his head.
“Before we go any further—remember what you promised me.” His thumb strokes over my hand, but his voice is firm. Unmovable. “You’re not getting involved. You’re part of my team, yes, but your safety comes first.”
“Dim—”
“No.” His voice cracks a little on the word, and he steps closer, gripping my waist, my wrist, anything he can touch. “Vivian. No. Please. I won’t put you in the line of danger anymore. I won’t.”
His forehead drops to mine, breath warm, trembling slightly.
“You almost died twice,” he whispers. “I can’t—I won’t survive a third.”
And just like that, the storm outside feels quieter than the one inside him. The door swings open before I can answer him.
Sylvester steps inside, soaked from the rain, expression carved from stone. One look at his face and my heart stops.
“What happened?” Dimitri asks, voice low and dangerous.
Sylvester doesn’t waste time. He hands over a tablet, screen glowing with a decrypted message.
A single coded line.
Dimitri reads it first. His jaw locks. His fingers tighten around the tablet until I hear the faint creak of plastic.
“What is it?” I whisper.
He doesn’t answer.
Sylvester does.
“It’s from Zurich. Intercepted thirty minutes ago.” His voice is grim. “It’s addressed to you.”
Dimitri turns the screen toward me.
A chill slices straight through my spine.
The mother has been moved.
Next, the bride.
