LOGINShe leaned against the bar.“Thank you for the flowers,” she said quietly. “What did you want to talk about?”I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I didn't expect it to be easy, but I had hoped for a slightly warmer reception.“There’s a lot we need to discuss. About us, about what happened, and
MiaNearly a month had passed since the raid, and life had settled into a new routine. I was working as a nurse, and the steady rhythm of the hospital shifts was both grounding and exhausting. Mom was at the penthouse on bedrest, recovering from her surgery, but her spirits were high. She had a job
"Everybody on the ground now!"Agents burst into the room, guns drawn. The attendees opened fire on them but they were overwhelmed.In the midst of the chaos, I spotted Dimitri, clutching his shoulder. Glaring at me, his face twisted in a mix of anger and fear. He tried to get toward the backdoors a
AlbertPolina was mingling with various guests, a smile plastered on her face that took over her whole face. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of frustration when I thought of her. She really thought this was going to go a certain way.I moved through the crowd avoiding her. I noticed several of Dimit
It was bittersweet and lonely and not the mood I needed to be in the day before all my plans would come to fruition.Ivan came into the study nearly an hour later, already dressed for bed. He poured himself a cup of whiskey and sat across the table from me.“I’ve been looking for places for Katie an
AlbertThat night, I found myself sitting across from a few government operatives in a discreet, dimly lit office. The atmosphere was tense as we went over the final elements of the plan, including the layout of the Kulak Estate.The operatives were efficient and to the point. Things were going well
MiaWe got into the car with Sasha. Apparently, his brother was the driver. The atmosphere in the vehicle was a mix of tension and resolve. Well, the brother seemed well at ease. As we drove towards the casino, I couldn’t help but be grateful to have something else to focus on but my own mess of a l
"I don’t know what to do," I continued, the words coming out almost in a plea. "I’m so angry, but I need to be strong. For Mia, for everything. I don’t know if I’m doing any of this right. I just want to make things right again, but it’s like I’m chasing shadows."Ivan stood a few feet away, giving
DimitriShaken but oddly exhilarated, I watched as Albert leave. Albert’s fierceness reminded me of my own rise to power. I let the look on his face wash through my mind and continued smiling.Albert had left me seething, but there was a peculiar satisfaction in the way he had stood his ground. I ad
"Actually, Katie..."I frowned, breaking off as I thought about telling Katie the truth, but a new figure appeared in the hallway and caught my eye.A beautiful woman, dressed in exquisitely expensive clothing, walked toward us with an air of authority and grace. Her eyes locked onto me with a pierc







