Because if Anton secured power that quickly, then he’s not just ambitious—he’s strategic. Ruthless. The kind of man who doesn’t leave loose ends behind.
And Valeria?
She’s the biggest loose end he has.
Which means he won’t stop until she’s dead.
My jaw tightens.
Protecting her doesn’t just mean keeping her alive. It means stepping directly into the path of whatever Anton isbuilding. And if he just dismantled an entire Bratva network in under two days….
Then this isn’t a small fight.
It’s a war waiting to spread.
Is this a fight we want to take on?
I don’t know.
And I don’t like not knowing.
I drag a hand over my face, exhaling slowly. I’ve never been a fan of fighting other people’s battles. It’s messy. Unpredictable. Full of variables that don’t belong to you.
But this….
This might not stay “their” battle for long.
Because if Valeria is here—under our roof, under my watch—
Then it’s already becoming ours.
And whether I like it or not, I’m right in the middle of it.
I’m still staring at the screen when it happens.
The explosion rips through the night.
The entire house shakes.
Glass rattles. The walls groan under the force of it, a deep, violent tremor that reverberates through my bones. A second later—
Gunfire.
Close. Inside the perimeter.
My body reacts before my mind finishes processing. I’m already on my feet, senses sharpening, adrenaline snapping everything into focus.
We’re under attack.
Before I can move, the door bursts open.
Misha steps in first.
He doesn’t knock. He never does when it matters.
Aside from the Rusnak family, he’s the only man I trust without question. We’ve fought side by side for years. Bledtogether. Survived things most men wouldn’t walk away from. If he’s here like this—urgent, unfiltered—then something’s already gone wrong.
Behind him, Lukyan.
