21. Mikhail #2
“He asked me to leave my badge near the laundry room,” she whispers. “For one hour. He said it was only cameras, only to check if you were back.”
Yuri’s voice stays flat. “You did it.”
She nods, tears spilling. “I did it. I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was— I didn’t know it was the boy.”
I don’t flinch. “Where’s your brother?”
She shakes her head, sobbing. “I don’t know. He said he’d bring him back. He said if I told, then—”
I cut her off. “You don’t get to keep secrets in my house.”
She collapses onto the chair like her legs gave out.
I look at Yuri. “Get her brother. Now.”
Yuri nods once, then turns to Enzo. “Give me the market contact list. Give me the camera angles.”
Enzo is already moving, tapping his phone.
I look at Luca. “Double the east wing. Quietly. Rotate the men. Don’t use anyone who’s been here longer than six months.”
Luca nods. “Done.”
Alexei’s tablet buzzes. He reads, then looks up. “Two more crews stopped paying. They’re claiming ‘uncertainty’ over leadership focus.”
I let my mouth curve into something cold. “Then I’ll remove uncertainty.”
Enzo’s eyes narrow. “What do you want me to do?”
I point at the door. “Call the men who owe. Bring them in tonight. Not a council. Not a conversation. A reminder.”
Luca’s tone is sharp. “You want public.”
“I want clear,” I answer. “Rumors die faster when people see consequences.”
I look at the desk, at the message, then at my laptop again.
Vladimir wants instability.
So I’ll give him stability with teeth.
I leave my office and head toward the dining room, not for food, for visibility. Staff move when they see me, shoulders tightening, eyes dropping, bodies shifting out of my path. Good. Let them remember what house this is.
Alina is at the end of the table with Oisin, helping him with a small puzzle book, her hair loose, her sleeve pushed up, her face intent. She looks up when I enter, and her eyes flick to mine, then away, then back like she’s checking my state.
Oisin sees me and smiles. “My train is finished,” he announces.
“I heard,” I say, and I pull out the chair beside him. “Show me.”
He shoves the book toward me, proud. “Do it.”
Alina’s mouth twitches. “He means solve it.”
“I know what he means,” I reply, and I glance at her. “Did you eat?”
“I ate,” she says, and her tone dares me to argue.
I don’t. I take the pencil, I start the puzzle, and I keep it simple so he can follow. Oisin leans in close, and his shoulder brushes mine without hesitation.
Alina watches that like it hurts her and comforts her at the same time.
“You’re staying inside today,” I tell Oisin, keeping my voice calm.
He sighs dramatically. “I know.”
“You’re not in trouble,” I add.
“I know,” he repeats, then he eyes me. “Is it bad outside?”
Alina freezes for half a second, then she covers it by reaching for her water.
I keep my gaze on the puzzle. “It’s busy outside.”
He nods like that makes sense. “Busy means cars.”
“Yes,” I say. “So we stay inside.”
He accepts it, then points at the page. “That one is wrong.”
“It’s not wrong,” I tell him. “It’s unfinished.”
He grins like he caught me anyway.
Alina speaks softly. “I’ll write the reply.”
“I know,” I answer, and I keep my tone even. “You’ll do it off-site. Sofia will stay with him while you go.”
Her eyes sharpen. “Off-site where?”
“Not in this house,” I repeat. “Not on any network tied to us.”
She nods once, then she looks at Oisin. “We’ll do a story later.”
Oisin perks up. “Sofia story.”
Alina smiles. “Sofia story. Two.”
“Two is fair,” he declares, and he points at me like I’m the judge.
I nod once. “Two is fair.”
Alina’s gaze holds mine a beat longer than necessary, and there’s heat there, and there’s trust trying to exist in the same space as fear. I don’t let myself soften, and I don’t let myself pull away.
“You’ll keep him close,” she says quietly.
“Yes,” I answer.
“And you’ll keep your people from scaring him,” she adds.
I look at her. “Yes.”
Oisin looks between us. “Are you talking about loud?”
Alina’s hand goes to his hair automatically, smoothing. “We’re talking about being careful.”
I lift my hand and tap the table once, gentle. “No one will be loud at you.”
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.