Page 154 of Koroleva

The only positive aspect was that it happened in Marbella, and we had that territory more than bought, in addition to having Segarra, the homicide cop who played on Romeo’s team.

I even thought about changing the flight and leaving early, but my husband stopped me, saying that everything was in motion.

It took several hours of calls to steer the situation.

We barely ate. Andrey called me from the airport to tell me they were about to board and to keep calm. Sarka took the phone, and I tried to calm her tantrum. She said she was no

longer sure if going to St. Petersburg was a good idea, that she would be alone there and that something similar could happen again.

I wanted to reassure her and explained that, given the circumstances, she would be better off there than here, that she would have bodyguards and that Andrey could teach her self-defense, not to worry because it was best that she stayed with Olga.

In the end, she hung up half-convinced, and my head began to ache.

I needed a paracetamol. I feared for the safety of my mother and Irisha. I was about to call them, but ultimately decided it was better not to worry them. If I spoke with my mother, she would raise hell about my sister's trip to St. Petersburg, which would only serve to tighten the tension.

Better I wait until Sarka arrived and tell her more calmly when she was safe at her best friend's house. Maybe that way she wouldn’t stress so much.

I would convince her that it had been the best option, that she would be safer there, with the bodyguards and the fear our last name inspired in the city.

A Koroleva was not to be trifled with. Everyone knew what they were up against.

In Spain, it was different, if they needed to see the wolf's ears, I was ready to make a whole collection of bones with which to carve my new furniture.

Maybe Cheng would go after my family, as revenge, or maybe for what Romeo did to the dealers who were playing both sides. If that vile Chinese woman was behind my sister's kidnapping attempt, she could consider herself dead.

"So much tension is taking its toll on you," my husband

remarked, coming up behind me to massage my temples.

"I don't know if it was a good idea to come here. We get distracted for a few days and look at the mess it causes. Maybe it would have been better to stay in Marbella."

"It would have happened anyway."

"Do you believe that things happen for a reason and we can't avoid them?"

"Something like that," he murmured, pressing the tips of his fingers against my skull. It felt good, even though I was in a foul mood.

We were on the hotel terrace, sitting at one of the outdoor tables with a couple of empty coffee cups. I used the last sip to swallow the pill.

I looked toward the horizon, the exact point where the sea merged with the sky, drawing a line that gave rise to tales of monsters and the end of the Earth.

"Believing in chance, luck, or fate isn't really my thing. However, I acknowledge that sometimes life surprises you."

"Like with this amazing husband." The corners of my lips tried to rise.

"Like when an enemy takes the liberty of trying to mess with my family. I'm someone who prefers to anticipate setbacks and prevent them from happening."

"That's why you almost never disconnect, or let yourself go."

"With you, I'm letting myself go too much. Do you see the Koroleva from a few weeks ago riding a donkey?" He chuckled. "My choice would clearly have been the cable car."

"And why did you get on?"

"Because part of me likes challenges. And because, for once, I wanted to feel like one of those vacationers who ride donkeys."

"You wanted to feel like someone normal?" I shrugged.

"I guess. I don’t complain about having responsibilities, I like them, I love who I am, what I've become..."