Page 75 of Forced Marriage to the Cruel Bratva Pakhan

The tactical display shows enemy positions across twelve sectors of the city, each red marker representing a Kravin holding we need to neutralize. I’m coordinating the assault from the safe house command center, three screens running simultaneously while I communicate with team leaders through encrypted channels.

“Alpha team, advance on the eastern warehouse. Bravo, hold position until they’ve secured the entrance.” I track movements in real time, adjusting strategies as situations evolve. “Charlie team, you’re clear to breach the secondary location.”

Mikhail’s voice crackles through the comm.“Resistance is heavier than anticipated at the docks. We need air support or we’re pulling back.”

“Negative on air support—too much civilian proximity. Flank from the south access point and use the shipping containers for cover.” I pull up the dock’s blueprint, identifying weak points in Kravin’s defensive position. “There’s a service entrance here that should be unguarded. Send three men through and hit them from behind while the main force maintains frontal pressure.”

“Confirmed. Executing now.”

I monitor the operation with clinical precision, making rapid-fire decisions that will determine whether my people live or die in the next few minutes. This is what I’m good at—strategic thinking under pressure, controlling chaos through disciplined analysis.

Even as I coordinate the assault, part of my attention keeps drifting toward the bedroom where Serena is sleeping.

She was exhausted after last night—emotionally and physically spent from everything we shared. I left her curled up in bed with sunrise barely lighting the sky, her face peaceful in sleep, dark hair spread across the pillow.

The image lingers despite attempts to focus purely on tactical concerns.

“Pavel, you still with us?”Mikhail’s voice cuts through my distraction.

“Affirmative. Status on the dock operation?”

“Flanking maneuver successful. We’ve taken the position with minimal casualties. Moving to secure the shipment records now.”

“Good. Once you have the records, burn the facility and move to the next target.” I check casualty reports coming through from other teams. “How many wounded?”

“Four, none critical. Medical is already en route.”

Four wounded is acceptable in an operation this size. Not ideal, but acceptable.

Except I find myself thinking about how Serena would react to that assessment. Whether she’d question the calculation that makes human injury “acceptable” as long as strategic objectives are met.

Whether her presence in my life is making me softer in ways that could get people killed.

The thought should concern me more than it does.

“Sir, we have movement on the western perimeter.”Viktor’s voice comes through a different channel.“Single vehicle approaching the safe house access road.”

My attention snaps back immediately. “Identify.”

“Running plates now. Vehicle matches description of one reported stolen from Kravin holdings three days ago.”

Ice settles in my chest. “Alert all defensive positions. Do not engage until we confirm hostile intent, but be ready for immediate response.”

I’m already moving toward the bedroom, weapon drawn, tactical instincts overriding everything else. If Kravin has found the safe house location, if they’re making a move against Serena while I’m distracted coordinating city-wide operations—

“Pavel.” Serena’s voice stops me at the doorway. She’s awake, sitting up in bed with the sheet pooled around her waist, her expression alert despite just waking. “What’s wrong?”

“Possible threat approaching the perimeter.” I scan the room quickly, identifying defensible positions and escape routes. “Get dressed, now. Stay away from windows.”

She doesn’t waste time with questions, just scrambles out of bed and starts pulling on clothes with efficient speed. I watch her move. She’s so calm under pressure, focused on necessary actions rather than panicking.

Most people would be falling apart right now. Serena just gets dressed and waits for instructions.

“Sir, vehicle has stopped at outer checkpoint.”Viktor’s update comes through.“Driver is requesting to speak with you. Says he has information about Senator Souris’s coordination with Kravin leadership.”

A trap, it has to be. It’s too convenient, too perfectly timed when we’re already engaged across the city.

If there’s even a chance the information is legitimate—