224. The Reason she came back

JEREMIAH The door to the safe house banged open and I looked up just in time to see my younger brother stumble into the back room I was in. For half a second, I didn’t recognize him. Olezka looked like a ghost of himself, like something dragged out of a warzone. His shirt soaked through with blood, soot smeared across his face, and there was an open gash splitting his forehead. “What the fuck—” I crossed the room in two strides and caught him as he staggered into me, his legs almost giving out on him. “What happened, Lez?” His weight sagged into me and when he lifted his head, his blue eyes were glassy, rimmed red and not from pain. There was fear in his eyes that I had never seen before. “Jeremiah,” he said, voice breaking apart. “I… I can’t find her.” “What?” I looked past him to Hugho, who stared back at me looking as clueless as I felt. "What are you talking about?" At my order Baranov was brought here and I was just about to shoot him dead to end his annoying

Last Updated : 2025-12-25

225. She's in danger

NINA I sat stiff in my seat, my fingers curled tightly around the armrest as if letting go would make everything slip out of my control. My leg bounced on its own, a nervous reflex I couldn’t stop, and my heart beat so hard it felt like I was once again caged in that dark cell. But all of it wasn’t because of the turbulence the plane was going through for the last twenty minutes. For as much as I was scared of the continuous shaking of the plane, I was more worried about the fact that Ephraim will reach my husband and Lachlan with Juhan before I could. The pilot had announced a detour because of the thunderstorm, and it meant it would take longer for me to reach Russia than I thought. It also meant Ephraim will reach faster than me as he flew privately. I pressed my lips together, swallowing hard as panic crawled up my throat. My son would be between strangers, standing in front of men who he had never met and didn't know much about. The men who’d have every right to ha

Last Updated : 2025-12-27

226. My wife loves me

JEREMIAH “Are you sure about this?” Kayne asked. “What do you think?” I looked at him, knowing he wouldn't have a response to it. Xavier let out a long breath. “I mean we could wait here instead of you deliberately putting yourself into danger.” “My wife will be at the airport, in public, with no one there to protect her,” I gritted out. I had already made up my mind. If what I suspected was the reality then I needed to be there for my wife. I couldn’t stay at home surrounded by my guards to be safe while I send my friends and their guards to safeguard their Pakhan’s wife. I wasn’t going to be that man. If she was in danger, and she was because of me, then I intended to stand between her and that danger. I intended to protect her with my own life if it came to that. I have already kost her once, I won’t lose her again. I had thought I could find the fucking pest that was after me and my family, wait for it to show up while Lachlan and Nina stayed in Italy, far away fr

Last Updated : 2025-12-30

227. I don't want to die

JEREMIAH “Our son?” My eyes searched hers before they dropped to her stomach. “Yes.” Her words were just a mere whisper of cold air as she said, “J-Juhan… I went for—” “Jeremiah!” The sudden shouts had both of us whirling, only to be tackled down to the ground by Hugho as loud gunshots cracked through the air. The sound was startling and sharp that didn’t belong in this small snowy town. “We have to leave. Now!” Hugho growled, “Someone must’ve leaked our location.” I uncurled myself from around Nina. She looked disoriented as she blinked, noticing the men rushing toward us and forming a protective circle as they returned the gunfire. She clung to me, her voice shaky as she asked, “Jeremiah, what’s happening?” “Let’s get out of here first,” I helped her to stand, my movement urgent as men started to exchange gunfire and slowly the small airport turned into a warzone. “We have to hurry.” Hugho pressed his hands at our backs as he guided us toward the waiting cars. A

Last Updated : 2026-01-03

228. Die in front of you

JEREMIAH The river was behind us, and now armed men stood at the edge of the forest blocking us from going back into its century as more men appeared out of the trees, surrounding us. I looked from left to right, my mind racing through escape routes that didn’t exist. I turned slowly, shoving Nina behind me, as I reached for my gun. Every muscle locked. Every sense sharpened as I felt the air around us shifting as if it was waiting for something, even the men pointing their weapons at us stopped. They didn’t rush us. They too seemed to be waiting. Then a different set of footsteps drew closer and a moment later, a figure draped in all black appeared. I shifted, wrapping my arm around Nina’s back and pressing her against mine to hide her from the new threat. Slowly, deliberately, the person walked closer until there was no more than five feet between us. Her head was covered, her face hidden beneath layers of dark veiling that fluttered faintly in the wind and th

Last Updated : 2026-01-06

229. Flashback: I was helpless

FLASHBACK #14 NINA I blinked into the darkness, my vision swimming as pain throbbed behind my eyes. My head ached brutally, every breath hurt, while my throat felt too tight, like something invisible was wrapped around it, slowly squeezing. I tried to inhale properly, but every time it made my stomach recoil in revulsion at the smell around me. Old, damp wood mixed with rust and rot filled the air, thick and suffocating. It clung to my skin and lungs until I felt sick all over again. When I tried to lift my hands, I realised they were bound behind my back and so were my legs. As I took in my bearings, I realised I was tied to a chair and surrounded with dark that was barely penetrated by the moonlight. I jerked against the bindings, trying to loosen them but the coarse ropes bit into my skin, tightening even more when I pulled.As panic started to build in my chest, I forced myself to stop struggling. My breath stuttered as I tried to calm my racing thoughts. I needed to thin

Last Updated : 2026-01-09