My fingers brushed the tattoo of her name on my chest, still warm from where she'd rested her hand last night.
"I'll come back to you," I whispered low, so only she could hear. A promise. A vow. A prayer.
Alena's face flashed behind my eyelids—her lying in my arms last night, brown eyes soft and trusting, asking if we'd last. The way she'd smiled against my chest when I said yes. The way she'd whispered "okay" like that single word was a promise. The way I'd kissed her forehead and left her sleeping, coffee machine set, sandwich made, note on the counter.
Wait for me please.
I wasn't okay.
I was flying straight into the arms of the man who'd made my mother swallow pills and write a suicide note blaming me for existing. The man who had Bratva connections that stretched across continents. The man who was dying but still had enough power to threaten everyone I loved.
And I didn't know if I'd come out alive.
But I knew one thing with absolute certainty.
If I didn't come back, Alena would be safe. Marcus and Lucy would be safe. Everyone I cared about would be out of his reach because I'd given him what he wanted—me, alone, compliant, walking into his trap without resistance.
That had to be enough.
For now.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out.
Unknown number.
A photo.
Alena.
At Lucy's house.
Laughing. Wine glass in hand. Completely unaware.
Timestamped: Today. 11:47 a.m.
Right now.
While I was thirty thousand feet in the air, flying away from her, Klaus had someone watching her. Photographing her. Following her.
The image burned into my retinas—her laugh frozen, wine glass raised, completely unaware that death was watching.
A text appeared below the photo:
"She looks happy. Let's keep her that way. See you soon, son."
I stared at the screen, blood pounding in my ears.
The Scotch glass shattered in my hand.
Amber liquid and blood dripped onto the white leather seat. I didn't feel the cut. Didn't care.
I couldn't turn back. The plane was already halfway across the Atlantic. Even if I wanted to, there was no stopping this now.
I'd walked right into his trap.
And he had her in his sights.
