Natalya nodded, her forehead resting against mine. "Together," she echoed, her voice softer now, filled with something deeper than frustrationâhope, trust, love.
She sighed, her breath warm against my skin. "Promise me you wonât do anything reckless, Viper. Not until we know more. I canât lose you. Not now. Not ever."
I tightened my arms around her, my voice filled with sincerity. "I promise, Natalya. Iâm not going anywhere. Weâll face this together, just like we always do."
She looked up at me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I love you, Viper. More than anything. More than I ever thought possible."
I pressed another kiss to her forehead, my heart swelling with love and devotion. "I love you too, Natalya. Always."
Natalya pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, her fingers still tangled in my hair, her breath warm against my lips. The air between us was thick with something more than just desireâit was trust, love, and a silent promise that no matter what came next, weâd face it side by side.
"We have to move," she murmured, her voice low but urgent, her thumb brushing over my bottom lip. "And stay underground for a while. Just until we figure out how to handle Andrey and the FBI."
I nodded, my hand still resting on the small of her back, pulling her just a little closer. "I know. Weâll be careful."
She let out a shaky breath, her forehead resting against mine for just a second longer before she forced herself to pull away. The loss of her warmth was immediate, but the determination in her eyes burned brighter than ever.
"Iâll go talk to Polina," she said, her voice already shifting back into that commanding tone I knew so well. "Sheâll arrange everythingâthe safe house, new identities, whatever we need. We canât stay here any longer than necessary."
I watched as she stood, her body moving with that effortless grace that always made my chest tighten. She adjusted her clothes, her fingers lingering on the fabric as if she were already missing the closeness weâd just shared.
"Iâll be right back," she promised, her eyes locking onto mine one last time before she turned and walked out the door.
The moment Natalya stepped out, I grabbed my phone, my fingers flying over the screen as I activated
SERA
with a sense of urgency. "Pull up everything on Andrey. Now. Every deal, every connection, every damn whisper."
The screen lit up with a flood of classified files, each one more damning than the last. My stomach twisted as I read through the details.
Andrey wasnât just Vitoâs older brotherâhe was a calculating snake, a man who had spent years playing both sides of the law. The files revealed a web of deals heâd made with the FBI, feeding them information on Vitoâs arms trafficking operations in Russia.
But it wasnât out of some misplaced sense of justice. No. Andrey had been setting up his own brother for years, waiting for the perfect moment to take over Vitoâs empire. And now, with Vito dead, he saw his chance.
But the worst part? The FBI wasnât just using Andreyâthey were protecting him in exchange for Nikolaiâs head.
I scrolled deeper, my jaw clenching as I read the terms of their agreement:
Andrey would deliver Nikolai to the FBI, alive and ready for prosecution. In return, the FBI would turn a blind eye to Andreyâs own criminal operationsâas long as he kept feeding them intel. And the kicker? Andrey demanded me. Alive, if possible. Dead, if necessary. The FBI didnât care either way, as long as Nikolai was theirs.
"Son of a bitch," I muttered under my breath.
But it got worse.
The files showed that Andrey had been manipulating the FBI for months, feeding them just enough to keep them happy while he built his own power base. And now, with Vito gone, he was making his move. The FBI was giving him full protection, a team of agents to back him up, and most dangerouslyâ
Agent Claire Starling.
I pulled up her file, and my blood ran cold.
Claire Starling wasnât just some rookie agent. She was a veteran, a woman who had spent years undercover in some of the most dangerous cartels in the world. She was ruthless, intelligent, and deadly. And she was Andreyâs handler.
The photo attached to her file showed a woman in her late thirties, her dark hair pulled into a tight bun, her sharp green eyes staring into the camera with an intensity that made my skin prickle. But it wasnât just her eyes that caught my attention. It was everything else.
She was stunningâtall, with curves that filled out her tailored suit in a way that made it hard to focus.
The suit hugged her hourglass figure, the fabric straining slightly over her full, round breasts and the flared hips that made my mind wander to places it shouldnât. Her legsâlong, toned, and endlessâwere encased in sheer black stockings, leading down to a pair of fuck-me heels that made my throat go dry.
A hot milf, mother of two daughters, and from the looks of it, just as dangerous as she was beautiful.
There was another photoâthis one less professional. Claire was in a tight black dress, her hair loose and cascading down her shoulders, her lips painted a deep, sinful red.
The dress clung to her generous cleavage, the neckline dipping just enough to tease, her toned legs on full display. She was leaning against a bar, a smirk playing on her lips, her green eyes smoldering with confidence and seduction. The kind of woman who could ruin a man with just a look.
But I didnât have time to dwell on it.
The door to the hospital room creaked open, and Natalya stepped back inside, her expression all business again. "Everythingâs set. Polinaâs got the safe house ready. Weâre moving now."
I nodded, pushing the thoughts of Claire out of my mind for the moment. "Good. Letâs go."
We drove in silence, the hum of the engine the only sound between us. Natalyaâs fingers were tangled with mine, her grip tight, as if she were afraid Iâd disappear if she let go.
When we reached Natalyaâs villa, she moved quickly, packing only the essentialsâweapons, cash, a few changes of clothes. Helen hovered nearby, her expression nervous but determined.
"Weâre taking Helen with us," Natalya said, her voice leaving no room for argument. "Sheâs seen too much. Sheâs safer with us than out there alone."
I didnât protest. Helen had proven herself more than once, and Natalya was rightâshe was safer with us.