Page 32 of Tainted Empire

Before I can reach for the doorknob, Mikhail gently grasps my arm, turning me to face him. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out my old cell phone, handing it to me with a soft, “I thought you might want this back.”

Taking the phone, our fingers brush against each other, sending a jolt of electricity through my body. “Thank you, Mischa,” I reply, feeling a swirl of emotions at the gesture.

Mikhail’s gaze lingers on me, filled with a struggle I recognize all too well. He’s fighting the urge to kiss me. I see it in his eyes, the way his lips part slightly, the imperceptible lean forward. But he holds back, honoring his promise to take things slow.

In the moment, I decide to take the lead. I need to acknowledge his effort, his restraint. So, I close the small distance between us and stand on my tiptoes. Gently, I press a kiss to his cheek, lingering for a moment longer than necessary and feeling the stubble against my lips.

“I love you, Mikhail,” I whisper, my breath warm against his skin as I pull away.

Mikhail closes his eyes briefly, as if capturing the moment in his memory. When he opens them again, they’re filled with a mix of love and something akin to reverence. “I love you too, Gabriette. More than anything.”

I step back, placing my hand on the doorknob. “Goodnight, Mischa. Thank you for tonight and… for respecting my boundaries.”

“Goodnight, Malyshka,” he replies, his voice low and filled with unspoken promises. “Sleep well.”

“Let me know when you get home safely,” I add, and see the ghost of a smile on his lips as he nods.

I watch him for a moment as he returns to the car and he turns around, feeling his gaze on me, heavy with unspoken words and emotions. Part of me yearns to run back to him, to forget the pain and uncertainty, to lose myself in his embrace. But I know we need this time apart, to heal, to grow.

Closing the door of the safe house behind me, I feel a newfound sense of empowerment, a feeling of control over my own life that has been absent for too long.

Chapter 18

Mikhail

She said she loved me.

Despite everything I did, she still said she loved me. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this, but fuck me if I don’t feel blessed.

As I sit alone in my penthouse, the silence around me feels suffocating, a stark contrast to the flurry of emotions raging within me. It’s been a day since I spent time with Gabriette and a few days since I went to Vegas to see my father, so I am tense as hell.

The phone rings, cutting through the quiet, and I see it’s him. I brace myself, knowing that when Kazimir Baranov calls, it’s never without reason.

“Mischa,” he begins, his voice carrying that familiar tone of gravity. “We’ve got some news.”

I leaned forward, my interest piqued. “What is it, Pappa?”

“Dasha’s family,” he starts, and I feel a knot forming in my stomach. “She had an older brother. He was kidnapped and held for ransom before her parents were assassinated and the boy was never found.”

My mind reels at the information, pieces of a puzzle I didn’t even know existed beginning to fall into place.

“An older brother?” I repeat, my voice barely above a whisper. “Why the hell are we only hearing about this now?”

“It was buried deep, kept quiet. Kaius is working on it, trying to get more information, a name. But that’s all we have for now.” There’s a pause, and I can almost picture him rubbing his chin in thought. “This could be a lead, Mischa. Whoever is behind this might be linked to her brother, if he’s still alive.”

I rub my temple, feeling a headache brewing. “Alright. Keep me updated, Pappa,” I say, running a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of this revelation. “Anything else?”

“Your wife’s father,” he adds, and I straighten up. “He was seen in Berlin.”

“Berlin?” I repeat, my mind racing with the implications. “What the hell is he doing there?”

“We don’t know yet. But it’s clear he’s on the move, likely knows we’re looking for him.”

“Fuck,” I curse under my breath, a sense of urgency building within me. “I need to find him, Pappa. He’s the key to all this, the link to Gabriette’s role in this... and possibly to ours.”

“I agree. But be cautious, Mischa. This is more than just a family feud or a vendetta. There are layers here we haven’t uncovered yet.”

I nod, even though he can’t see me. “I’ll be careful. But I can’t sit back while all this is happening. Gabriette... she deserves to know the truth.”