Anton—
All of it has carved something new into me.
Something harder.
Something that doesn’t hesitate.
And standing here now, I know one thing for certain.
There’s no going back.
Chapter 16 – Timofey
I rarely allow myself quiet.
Not because I don’t want it, but because quiet, in my world, is where things go wrong. It’s where details slip. Where men like Anton Petrov find space to breathe.
The past several weeks have been consumed by security planning, retaliatory strategy, and constant recalibration of risk. Every report changes something. Every silence feels temporary, like it’s only waiting to break.
And it always does.
But when I look at Valeria recently—reallylook at her—something in me shifts.
She isn’t built for this kind of war. She can withstand it, but she shouldn’t have to. Not like this.
She’s carrying our child while living under a shadow that grows heavier every day. And still, she stands. Still, she speaks clearly. Still, she refuses to break.
I notice. I always notice everything about her. It impresses me. It also worries me.
Because strength like hers comes with a cost. And she is already paying it in ways she doesn’t fully admit out loud. The slight delays before she answers. The way her gaze sometimes drifts when she thinks no one is watching. The exhaustion she tries to bury under composure.
I see all of it.
Now, I sit alone in my office long after the estate quiets down. My fingers rest against the desk as I make a decision without hesitation. I don’t need more time to think about it.
I already know what to do.
I stand.
I’ll take her away from here.
For now.
There is a private house outside the city, by the water. A place with no constant movement, no shifting threats, no pressure pressing in from every direction. A beach house. Secluded. Secure. Mine.
The idea isn’t to escape. It’s a temporary relief. A place where Valeria and I can relax for a few days. I exhale slowly, already seeing her there in my mind.
This isn’t about Anton.
It’s about her.
I leave my office and head straight back to our room.
Valeria is in bed when I come in. Still. I assume she’s asleep. I don’t think much of it. I just climb in beside her and pull her into me. She shifts almost immediately, instinctively relaxing against my chest like she’s been waiting for it.
This is the only time it all goes quiet in my head.
The only time everything else stops pulling at me.
