45
Petrik
The tension was unbearable. Lia sat next to me in the car, staring out the window, her jaw tight. The message from Diana had shaken her, but she wouldn’t admit it. I could see it in the way her fingers gripped the edge of her seat, her body stiff with unease. I hated that Diana was still inside her head—inside both of our heads.
“She’s taunting us,” Lia said finally, breaking the silence. “She knows we went to Elena. She wants us to feel like we’re already losing.”
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, my eyes fixed on the road ahead. “She’s playing her usual game, trying to get under our skin. But this time, it won’t work.”
Lia turned to me, her expression doubtful. “How can you be so sure? She’s been ahead of us at every turn.”
“Because we have something she doesn’t,” I said firmly. “We know what’s at stake for her now. She’s desperate to keep control, and desperation makes people sloppy.”
“Sloppy?” Lia let out a bitter laugh. “She just sent her men to ransack our house, Petrik. That doesn’t feel sloppy to me.”
“She’s overreaching,” I countered. “That kind of move is risky. It means she’s running out of options.”
Lia didn’t respond, but I could tell she wasn’t convinced. I didn’t blame her. Diana had a way of making everyone feel powerless, like pawns in her grand game. But I’d spent years studying her, learning how she operated. And I knew one thing for certain: she wasn’t invincible.
We pulled into the driveway of the safe house Nikolai had arranged for us, a small, unassuming cabin tucked away in the woods. It was far from the city, far from prying eyes. For now, it would have to do.
Nikolai was already inside when we arrived, his laptop open on the dining table. He looked up as we entered, his expression grim.
“Well?” he asked. “Did Markov agree to help?”
“She’s considering it,” Lia said, her voice weary. “But she made it clear she won’t stick her neck out unless she’s sure we can deliver.”
Nikolai snorted. “Typical Markov. She’ll wait until the last possible second to pick a side, and even then, it’ll be the one that benefits her most.”
“She’s our best shot,” I said, sitting across from him. “If we can get her on board, we might have a chance at turning some of Diana’s allies against her.”
“And if she doesn’t?” Nikolai asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Then we find another way,” I said, my tone sharp. “We don’t have a choice.”
Nikolai sighed, leaning back in his chair. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Petrik. Diana doesn’t lose gracefully.”
“She’s not going to have a choice,” I said, my voice low. “We’re going to take everything from her.”
Lia gave me a sharp look, her eyes narrowing. “Everything?”
I met her gaze, my jaw tightening. “You don’t win a war by playing nice, Lia. Diana didn’t build her empire by following the rules, and we’re not going to bring her down by pretending we’re better than her.”
For a moment, she didn’t say anything. Then she shook her head, standing abruptly. “I’m going to get some air.”
I watched her walk out the door, the sound of it closing echoing through the cabin. Nikolai raised an eyebrow, but I ignored him, my mind racing.
Lia didn’t understand. She wanted to believe we could win this without becoming like Diana, but she didn’t see the bigger picture. Diana had to be destroyed, completely and utterly. There was no other way.
The next morning, we received a message from Elena. It was brief, to the point, and exactly what I’d hoped for.
"I’m in. But I’ll need something in return."
“What does she mean by ‘something’?” Lia asked, frowning at the screen.
“She’s hedging her bets,” Nikolai said, leaning over her shoulder. “She wants assurances that she’s not wasting her time.”
“Then we give her what she wants,” I said, my tone firm. “Whatever it takes to get her on our side.”
Lia gave me a wary look. “And what if what she wants is more than we can afford to give?”
“We’ll deal with that when the time comes,” I said, already typing out a response. “Right now, we need her. She’s our best shot at getting the rest of Diana’s allies to turn.”
Lia didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed as she watched me send the message.
“What’s the plan?” Nikolai asked.
“We meet with Elena,” I said. “Get her on board, and then start working on the others. Diana’s power lies in her network. If we can dismantle it, she won’t have anything left to hold over us.”
“And how do we convince her allies to turn?” Lia asked.
“By showing them that Diana isn’t invincible,” I said. “And that aligning with her isn’t worth the risk.”
“And if they still choose her?” Lia pressed.
“Then they’re collateral damage,” I said coldly. “This isn’t a negotiation, Lia. It’s a war.”
Her expression darkened, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she stood, walking to the window and staring out at the woods beyond. I knew she hated the idea of collateral damage, but this wasn’t a fight we could win without sacrifices.
Nikolai cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “I’ll start compiling a list of Diana’s known associates. If we’re doing this, we need to hit fast and hard.”
I nodded, grateful for his pragmatism. “Good. Let me know as soon as you have something.”
As Nikolai got to work, I turned my attention back to Lia. She was still at the window, her arms wrapped around herself as if trying to hold something in.
“Lia,” I said softly, walking over to her. “Talk to me.”
She didn’t look at me, her gaze fixed on the trees. “I don’t want to lose who we are, Petrik. I don’t want this war to turn us into something we’re not.”
I placed a hand on her shoulder, turning her to face me. “We’re not like her, Lia. And we never will be. But we have to fight. If we don’t, she wins. And I’m not going to let that happen.”
Her eyes searched mine, and after a long moment, she nodded. “Okay. But promise me something.”
“Anything,” I said.
“Promise me we won’t lose ourselves in the process,” she said, her voice trembling. “Promise me we’ll still be us when this is over.”
I cupped her face in my hands, my voice firm. “I promise.”
But as I held her gaze, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was a promise I could keep.