34. Luna
Luna
The smell of smoke still lingers in the air.
It’s faint—like a ghost of something long gone—but still there, clinging to our clothes, our hair, our skin.
We’re all gathered in the backup base, a secure underground facility only two people knew the location of before today—Isabella and our tech specialist, Locke.
Our headquarters was attacked.
And whoever did it?
They just signed their death warrants.
The entire EAO is here, standing in a circle as Isabella paces in front of us, her usually cold expression even harder than normal.
“We’re moving to the backup base until further notice,” she announces, her voice leaving no room for argument. “Effective immediately, all protocols are changing. We accelerate all victim extractions ahead of schedule. No delays. No exceptions.”
She pauses, sweeping her sharp gaze across the room.
“All assassins are required to be on mission rotation until we determine the source of the attack. No excuses. If I find out anyone even thinks about ignoring this order, you’ll wish you never joined this organization.”
No one protests.
We know better.
When Isabella gives an order, you follow it. Period.
Still, I can already feel the amused stares from Amani and Raven burning into the side of my head.
Here it comes.
Amani crosses her arms, smirking. “So, uh… how do you think your husband is gonna take this?”
I roll my eyes, sighing. “Like an overgrown, territorial cat.”
Raven snickers. “You sure he won’t burn the city down looking for you?”
“Honestly?” I mutter, rubbing my temples. “I wouldn’t put it past him.”
Vladimir Petrov was intense on a normal day.
The idea of me disappearing without telling him exactly where I was going?
Yeah.
He was going to lose his goddamn mind.
And, if I’m being honest…
I actually liked spending time with my husband.
I hadn’t expected that.
When I agreed to this marriage, I thought I’d tolerate him at best. That we’d exist in each other’s space without really being anything real.
But somewhere between his stupid cocky smirks, the way he looked at me, and the way he completely fucking ruined me every time he touched me…
I actually started enjoying being around him.
God, I’m so screwed.
Amani nudges me with her elbow. “So, what’s the plan? You gonna tell him the truth?”
“Hell no.”
Before either of them can respond, Isabella strides over, arms crossed.
“You can tell him you’ll be gone for a while,” she says, “but you cannot tell him where we’re going.”
I nod, already expecting that. “Understood.”
She watches me carefully, eyes sharp. “Do you think he’ll be a problem?”
Yes.
Yes, he will absolutely be a problem.
But the real question is—how much of a problem?
I sigh. “I’ll handle him.”
Isabella smirks slightly. “I’m sure you will.”
With that, she walks off, leaving me with my two best friends grinning at me like they’re waiting for a show.
“You sure you’re gonna be able to handle him?” Amani teases, wiggling her brows.
Raven laughs.
I groan.
Yeah.
This was going to be fun.
I spend the rest of the night preparing to leave—double-checking my gear, securing everything for transport, making sure I haven’t forgotten a single detail.
But no amount of planning is going to prepare me for what I have to do next.
Telling my husband that I’ll be gone for an extended amount of time due to unforeseen circumstances.
And worse?
That I can’t tell him where I’m going.
Yeah.
This is going to be like a walk in the park.
After packing my bags, I sit on the edge of my bunk, staring at my phone like it personally offended me.
Just call him. Tell him you’ll be gone for a while. Deal with whatever temper tantrum he throws.
Easy, right?
With a deep breath, I press the call button and wait.
It barely rings once before he picks up.
"Kakóvo chórta proizoshló, i gde ty?!”
Fuck, I really need to learn how to speak Russian.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, already feeling the headache forming. “First of all, I have no clue what you just said. Secondly, I was going to call you sooner, but?—”
“But what, Luna?” His voice is low, and controlled, but there’s an edge to it—a dangerous one. “You and the other EAO members disappeared two days ago.”
I exhale slowly, trying to keep my voice steady. “I had to leave for an assignment, and I couldn’t tell you.”
Silence.
Not the good kind.
The kind that makes my stomach twist because I know he’s about to lose his shit.
I hear a deep inhale before he speaks again, his voice eerily calm.
“Repeat that?”
I close my eyes. “All of us got pulled for a last-minute assignment, and I couldn’t tell you.”
More silence.
Then, in a tone so lethal it could cut through steel?—
“Is that how it’s going to be from now on? Where are you going? And why can’t you tell me?”
I sigh. “Look, I know you’re frustrated, but I can't tell you, Vladimir. It's protocol. We’re having to relocate, and I can’t disclose our location. It’s not personal. It’s just how it is."
His breath audibly hitches. Then?—
"NE PRINIMáY éTO NA SCHYOT! LUNA, TY MOYA ZHENá. VERNíS' DOMóY SEYCHáS ZHE!"
Click.
I hang up.
The phone immediately rings again. I pick it up and before I can even say a word?—
"Are you out of your goddamn mind?!" he roars. "Do not hang up on me again!"
Click.
I hang up again.
The phone rings for a third time, and this time, I take my sweet time answering.
Bringing it to my ear, I sigh dramatically. "Are you done yelling?"
Silence.
Then, through gritted teeth—"Yes."
I smirk. "Good."
I sit back down, gripping the phone tighter. "I know this is hard for you?—"
"Oh, you think?" he snaps. "Tell me something, wife. How would you react if I disappeared without a trace and called you saying, ‘I can’t tell you where I am, but I’ll be back eventually?”
Fuck.
He’s got a point.
I press my lips together, refusing to answer because I will not give him the satisfaction of being right, but he knows.
He fucking knows.
"You see my problem now, moya Luna?” His voice is softer now but still laced with irritation.
I close my eyes. "I’ll be safe."
"That’s not the point."
"I know."
A tense silence stretches between us.
"Promise me something."
I hesitate. "What?"
His voice drops to a whisper. "That you’ll come back to me."
My chest tightens.
I want to reach through the phone and touch him, to let him know that I’m his and I’m not going anywhere forever.
“I promise.”
Another long pause.
"Fine." His voice is reluctant, but I can tell he knows there’s nothing he can do.
Not right now, at least.
"Fine?" I ask cautiously.
"Yes, fine," he bites out. "But when you get back? We’re going to have a very long conversation about this."
I let out a soft chuckle. "Looking forward to it, Dracula."
He growls lowly. "You’re lucky I love you, Lisichka."
A warmth spreads through me.
I hang up before he can say anything else and let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
"So, how pissed is your husband?"
I snap my head up.
Amani and Raven are standing at the door, arms crossed, smug as hell.
I glare. "He’ll survive."
Raven snorts. “You sure? Because that man sounded like he was ready to swim across the ocean to find you.”
I roll my eyes. “He’s dramatic.”
Amani grins. "And yet, you love it."
I open my mouth to deny it, but?—
Wait.
Did he just tell me he loved me?
Oh.
Fuck.
Me.