Chapter 20 – Mike
Sirens slice through the night, sharp and relentless, echoing off the estate walls.
I feel Ellie’s deep confusion at Timofey’s words, and I feel the same way.
“I’ll go out there and talk to them, see what more I can find,” Timofey says to me. “While I do that, get Ellie into the bunker so she’s safe.”
Over the next half hour, I shift into command mode instantly, every muscle taut, every thought racing.
Timofey is already mobilizing countermeasures—security teams securing exits, surveillance feeds rerouted, internal doors locked down.
Legal teams scramble, trying to buy time, but I already know the gravity of what we’re facing.
Timofey has managed to obtain more information for us. The charges—they’re severe. Conspiracy. Technological facilitation of organized crime. International trafficking enhancement. And all eyes point at Ellie.
I feel cold fury settle in my chest. This isn’t random. This is precise. The syndicate that orchestrated her kidnapping, the one we’ve been tracking, has now positioned her as the scapegoat.
If the authorities succeed in arresting her, they remove a liability and, simultaneously, neutralize a threat—Ellie herself.
I tighten my fists. I won’t let that happen. Not while she’s mine. Not while I can stop it.
The feds refuse to leave, and according to Timofey, they’re procuring documents that’ll give them legal cover to storm the estate and take Ellie by force.
Within minutes, I initiate contingency plans even Timofey didn’t know existed. Hidden escape routes unlock. Digital servers begin self-erasure protocols, shredding any trace of sensitive data. Every inch of the estate is mapped in my mind, every exit, every choke point.
I turn to Ellie, eyes sharp. “We’re leaving. Through the underground safe route. There’s a secondary safe house. You’ll be fine if you trust me.”
Her brow furrows, lips pressed tight. “Mike, I’ve done nothing wrong. Why should I run?”
I brush a stray lock of hair from her face, voice steady, almost gentle. “Survival isn’t about guilt. It’s strategy. Right now, running keeps you alive, and that’s the only thing that matters.”
She hesitates, then nods, finally letting me take the lead.
We descend into the tunnels beneath the estate, moving quickly, silently, the hum of alarms fading above us. Echoes of the sirens reach us even here, a reminder of the world hunting us, but they don’t touch us. Not yet.
Minutes later, we emerge into one of our cars. I grip the wheel, Ellie at my side, and we drive into the night, leaving the estate far behind. Miles away, we reach the secondary safe house—a fortified sanctuary where she can finally breathe, even if only for a moment.
I glance at her as we pull in, and she meets my eyes, fear and trust tangled in her gaze. I reach over, taking her hand in mine, a silent promise. “We’re not done. But for now…you’re safe.”
Alone together for the first time since our marriage, the absence of guards, allies, and infrastructure feels almost surreal. The world outside—the estate, the betrayal, the chaos—exists somewhere else. Just for a moment, it’s just us.
Ellie sinks into the couch, shoulders hunched as the tension finally bleeds out of her.
I make calls with my brothers, who assure me Timofey has updated them and they’re en route to the estate.
Konstantin warns that I may lose the property; the feds are prepared to lock it down since I didn’t surrender Ellie.
I breathe through it, telling them where we are and that we’re fine, then hang up. Returning to the living room, I sit beside Ellie.
“What’s the update?” she asks softly, her voice still carrying the weight of the morning’s chaos.
I exhale, shaking my head. “We might lose the estate.”
Her expression falters, sadness flashing across her features. “How do you feel about it?”
I chuckle softly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. “Honestly? All I feel right now is freedom. Being here with you, alone, like we have no problems in the world.”
Ellie leans closer, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “Thank you…for always protecting me,” she whispers, her fingers lingering over mine.
I pull her closer, holding her against me, letting the warmth of her body erase the tension of the last few days. “I’ll always protect you, Ellie. No matter what comes next, you’re not facing it alone.”
She smiles softly, eyes shimmering in the dim light. “I know…and I’m so glad. I don’t think I could do any of this without you.”
I tuck her closer against me, feeling the rise and fall of her chest against mine. “We’ve made it this far. And we’ll keep making it. Step by step.”
She lets out a small laugh, tired but genuine. “Step by step…I like that. Even if the world is falling apart outside these walls, at least we have this—us.”
I nod, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Exactly. First, we lay low, regroup, and figure out our next move. We can’t rush into anything—every detail counts now.”
Ellie lifts her head slightly to look at me. “Do you think we can trace the syndicate fully? Find the woman who’s really pulling the strings? Do we even know her name yet?”
I hold her gaze, feeling her determination mirror my own. “Not yet, but we’re close. We just have to be smart, cautious. For now, we gather intelligence, tighten our circle, and make sure we’re untouchable.”
She leans her forehead to mine, whispering, “Let’s do it together, Mike. Please.”
I grin softly. “Always. We’ll face whatever comes together. No more surprises without us being ready.”
She rests her head on my chest again, sighing contentedly. “I just…I want some normal for a little while. Even a few hours where it’s just us.”
I kiss her temple, holding her tighter. “Then we take it. Just us, here, now. Everything else can wait a little longer.”
And for the first time in weeks, we let ourselves simply be—safe, together, planning quietly for the storm that’s still out there.
For a long moment, we just stay there until she falls asleep in my arms.
I’m about to take her to the bedroom when my phone buzzes. I reach for it.
It’s an encrypted text:
Surrender your wife. Or watch everything burn.
I freeze, the words cutting sharper than any blade. My grip on Ellie tightens instinctively, though she’s still asleep, soft and unaware against me. The glow of the phone illuminates the message, anonymous and deadly precise.
A storm of thoughts hits all at once. They know exactly what they want: me to give her up. To hand her over. And if I refuse…the threat is clear.
I press a kiss to her hair, careful not to wake her, murmuring softly, “Not a chance.” My voice is low, a vow more than words. I can feel the tension coiling in my chest, a mix of fury and protectiveness.
I don’t bother to respond because I know it’ll bounce, but whoever they are, they’re welcome to try. They’ll have to come through me first.