Page 79 of Tainted Empire
Gabriette is back by my side, her voice steady as she speaks to our contacts, ensuring the ambulance will arrive without delay and without attracting unwanted attention.
As we wait for help, I can’t shake the feeling of how close we came to disaster. The struggle with Alexei had been a blur of adrenaline and desperation. Gabriette and I had been doing everything in our power to disarm him, each of us aware that any mistake could be fatal.
But in the end, it was the loyalty and quick thinking of one of our own that saved us.
Viktor’s breathing is growing more labored, and I can see the pain etched on his face. “You’re going to make it, Viktor. Just hang in there.”
He nods slightly, his eyes struggling to stay open. I grip his hand tightly, a silent vow that we won’t let his sacrifice go in vain.
Chapter 41
Gabriette
Watching Mikhail, bloodied and bruised but still commanding, is both terrifying and awe-inspiring. He’s a force of nature, even in his injured state. He directs the ambulance team to our private infirmary with firm authority, ensuring Viktor and I get the care we need.
After ensuring we’re settled, he’s on the phone, his voice a mixture of fury and urgency. He’s calling his father, instructing everyone in Berlin to pull out of the operation. His words are short, clipped, each one laced with the weight of what just happened.
But I can only sit there, getting my own wounds tended to, my mind races back to earlier in the night. Something about Alexei had been nagging at me, a sense of unease I couldn’t shake off. That’s why, when Mikhail went to bed, I found myself sneaking into his office, a need to dig deeper driving me.
In his office, I discovered the true meaning of Alexei’s tattoo - ‘blood for blood’. A symbol of a blood vendetta. It reminded me of the message given to Mikhail on the night of the car chase. That he would know who it was when the time comes.
I just didn’t expect someone I had gotten close to, to be the one who would tear us apart like this.
But before I could process it fully, Alexei caught me. The look in his eyes, the realization that I had uncovered his secret, it was a moment of pure terror. I had planned to inform Mikhail, to warn him, but Alexei was already one step ahead.
Now, as I watch Mikhail take charge, coordinating with his father and our men in Berlin, I can’t help but feel a sense of guilt. If only I had been faster, if only I had realized sooner.
But then there’s also the fact that I trusted Alexei with everything in me. He was there for me when Mikhail was in a coma, he pushed me to be the best I could be, trained me to realize my worth.
I can’t believe he turned out to be the enemy. The fact is like a knife twisting in my heart.
Mikhail comes over to me, his face etched with concern. “When did you realize…” he trails off when he sees the look on my face and a tear slips down my cheek.
I look up at him, my heart heavy. “While we were sparring. He was vague about that tattoo of his and I knew something was off. When I found out his tattoo was the sign of a blood vendetta, everything fit together. Alexei knew our secrets, knew you didn’t trust women and played that.”
He takes my hand, his grip gentle yet firm. “We handle things together, baby. Always together. No more lone missions, okay?”
I nod and he pulls me into his arms. I know I shouldn’t be crying over this, but it fucking hurts to know I was being played for a fool, that I trusted the wrong man.
As Mikhail and I continue talking, we instinctively head back to the living room, the scene of the night’s harrowing events. But as we enter the room, a new shock greets us – Alexei’s body is gone.
“Fuck!” Mikhail exclaims, his voice echoing in the suddenly ominous space. “He’s not here. He’s fucking gone!”
Mikhail immediately starts barking orders, calling his men to search the penthouse and parking lot. “Find him! Search every inch of this place! He couldn’t have gone far!”
I can feel my heart racing, adrenaline surging through my veins. How could this have happened? Alexei wasn’t fatally shot, he must have escaped. The implications are terrifying.
I can see the rage and frustration simmering in Mikhail’s eyes. This betrayal, already deep, has now twisted into a more dangerous game of cat and mouse.
“I’ll get your phone so you can check the surveillance,” I say, already turning to head upstairs.
As I hurry to our bedroom, my mind races. How did Alexei manage to escape? Was he playing dead, waiting for the right moment? The house should have been secure, but now it feels like a breach has occurred right under our noses.
Returning with Mikhail’s phone, I hand it to him, and we quickly pull up the surveillance footage. The camera feeds show the chaotic aftermath of the fight, but then, in one of the frames, we see it – Alexei, using the wall to pull himself up, staggering out of view.
He’s holding his bloodied arm as he gets up, and makes his way to the elevator. No one knew Alexei was a traitor at that point, so it was easy for him to slip away.
“Fuck!” Mikhail curses, slamming his hand against the wall in frustration.