Chapter 28 The ride to Semion's compound is thick with tension and unspoken anxiety. Sasha worries the plan won't work. Hell, so do I. But I don't see any other way. I have to do whatever it takes to get Nicole back, even if it means inciting a war with Semion. I glance at Sasha; he stares out the window as if already drafting a kill list in his head. He's been itching for this conflict for months, secretly glad the fuse has finally been lit. He'll never admit it, but he's thirsty for blood. So am I. I've never wanted to settle a score more than I do now. Not even when my father was killed. This is different. This isn't about territory or business. This isn't even about pride. This is about Nicole. She doesn't deserve to be involved in any of this. She didn't even know about it until last night. I've put her in this position, so I have to do whatever it takes to get her back. She's in the hands of a man who doesn't understand restraint. He swears he won't hurt her, but with him the line between calm and brutality is razor-thin. The SUV pulls to a stop outside the iron gates, which creak open like the gates of hell. I glance at Sasha, nod, then step out, adjusting my coat as I go. Two guards flank the door, both armed, their eyes flicking over me with equal parts curiosity and suspicion. I smile as I hand over my gun. I try to step past them, but one of the men puts his hand up, blocking me. "All your weapons," he demands, looking me up and down. I roll my eyes and produce the pistol tucked in my jacket, followed by the smaller one strapped to my thigh. "Would you like to strip search me?" I deadpan as I hand the two guns over. "Or can I go inside now?" The guards trade a look, decide I'm clean enough, and swing the doors open. Inside, the place is as gaudy as I expected. Every inch is filled with either a garish gold monstrosity or a taxidermied carcass. A bearskin rug sprawls underfoot, several trophy buck heads leering from the walls. Semion has always had a flair for the dramatic. He probably tells his guests he hunted those animals himself, even though I'm sure he paid a pretty penny for each and every one. A tall man in a dark suit leads me down a long hallway until we reach a set of double doors. He knocks once, waits, and then opens them. Semion stands behind a massive mahogany desk, a glass of scotch in one hand, the other tucked casually into his pocket. He's completely at ease, like we're just meeting for a card game or a nightcap. Like he hasn't just taken the only person in my life who makes me want something more. "Sergei," he says smoothly. "Nice of you to come so promptly." I don't return the greeting. I walk in, slow and deliberate, and take the seat across from him. "Let's get on with it," I say, voice low and cold. He grins like the smug bastard he is and sips from his glass. "You always were impatient." He chuckles. "And you always overplay your hand," I reply. "Don't make me ask again." He waves his hand, feigning boredom. "Fine," he concedes. "I've had my lawyer draw up a contract. You sign over all of the discussed assets to me, and you get your girl back. We divide the city a little more evenly, and everyone wins. There won't need to be any more tension or animosity between the two of us." "Says the man causing all of it," I mutter. "Remind me, Semion, which one of us has been relentlessly attacking the other?" "Don't get self-righteous on me now, Sergei." He smirks. "Your family has had this city in a vise grip for decades. It's time to move aside and let newer blood take over. Besides, you want your precious little girlfriend home tonight, don't you?" I lean back in my chair, crossing one ankle over my knee, playing the part of a man who's considering it. He needs to think I'm really going to give him what he wants. The more convincing I am, the more distracted he'll be when my men make their move. I let the silence stretch for several moments, as if I'm really conflicted. Finally, I nod slowly. "Fine," I say, reaching out my hand to shake his. Semion raises an eyebrow, surprised. "That easy?" he asks, staring at my outstretched hand. "Nicole's more valuable than any stretch of land," I say simply. "But if you think this is a sign of weakness, you're more of a fool than I thought." "I think it's a sign of wisdom," he says, standing and shaking my hand. "I always knew you had it in you." He rounds the desk, pen in hand, and smiles at me. That's when the gunfire erupts. One shot cracks, then another. Screams echo down the marble hall. The door bursts open and one of Semion's men stumbles inside, blood blossoming from his chest before he collapses. Semion spins toward the door, eyes wide. My gun is out before he even turns back. "Don't," I warn, leveling it at his chest. His hand twitches toward the desk, where he no doubt keeps a weapon stashed. "Don't be stupid," I growl. "You know exactly how this ends." "Kill me and you start a war you won't see the end of," he spits. "Then don't make me kill you," I fire back. "Now show me where Nicole is." We stare each other down. Behind me, I can hear Sasha's voice barking orders, more gunfire, the heavy beat of boots on tile. Semion doesn't move. "I swear to God," I say, voice like ice, "if you don't walk me to her in the next ten seconds, I will shoot you in both kneecaps and drag your sorry ass through this house until you're begging me to kill you." That gets him. He lifts his hands slightly, palms open. "She's safe," he mutters. "Not a single hair is out of place." "She'd better fucking be." He turns and leads the way, my gun never leaving his back. We wind through corridors. Sasha spots us and slips away from the fray, trailing as backup. The three of us make our way down a hidden stairwell until we reach a narrow hallway. The air is colder here, damp and metallic. Semion pauses in front of a steel door. "She's inside." "Open it." He hesitates. I press the muzzle of my gun against the base of his skull. "That wasn't a request." He unlocks the door with a key from his pocket and pushes it open. I follow him down a short staircase into a dank basement, where Nicole sits alone, quietly sobbing. She's chained to a chair, face pale, hair disheveled. A fresh gash mars her forehead. Not a hair on her head has been touched, my ass. He'll pay for that one. She looks up and blinks, first at Semion and then at me, as if she's not sure I'm real. She exhales, relief and shock tangling in the sound. I move fast, stepping into the room and brushing past Semion without a second glance. I'm at her side in seconds, setting my gun on the concrete so I can cup her cheek. "I've got you," I whisper. "You're safe now." She trembles beneath my touch, yet something guarded flickers in her eyes. I look over at Semion, who's now being held at gunpoint by Sasha. "Give me the key to unlock her handcuffs," I command. He rolls his eyes and stays put. Sasha lifts his gun and fires into the ceiling. Dust and drywall rain down, and Semion goes even paler. He fumbles with his key ring, tosses me a small key, and Sasha immediately drags him out of the room. I move behind her and release her wrists. She launches herself into my arms, sobbing on my shoulder. I hold her tightly, though her body is trembling. "I've got you," I whisper, trying like hell to keep the emotion from cracking my voice. "You're safe now. I'm here." She blinks rapidly, then steps back, her expression torn. "I'm pregnant," she blurts, so fast I almost miss it. For a moment, the entire world seems to go silent, and all I can hear is the sound of my heart thundering in my ears. "I've known since before you hired me," she says, determination sharpening her features. "It's yours, if that's not clear. And I plan to keep it. But I will not raise a baby with a man who would get me involved in all of this." "Nicole," I breathe, speechless. I don't know what to address first, but my body decides for me. I fall to my knees in front of her, staring at her stomach in awe. "You're having our baby?" Shock melts into a surge of happiness I never knew I could feel. "I'm going to be a father," I murmur, more to myself than her. Then I look up to see her watching me with that same conflicted look. I stand up and take her hands in mine. "Nicole, I swear to you that I will be the best father to this baby, and the best man to you. I can't promise you that there won't be any danger in my life, but I swear to you that I'll always make sure you and our child are safe. Please, please, forgive me for all of this." She clenches her jaw, then nods and stumbles into my arms. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," she says, tears streaking her cheeks. "I was scared. I didn't know if⁠-" I cut her off with a kiss. It's soft, reverent, filled with every ounce of emotion I can't put into words. When I pull back, I rest my hand over her still-flat stomach and nod. "We'll talk more later," I promise. "But right now, all that matters is getting you home." I scoop her into my arms, holding her tight against my chest. She doesn't resist. She just buries her face in my neck and holds on like she never wants to let go. Sasha stands just outside the door, gun still trained on Semion. His face is blank, but I can't help but wonder if he overheard. A spark of excitement glints in his eyes-though that could be nothing more than the thrill of having Semion at gunpoint. "She good?" he asks, already knowing the answer. "She's good." I nod. "And she's pregnant." Sasha's brows lift, but he just nods once. "Then let's get her the fuck out of here." I turn back to Semion. He's seething, but he's not stupid enough to make a move. I adjust Nicole in my arms so she hears every word. "If it weren't for this woman right here," I tell Semion, my voice cold and calm, "you and your men would all be dead right now. But now that I'm going to be a father, I need to do what's best for my family." Semion sneers. "This isn't over." "If you were smart, you'd back off," Sasha adds, stepping forward with his gun still aimed. "Because I'll have no problem taking you out if need be." Semion doesn't respond. He knows we're right. Sasha and the rest of our crew sweep the exits while I carry Nicole through the mansion's corridors. It feels like walking through a battlefield. Bodies litter the floor, blood streaks the marble, and glass shards glitter along the corridor. Semion's men took a heavy beating tonight, and they won't forget it soon. With luck, they'll remember their leader started all this. It never had to be like this. At the SUV, I settle Nicole into the back seat and tuck a blanket around her shoulders while Sasha climbs into the front. The SUV pulls away from the compound, tires crunching gravel, and only then do I let out the breath I've been holding since the call came in. She's alive. She's safe. She's carrying my child. Nicole stays silent for most of the ride, but her hand finds mine in the space between us, grounding me. After a few miles she finally speaks. "I'm sorry," she whispers. I glance at her. "For what?" "For lying to you," she breathes. "For keeping the pregnancy a secret for so long. I just didn't know if I could trust what we had." I shake my head. "I know why you did it," I tell her honestly. "And I can't blame you for keeping it to yourself." I slide closer and thread our fingers together. "But, just so you know, I meant what I said. I'm going to be the best damn father to this child. Not only will I protect our son or daughter with my life, but I will do the same for you. With me, you'll never be unsafe again. I promise you that." Nicole's eyes shine with tears as she squeezes my hand. "I was hoping you would say that." I press a kiss to her knuckles, then lean back and exhale as the adrenaline drains from my system. In a romance-themed observation show, several participants undergo a series of interactions and conflicts filled with love, misunderstandings, and power struggles. In the end, one couple rises to over...