Page 68 of Tainted Empire
“...can’t believe they got so close,” Gabriette continues, her tone edged with frustration. “But there’s something in Berlin we’re not seeing, I can fucking feel it.”
I sense the worry and urgency in her words, the unspoken fear that our enemies are closer and more dangerous than we ever imagined.
There’s a strength and confidence in her tone that I’ve never heard before. She’s commandeering things, making arrangements with an authority that’s both surprising and impressive.
As I listen, a smile finds its way to my face. “Always knew she was a queen,” I murmur, my voice still weak but filled with pride and affection.
Their heads snap towards me, relief washing over their faces. Gabriette rushes to my bedside, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Mikhail, you’re awake!”
Sitting up slightly, a wave of dizziness hits me, but I push through it. “What’s going on?” I ask, my voice stronger now.
I look around the room and take in the shocked faces. My father steps back, quietly excusing himself to call the doctor.
She gently pushes me back down, taking my hand. “Easy, Mischa...”
As Gabriette sits beside me, her hand finds mine, offering a comfort that’s more powerful than any medicine. I focus on her, taking in the determination etched on her face, the subtle signs of exhaustion she can’t quite hide. She’s been a pillar of strength, but even the strongest pillars can crack under too much weight.
“So, tell me everything,” I prompt, my voice still rough but insistent.
She takes a deep breath, her gaze meeting mine. “After you were hospitalized, I... I stepped in. Kazimir has been a great help, but there’s been a lot to handle.”
As Gabriette recounts the events of the past days, I listen intently, each word painting a clearer picture of the challenges she faced in my absence. Her voice is calm, but the tension in her eyes speaks volumes.
“They left a box in our living room,” she begins, her voice steady but laced with a hint of anger. “Inside were... the heads of my parents. It was a message, Mikhail. A brutal, sick message.”
The news hits me like a punch in the gut. “Christ...” I mutter, feeling a mixture of rage and sorrow. “I was never a fan of the fucker, but that must have been hard for you, baby.”
She nods, swallowing deeply. “We’ve been trying to figure out who’s behind this. Kazimir has been helping, and your men are looking into it. But it’s more than just an attack on us – it’s a challenge to your power.”
I clench my fists, the helplessness of lying here while Gabriette faces our enemies alone gnawing at me. “What about the security footage? Anything there?”
“Someone tampered with it,” she explains. “There’s a gap in the footage. Whoever did this knew exactly how to bypass our system.”
I curse under my breath, frustrated by the cunning of our adversaries. “And the drug deal, the one Vladimir proposed? What’s happening there?”
Gabriette hesitates for a moment. “We haven’t made any moves on that yet. There’s too much happening, and with you out of action...”
“Good,” I cut her off. “That deal smelled fishy from the start. We need to tread carefully.”
She nods, then takes a deep breath. “There’s more, Mikhail. Devon’s adoptive family – they’re based in Berlin. Lee found out. But we don’t know what to do with that information yet.”
Berlin. The pieces of the puzzle are scattered, but they’re slowly forming a picture. “We’ll look into it,” I say, determination firming my voice. “Once I’m back on my feet.”
I look at her, a sense of awe and gratitude filling me. “You’ve been handling all this... by yourself?”
She nods, a determined look in her eyes. “I had to. For you, for us. But you’re awake now, and that’s what matters.”
The doctor enters the room, a clipboard in hand, his expression one of professional focus. He approaches my bed and begins a thorough examination, his movements methodical and practiced. Gabriette watches intently, her concern for me evident in her eyes.
“Well, Mikhail, you’re healing well, all things considered,” he says, glancing over my charts. “But it’s going to be a slow process. Your body has been through a significant trauma.”
I nod, absorbing his words. The reality of my situation is starting to sink in - the recovery will be long and, no doubt, challenging.
“What’s the timeframe we’re looking at?” Gabriette asks, her voice steady but laced with worry.
The doctor gives a slight shrug, a noncommittal gesture. “It’s hard to say for certain. Every patient’s recovery is different. We need to monitor his progress closely and adjust our expectations accordingly.”
He scribbles something on his clipboard, then looks back at me. “The most important thing right now is rest and rehabilitation. You’ve been through a lot, and your body needs time to heal.”