First priority is checking out Bogdan's property with the gold key. If we can figure out what the hell he's hiding there, we might finally get some answers about who's pulling the strings in this mess.
By the time I'm dressed and heading downstairs, Matvey is already in the kitchen with coffee brewing. He looks up when I enter, his expression serious.
"Ready?" he asks.
"Yeah." I pour myself a cup and drink it black, the bitter heat grounding me. "Let's see what Bogdan's been hiding."
The drive to Bogdan's property takes about forty minutes. It's located on the outskirts of the city, far enough from civilization that you wouldn't stumble across it by accident. As we approach, I understand why he chose this location.
The property sits in the middle of an open field, completely exposed on all sides. A single brick building stands at the center, squat and utilitarian. But what catches my attention is the security.
An electric fence surrounds the entire perimeter, the kind that would fry anyone stupid enough to touch it. Guard towers are positioned at each corner, manned by armed men who track our approach with rifles. More guards patrol the fence line, their movements coordinated and professional.
"Fuck," Matvey mutters beside me. "It's protected like Fort Knox."
He's not wrong. I count at least a dozen guards visible from here, and there are probably more inside the building. Whatever Bogdan is protecting, it's valuable enough to warrant this level of security.
I slow the car as we get closer, keeping my movements casual. The last thing we need is to spook these guys into opening fire. One of the guards near the gate steps forward, his hand resting on his weapon.
"This is private property," he calls out in Russian. "Turn around."
I stop the car but don't reverse. "We're just looking around."
"Then look somewhere else." His tone leaves no room for negotiation.
Matvey leans forward slightly, studying the building through the windshield. "There's no way we're getting in there with just the two of us."
"No," I agree, my jaw tight with frustration. "We'd need a small army to breach that security."
The guard takes a step closer, his expression hardening. "I said turn around."
I put the car in reverse and back away slowly, keeping my eyes on the property. The guards watch us until we're well clear of the fence line, their weapons never lowering.
Once we're back on the main road, Matvey exhales sharply. "So, what now?"
"Now we figure out another way in." I grip the steering wheel tighter. "That key opens something in there. We just need to find out what without getting ourselves killed in the process."
The drive back to the estate is quiet, both of us lost in thought. By the time we pull through the gates, it's mid-morning and the sun is bright overhead.
I head inside, intending to go straight to my office and start planning our next move. But as I pass the living room, I hear laughter. Bright, genuine laughter that makes me pause.
I change direction and walk toward the sound. When I reach the doorway, I stop.
Mariya and Sophia are sitting together on the couch, both of them laughing so hard that Sophia has tears streaming down her face. Mariya's hand is pressed to her stomach, her whole body shaking with mirth.
"I can't believe you actually did that," Sophia gasps between laughs.
"I had to!" Mariya wipes at her eyes. "He was being so stubborn about it."
They dissolve into laughter again, and something warm spreads through my chest. I lean against the doorframe, just watching them. Mariya looks so different like this. Relaxed. Happy. Thefear and tension from last night are gone, replaced by genuine joy.
She hasn't had this. Not as an adult. She didn't have friends, didn't have anyone she could just be herself with. Seeing her now, building a real friendship with Sophia, makes me realize how much she's been missing.
It's good for both of them. Sophia needs this too. Someone she can trust.
Mariya notices me first. Her laughter fades into a warm smile, her dark eyes bright. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough." I push off the doorframe and walk into the room. "What's so funny?"
