Page 73 of His Stolen Bride

He studies me, then nods. “Okay.”

Enzo appears in the doorway, and he doesn’t speak. He only holds my gaze with urgency. I stand.

“I’ll be back,” I tell Oisin.

He waves dismissively. “Go.”

Alina’s mouth twitches again.

I follow Enzo out, and he lowers his voice the moment we’re in the hall. “We found your badge clone source. Laundry room camera shows a man with a cap. Yuri’s team is on him. Also, warehouse three wasn’t just power. It was a planted fire. It got put out fast, and the only damage is the cameras.”

I feel my jaw tighten. “He wanted the cameras blind.”

Enzo nods. “Yes.”

“Any mention of the child?” I ask.

Enzo hesitates. “Not yet. But Alexei’s right about the north property. It’s being prepared. Vehicles came in today. Two vans. No plates.”

I hold still for a beat, then I speak. “Tonight, we remind Vienna who leads. Tomorrow, Alina writes the reply. Then we set the meeting.”

Enzo’s eyes narrow. “And if Vladimir moves sooner?”

I look straight at him. “He won’t get the chance.”

My phone buzzes once, and it’s a secure line, one I rotate daily. The message is short.

Confirmed: Kosov crew repositioning near north ring.

Likely objective: child extraction window within 72 hours.

I stare at it, then I put the phone away and keep walking.

No panic. No noise. No mercy.

I’m not letting anyone take my son.

Not now.

Not ever.

22

ALINA

Mikhail doesn’t tell me about the seventy-two hours right away, and I know he’s hiding something the way I used to know my father was hiding something. The house gets quieter, the guards rotate more often, and Sofia stops letting Oisin near windows without making it sound like a rule.

I don’t confront Mikhail in front of Oisin, and I don’t let myself spiral in front of staff. I wait until Oisin is distracted with trains and Sofia is supervising with a bowl of cut fruit like she’s running a small daycare with military posture.

Then I go to Mikhail’s office without knocking.

Enzo is outside again, and his mouth tightens when he sees me. “He’s in a meeting.”

“I’m not asking,” I say.

Enzo exhales, then opens the door.

Mikhail is standing over a map on the table, Luca at one side, Alexei at the other, and Yuri near the wall with his arms crossed. Their heads turn in unison when I enter, and the room goes still.