He turns to Calina, his expression shifting to genuine remorse. “I’m sorry. I misjudged you from the beginning. I thought you were the threat, when the real traitor was the man I called brother. I was blind.”
“It’s okay,” Calina responds with a smile. “I was a stranger, the member of an enemy family coming into your home. It is normal that you were suspicious.”
Viktor runs a hand over his face, looking shaken. “We have to find them. Both of them. Dmitri has to pay for what he did. He betrayed you. He betrayed all of us. He has to pay.”
“He will,” I say, voice cold. “Adrian and Dmitri both. They got away tonight, but not for long.”
I look at my wife, the only thing keeping me grounded right now. The anger is still boiling inside me, but having her safe makes it bearable.
I will find them. No matter what rock they hide under. And when I do, their deaths will be slow, and painful.
My phone pings in the pocket of my jacket. I reach for it, and when I glance at the screen, I freeze. It’s from Dmitri.
Dmitri:Maxim, I’m sorry. I know there’s no undoing what’s been done, but I can still fix this. I can help you bring Adrian down. Meet me at the hollow house. Alone. I’ll give you everything I have. Just you. No one else.
The hollow house, that’s what we three call the orphanage we grew up in, because of how hollow it made us feel. What sick game is he up to? Why would he choose that place of all places?
That building was falling apart when we were kids. I left when I was fourteen, I got adopted by Orlov who later made me his successor. Dmitri and Viktor stayed behind, struggling on the streets after they aged out.
I convinced my adopted father to bring them in. We’ve been together since. I bought the land years ago and built a new orphanage elsewhere. The old building is just a wasteland now. Nothing but ruins.
I feel my blood turn to ice.
Calina notices my expression immediately. “What is it?”
I hand her the phone without a word. She reads it quickly, her eyes widening. She knows about the hollow place. I’ve told her about it.
“Hell no,” she says, voice sharp. “There’s no way you’re going, Maxim. This is obviously a trap.”
Viktor leans over and takes the phone from her. The moment he reads it, he swears viciously. “That fucker…”
Calina looks at me, confused. I exhale slowly, rubbing my temple as the migraine throbs harder.
Calina’s face pales. “Maxim, please… don’t go. This is too dangerous.”
Viktor nods, still staring at the phone like he wants to crush it. “She’s right. Going would be suicide. He’s clearly working with Adrian. This could be a setup.”
I let out a groan, the migraine now a full-blown hammer in my skull. “I know it’s a trap,” I say quietly. “But I have to go.”
Calina looks like she’s on the verge of tears. “No. You can’t. Think about this. Please.”
Viktor steps forward. “Brother… I agree with her. We need to be smart about this.”
I close my eyes for a second, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I’ll handle it.”
Calina shakes her head, but I cut her off gently. “You must be tiredmalyshka. Let’s go upstairs.”
I take her hand and lead her to our bedroom, ignoring the way my head is pounding. Viktor follows us partway, then stops.
“Change all the passcodes for every entrance,” I tell him. “Dmitri knows every passcode. Sweep the entire perimeter and inform all our men he’s a traitor.”
Viktor nods grimly. “I’ll take care of it.”
Once we’re alone in the bedroom, I pull Calina into my arms, holding her tight. Her body trembles slightly against mine. I press a kiss to the top of her head, trying to push down the rage and pain long enough to be what she needs right now.
As she pulls away, I can see the deep worry etched across Calina’s face. Her brows are furrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line. She looks like she’s barely holding herself together.
I brush my knuckle against the skin of her face. “Don’t worry, Calina. I know what I’m doing.”
