Chapter 706: Natalya In Danger

Polina returned swiftly, her boots clicking against the marble floor. "Boss, the team will be assembled in ten minutes. They’re bringing the full arsenal as requested."

Natalya stood abruptly from the bed, her leather jacket creaking as she moved. Her expression was deadly serious, but I could see the storm of emotions in her eyes—love, fear, and a fierce determination that made my chest tighten.

Her thoughts were a whirlwind:

[Polina is reliable... She’ll keep him safe...]

[But what if she’s not enough? What if something happens to him while I’m gone?]

[No... I have to trust her... I have no choice...]

"Polina..." Her voice cracked slightly, betraying the turmoil within. "I’m giving you a task. Viper’s safety is in your hands. When he wakes up, don’t tell him where I am. Understood?"

Polina nodded solemnly, her expression grave. "Understood, Boss. I’ll protect him with my life."

I had already discreetly summoned two shadow guards, assigning them to follow Natalya unseen. I couldn’t bear the thought of her getting hurt because of me.

Natalya’s fingers lingered on my cheek, her touch feather-light but charged with emotion. Her thoughts were a tempest:

[Viper...]

[I will come back to you... I promise...]

[Because you’re mine... And I’m yours... Even if I’m too scared to say it...]

She turned and left the room, her footsteps echoing with purpose, her heart heavy with emotions she couldn’t yet name. I lay there, my mind racing with everything I’d just heard—her fierce protectiveness, her guilt, her unspoken love.

She would burn the world down to keep me safe.

I knew why Natalya was so concerned. Igor had died by my hand, and his allies would seek revenge on me. She was doing this to protect me.

I could feel Polina’s gaze on me. Using my telepathy, I heard her thoughts:

[Boss is clearly in love with Viper... Does he know that? Does he feel the same?]

I pretended to sleep for about ten minutes, then woke suddenly, pretending to be in the grip of a nightmare. "Boss... NO!"

Polina’s thoughts were surprised: [Is he having a nightmare about Boss?]

I sat up abruptly, pretending to be in pain. "Where is Boss? I need to see her right now!"

Polina stepped in front of me, blocking my path. "Boss is asleep. You can see her in the morning."

I looked at Helen, who seemed hesitant. Polina insisted, "Stop shouting. She’s asleep. Don’t disturb her."

But Helen’s voice cut through the tension. "No... No, she’s lying. I heard your boss is leaving. She went to kill some Vito guy—the one behind your attack. She left her here to protect you and took her whole army with her."

Polina snapped at Helen, "Shut up! Stop lying!"

I looked at Polina, my voice sharp with urgency. "Is that true?"

Polina hesitated, her voice filled with reluctance. "It doesn’t matter. You’re injured. You need to rest."

I looked at her angrily. "Tell me where she is!"

Polina sighed, her voice filled with resignation. "What are you going to do? You can barely walk. You might put her in even more danger."

I said firmly, "I would die before I let anything happen to her because of me."

Polina cursed under her breath. "Damn it... I know Boss is going to kill me for this... But if anyone can stop her, it’s you."

She gave me the address where Natalya was headed and handed me her gun. "I’ll get you some clothes. The black suit should fit over your bandages."

She went out and returned quickly with the suit. I put it on, wincing slightly as the fabric pulled against my wounds.

Polina watched me, her expression a mix of concern and determination. "I’m coming with you."

I saw the resolve in her eyes and thanked Helen. "Thank you."

Helen nodded slightly, her face pale but determined.

Polina started the car and drove at breakneck speed. We finally reached the mansion and saw the grim scene—dead bodies of Sergie’s and Vito’s men scattered all around, the air thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder and blood.

Polina and I exchanged a glance. "Stay behind me," she ordered, but I walked beside her, my gun at the ready.

We entered the mansion, stepping over dead bodies and broken walls, the air thick with smoke. Suddenly, we heard maniacal laughter.

"You... Where is the man who killed my son?"

I moved to the balcony and saw Natalya below, surrounded by her people. The other female bodyguards formed a protective circle around her as she confronted two men. I used my AI Lens to identify them—Vito and Sergie, Igor’s father.

Natalya’s voice was ice-cold. "I am the one who killed your son. He deserved to die. I only regret killing him so quickly. I didn’t get to torture him."

Sergie’s voice dripped with venom. "Shut up, bitch. I know it was that man you brought, Viper. He killed my son. Don’t deny it. I saw the dash cam of your car. It recorded how he killed my son. I want him dead."

Natalya’s eyes blazed with fury. "You want him? Then you’ll have to go through me."

Polina and I exchanged a glance. "We need to get down there," she whispered urgently.

I nodded, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. "Let’s go."

We moved forward together, ready to stand by Natalya’s side in the battle to come. The air was thick with tension, the stench of blood and gunpowder filling our nostrils. I could see Natalya’s fierce determination, the way she stood protectively in front of her people, ready to burn the world down to keep me safe.

Polina gripped her gun tighter. "Stay close. We don’t know how many more men they have inside."

I nodded, my mind racing. "We stick together. And we make sure Boss comes out of this alive."

Polina’s eyes flashed with resolve. "And you too, Viper. Boss would never forgive me if anything happened to you."

We descended the stairs quietly, our footsteps muffled by the chaos of the battle raging outside. As we reached the bottom, we could see Natalya standing her ground, her gun raised and her expression deadly.