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Ollie speaks almost mechanically. “We’re going to scan now. For now, everyone stays right in this room. No one goes anywhere alone.”
“For how long?” Polina asks.
“As long as it takes,” Ollie snaps.
“Relax, Ollie. I know the woman you love is here with us. We all know that. Guess who else knows that?”
He pinches his lips together and doesn’t reply.
When Polina turns away from him, tears are shining in her eyes. Ekaterina wraps an arm around her, whispering something in her ear that sounds like Russian, but I can see the fear in her eyestoo. It isn’t just me anymore—it’s all of us, making sure none of us become collateral damage in the twisted game between Carlos and the Romanovs.
A sudden crash outside the room makes me jump, but it’s just Aleks returning from his sweep of the house. I have to remind myself to breathe.
“I don’t see anything. I checked every room. There’s no sign of forced entry and no sign of anybody here but us. If he’s here, he’s damn good at hiding.”
“That’s because he’s not here,” Viktor adds, his tone frustrated. “There’s no indication that anyone is in this house. He said that just to scare us.”
Ollie doesn’t look relieved, as if he doesn’t even believe them. His expression remains hard and unreadable. “I’m not convinced. I’m not taking any chances. We stay locked down until I’m certain,” Ollie commands, his voice a low growl. He won’t’ be satisfied until he’s torn apart every inch of this house, hunting for shadows.
“What will you do?” Polina asks.
“I’ve already checked and told you there’s no evidence of anybody else in this house. He must be in The Cove. We know this.”
“Get in touch with Toschi,” Ollie says.
Who is that?
Will it always feel like I only see half of what’s going on around me?
“I did,” Ollie says. “He’s in The Cove, but he hasn’t revealed his location to anyone.”
“Fine, then. Everyone stays here. We will find him.”
“It’s like finding a needle in a haystack,” Aleks says, obviously frustrated. “Can’t you see that?”
“What would you have me do?” Ollie explodes. “You know he’s after Renata.”
His brothers leave when they realize no one can talk sense to him.
Hours pass, each one feeling more interminable than the last. Polina and Ekaterina try to lighten the mood with small talk, but even they eventually fall silent. It seems pointless to force conversation when we're all here, tense, wondering what the next moment will bring.
Finally, Ollie gives in. "There's no evidence he’s here," he says with palpable reluctance. "But I'm not taking any chances."
"Shocker," I mutter under my breath, making Polina smile, though it fades quickly as Ollie's eyes snap to mine. Even now, with all the uncertainty swirling around us—about who I am, who he is—there's a dangerous edge to his gaze that sends a shiver down my spine.
Oh, Ollie.
"Why don't you and Renata go back up to the guest-room," Ekaterina suggests gently. "I promise that Polina and I will stay right here in the house until you give us further instructions."
His jaw clenches, teeth grinding. I can only pity anyone foolish enough to confront him now. He's wound so tight he’s like a spring just about to break.
“Fine." He exhales sharply. "Aleks?—"
"I'm constantly monitoring biometric feedback in the house,” Aleks interjects, his tone clinical. "All of you need rest, food, and water."
Ollie hesitates, then reaches for my hand. I pretend not to see it, stepping ahead of him instead. I don't want to be petty, but I don't want to touch him right now.
I haven’t come to terms with the fact that I love him—all of him. The darkness, the brutality, the cold, calculating killer. But how do you reconcile love with fear?
