“Glass everywhere. Food ruined. People screaming,” she continues through laughter. “And this man just stands there. Laughing his head off.”
Ellie is clutching her stomach now. “Stop, I can’t—”
“You have to tell me who it is,” I laugh. “I can’t let this slide.”
Vivian opens her mouth, ready to expose him.
But a guard steps into the room. He walks straight to me, composed and professional, but there’s urgency in the way he leans down slightly.
My heart stumbles in my chest.
Just for a second.
I hope Timofey is okay.
“Timofey is waiting for you in the office,” he says quietly.
Relief hits first.
Then something sharper.
I’m already on my feet before I fully process it.
“I—sorry,” I say quickly to the women, though I don’t really stop to explain.
I don’t wait.
I leave the room, moving fast down the hallway, my pulse picking up with every step.
I push the office door open without knocking.
Timofey is inside, just shrugging off his jacket, tension still sitting in the lines of his shoulders like he hasn’t fully stepped out of whatever he just walked through.
I don’t think.
I cross the room and wrap my arms around him. Tight. Immediate. Like I need to confirm he’s actually here.
For a fraction of a second, he stills.
Then his arms come around me just as firmly.
One hand settles at my back, the other lifting to the back of my head, pulling me closer as he presses a kiss into my hair.
“I’m here,” he murmurs, low and steady.
I close my eyes against his chest, breathing him in, grounding myself in the solid weight of him. “I’m glad.”
A quiet laugh leaves him, soft against my hair.
“I told you not to worry,” he says. “It’ll take more than Anton to bring me down.”
I roll my eyes slightly, even as I stay close to him. “Of course you’d say that.” I pull back just enough to look at him. “How did it go?”
His expression shifts immediately
“We hit two of the locations,” he says evenly. “They were active. Recently used. Enough to confirm Anton’s network is already operating here. The second location gave us all the information we need. Anton isn’t here yet.”
I frown. “He’s not in the city yet?”
