Lahat ng Kabanata ng Blood And Betrayal : Kabanata 141 - Kabanata 150

Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Two Dimitri The gunshot echoed through the factory. It was loud and sharp, bouncing off the old metal walls and ringing in my ears for what felt like forever. Time slowed down. I saw the flash from the gun. It came from the upper walkway, a bright burst of light in the darkness. I felt something hit my shoulder. It was like a powerful punch that spun me halfway around. Pain exploded through my body. It spread from my shoulder down my arm and across my chest. The pain was hot and searing. I could smell my own blood in the air. But I was still standing. Still alive. "Dimitri!" Irina screamed. Her voice cut through the ringing in my ears and brought me back to the moment. I looked down at my shoulder. Blood was spreading across my white shirt, making a dark stain around a small torn hole. It

Chapter One Hundred and Forty-FourDimitriThree weeks had passed since that night at the factory. For the first time in what felt like years, there was peace. My shoulder had healed. The stitches were out and the pain was mostly gone. Nikolai was thriving, growing stronger every day. And Alexei was changing.I noticed it in small ways. The way he looked at Nikolai with pure love instead of possession. The way he talked to Irina with respect instead of resentment. The way he spoke to me like a brother instead of an enemy.We were in my office going over business reports, something we had not done together in months."The shipment from Italy arrived," Alexei said. "Everything checked out.""Good," I replied. "And the deal with the Petrov family?""Finalized this morning," Alexei said. "They agreed to our terms."I looked at him. He seemed lighter somehow, less burdened."You are different," I said.Alexei set down his pen. "Almost losing Nikolai changed me. Watching him nearly die beca

Chapter One Hundred and Forty-SixDimitriThe days after Mikhail's arrest were strange. The safehouse felt different without him. Quieter somehow. Emptier. But also wrong. Like something was missing.I stood in the nursery watching Alexei change Nikolai's diaper. My brother moved with gentle hands. Careful not to hurt the baby."There we go," Alexei said softly. "All clean."Nikolai gurgled happily. Reaching for his father's face. Alexei smiled. A real smile. Full of warmth and love."You are good at this," I said from the doorway.Alexei looked up. "I have been practicing," he replied. "Irina has been teaching me.""She trusts you with him now," I observed."I know," Alexei said. "I am grateful for that. After everything I did to her."He picked up Nikolai carefully. Held him against his chest. The baby's tiny hand gripped Alexei's finger."I was a monster," Alexei said quietly. "I held her captive. Made her a slave. Kept her from her own son.""You were hurting," I said."That is no

Chapter One Hundred and Forty-EightDimitriThe face on the screen stared back at us. I knew that face. We all did. But I could not speak. Could not move. Could not process what I was seeing.Irina gasped beside me. Alexei stood frozen. The shop owner looked at us confused."You know him?" the owner asked.I did not answer. I just kept staring at the screen. The hood had slipped for only a second, but it was enough. Enough to see the truth we never expected."Play it again," I said. My voice was rough.The owner rewound the footage. Played it again. The figure walked to the counter. Paid for the phone. Turned to leave. The hood slipped. The face was visible for just a moment.There was no mistake. It was him."Can you make a copy of this?" I asked."Sure," the owner said. "For another five hundred."I paid him without argument. He copied the footage onto a USB drive and handed it to me. We left the store in silence. Walked to the car in silence. Got in and drove away in silence.No on

Chapter One Hundred and FiftyDimitriThe next morning, I gathered everyone in my office. I needed answers. I needed them now."We found footprints last night," I began. "Someone was watching the house."Viktor nodded. "I checked the security footage. The cameras caught no one.""How is that possible?" Alexei asked."Either they knew where the cameras were," Viktor said. "Or they moved too fast to be caught.""Or someone turned them off," I said, looking directly at Viktor.Viktor met my eyes. He did not look away. "You think I did this?""I think someone inside helped them," I replied.Viktor set his jaw. "Then search my things. I have nothing to hide."I studied him. His face showed nothing but honesty. But I had been fooled before. "Fine. Leave your phone and laptop here. I will have them checked."Viktor pulled both from his pockets without hesitation. Set them on my desk. "Anything else?""Not yet," I replied. Viktor nodded and left the room.When he was gone, Mikhail spoke. "He