章 77: A Fragile Truth
The locket felt ice-cold in my palm, as though it carried the chill of the unseen hand that had delivered it. The photo inside — of Dante and me — was recent, no more than a few weeks old. My pulse quickened as the realization dawned: whoever this was had been close enough to capture a moment of intimacy.
The walls of the room seemed to press in on me as I stared at the note's final words:
"Your time is running out, Elizabeth. Choose wisely."
I slammed the locket shut and placed it back in the box, my mind racing. The threat wasn't just against me—it was against us, against the delicate balance Dante and I had fought to protect.
Matteo needed to see this, but time was slipping through my fingers. Dante would sense my unease if I didn't act carefully.
---
Confronting the Shadows
I found Matteo in the estate's armory, a room bristling with weapons and the weight of countless battles fought. He was inspecting a rifle, but his focus shifted the instant he saw me.
"Another delivery?" he asked his voice tight.
I handed him the box, watching his jaw clench as he examined its contents. "This is escalating," he said, setting the box aside. "Whoever they are, they're getting bolder."
"They took that photo recently," I said. "They've been watching us, Matteo. Not just from a distance—they've been inside the estate."
He cursed under his breath, his fingers gripping the edge of the table. "We'll triple security. Sweep the grounds again, top to bottom. I'll personally interrogate every staff member—someone's either sloppy or complicit."
"No," I said quickly. "If they realize we're onto them, they might accelerate their plans. We can't give them the upper hand."
Matteo studied me for a moment, his expression grim. "What do you suggest, then? Sitting and waiting for their next move?"
"We need to draw them out," I said. "Make them think they're still in control, while we tighten the noose around them."
---
A Calculated Deception
When I returned to Dante's study, he was pouring over blueprints with his lieutenants. His commanding presence filled the room, but his eyes softened the moment he saw me.
"Elizabeth," he said, dismissing his men with a flick of his hand. "Come here."
I crossed the room, forcing a calm expression onto my face. His hands were warm as they pulled me into his lap, his eyes searching mine.
"You've been restless," he said, his voice low. "What's troubling you?"
I hesitated, weighing my words carefully. Dante's protective instincts ran deep, and I couldn't risk triggering a response that might endanger us further.
"I'm just worried," I said softly. "With Mikhail's moves, with everything going on—it feels like we're constantly looking over our shoulders."
His brow furrowed, and he stroked my hair absently. "You don't need to worry about Mikhail. He's a cockroach, and I've dealt with worse."
I nodded, leaning into his touch. "I trust you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
---
A New Lead
That night, Matteo came to me with the news. His expression was a mix of relief and tension.
"We found something," he said, handing me a slim folder.
Inside were grainy surveillance images of a man leaving the estate's perimeter the night the locket was delivered. His face was partially obscured by a hood, but Matteo had attached a name to him: Viktor Sokolov.
"Viktor's been working with remnants of the Bratva," Matteo said. "He's not just after Dante—he has a personal vendetta against him."
"What kind of vendetta?" I asked.
"Years ago, Dante dismantled Viktor's network in Moscow. His family was killed in the fallout. He's been lying low ever since, but now it looks like he's resurfaced—with you as his target."
The thought sent a shiver down my spine. Viktor wasn't just a threat to Dante's empire—he was a threat to everything we had built together.
---
A Dangerous Gambit
The next day, I made a decision. If Viktor wanted me, I would give him the illusion that he was succeeding.
"I need you to trust me, Matteo," I said as we stood in the estate's private garden.
"Trust you to do what?" he asked warily.
"To confront Viktor on my terms," I said. "We can't keep reacting to his moves. We need to get ahead of him."
Matteo shook his head. "Dante would never allow this."
"That's why Dante can't know," I said firmly. "Not yet."
Matteo stared at me, his jaw tight. "You're asking me to go against him. Do you realize what you're asking?"
"I'm asking you to help me protect him," I said, my voice steady. "If Viktor sees me as vulnerable, as isolated, he'll make a move. And when he does, we'll be ready for him."
After a long pause, Matteo nodded. "I'll back you up. But if this goes south…"
"It won't," I said, though the uncertainty gnawed at me.
---
The Bait is Set
That evening, I made sure Dante believed I was taking a rare night to myself. He kissed me before I left, his hands lingering as if he could sense the storm brewing within me.
"You're safe here," he said, his voice low.
"I know," I replied, giving him a reassuring smile.
But instead of retreating to the private quarters Dante believed I would be in, I slipped out of the estate with Matteo.
We drove to a location on the outskirts of the city—a neutral ground where Viktor had been spotted in the past.
As we arrived, the tension in the air was palpable. Matteo kept close, his hand resting on the weapon tucked into his jacket.
"Stay sharp," he murmured as we stepped into the dimly lit bar.
I scanned the room, my heart pounding as I searched for the face I had only seen in photographs. Then, I saw him: Viktor Sokolov, sitting in the corner with a drink in hand.
His eyes met mine, and a slow, predatory smile spread across his face.
"Elizabeth," he said, his voice smooth and dangerous. "I've been expecting you."
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