"Ты осознаешь, что твои действия поставили под угрозу весь союз?"
("Do you realize your actions have risked the entire agreement?")
The man quipped and I frowned catching only one word. Risked. Risked what?
Judas's voice was laced with the same frost. "Пожар был необходим. Это был стратегический ход."
("It wasn't an alliance to begin with. Vlad Morozov is not our ally.")
The man's brows drew together."Стратегический? Ты уничтожил склад, принадлежащий племяннику президента России."
(You destroyed a warehouse belonging to the Russian President's nephew… burning him along.")
Judas tilted his head slightly."Он был замешан в контрабанде оружия. Я устранил угрозу."
(I was aiming for both bastards.)
The man's dark eyes narrowed and I realised this conversation was going south. "Ты ебанулся?"
("Have you lost your fucking mind?")
"Я сделал то, что должен был."
("I did what I had to. No one's touching my family. Not Zayne, not Anya.")
The man barked out a harsh laugh and I flinched. "I could've it handled. Tell me, son, is there something you're hiding I am not aware of?"
English. He used English. And I trembled. Son? Did he just called Judas….
My eyes widended. Oh my god! Now I remembered where I saw him. On the magazine. Alexei Volkov. The Russian entrepreneur. Some say he had ties with mafia.
"Я ничего не скрываю."
("I'm not hiding anything.")
Alexei's dark eyes were like twin daggers as he leaned forward. "Тогда объясни, пчто ты поджег склад, чтобы скрыть свои следы."
("Then explain why you burned the warehouse.")
There was a loud silence until I realised this was messier than anything. I shouldn't be eavesdropping. There were talking about some risks, something burning and what not. What was his father doing here? There was no way they were having a get together. No. This sounded and seemed far more than that.
Judas didn't flinch or lowered his eyes. He was eye-to eye with his father. They seemed to argue over something. And if my guess was correct, that woman was Rara Romanovski.
Rara stepped forward between them. "Please, stop this. Not here."
Alexei looked down at his wife and straightened and suddenly his sharp gaze flicked toward where I stood. My breath froze. Did he see me?
And to my worst luck, he tilted his head. "You can come out, little girl."
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. Shit. Panic clawed at my chest. Judas's head snapped toward me, his eyes narrowing, but Alexei's voice lashed out again. "Now."
My legs moved before I could stop them lowering my head not able to take his heavy gaze.
His eyes bore into me, and I felt exposed, vulnerable before he looked at Judas who looked anything but calm, his fists were clenched, jaw tightened and eyes that screamed aggression. "What's her name?"
Judas stayed silent, his jaw ticked and he opened his mouth and then shut it.
That's when the truth hit me like a punch to the gut. He didn't know my name.
Swallowing hard, I forced the words out, my voice shaking. "Seraphina… sir."
Alexei Volkov looked me up and down, assessing me and then amusement flickered in his dark gaze. "What an interesting place to find you, Seraphina." He eyed Judas and then scoffed. "Tell me, do you always make a habit of hiding, or is this a special occasion?"
My heart pounded and my palms were damp as I struggled to hold his gaze. "I-I didn't mean to eavesdrop, sir," I stammered. "I just-"
"Didn't mean to," Alexei interrupted and I realised where got his dominant personality from. "Didn't meant to and yet… here you are."
I lowered my head, shame heating my cheeks.
"Enough," Judas snapped stepping between me and his father who seemed unbothered. "She doesn't belong in this conversation."
Alexei's eyes flicked to Judas, one brow arching in mock amusement. "Doesn't belong?" he repeated, his tone mocking. "Then perhaps you should enlighten me, synok. Why is she here? Or have you become so careless that strangers now wander into our affairs?"
"She's not a stranger,"
I snapped my head at him not believing my ears.
Alexei tilted his head as his eyes returned to me. "Yet you didn't even know her name."
"Alexei." His mother muttered pulling Alexei back and smiling apologisingly at me.
"I apologise for my husband's rudeness. I'm Rara, Judas's mother."
I managed a shaky smile at Rara avoiding Judas's and his father's gaze. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Romanovski," I said softly already feeling nervous and uncomfortable.
Her smile widened, though her eyes flickered with something unreadable. "Please, call me Rara," she said gently. "And don't mind Alexei; he can be… protective."
"Protective?" Alexei interjected. "Is that what we're calling it now, love?" He glanced at Rara and his eyes softened for a second.
"She's not a threat." Judas grumbled running his hand through his hair.
Alexei's eyes narrowed at Judas. "Careful, synok," he said coldly. "You're walking a very fine line."
Judas didn't flinch in fact his jaw tightened. "I'll handle it,"
Rara stepped forward, her hand lightly resting on Alexei's arm. "Enough, both of you," she said softly, but there was a quiet authority in her tone. "Let's not make this into something it doesn't need to be. We have a guest here."
Alexei held her gaze for a long moment before stepping back, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Fine," he muttered. His eyes flicked to me one last time then at Judas. "In the office. Now."
The tension in the room was palpable as Alexei turned sharply on his heel, striding out without a backward glance. His command hung in the air like a blade ready to fall.
Judas exhaled slowly, his fists clenching at his sides. I chanced a glance at him, his rigid stance radiating suppressed fury.
"Don't let him get to you," Rara said softly, her voice soothing yet firm. She stepped closer to Judas, her hand brushing his arm and he just stared at her. "You know how he is. Just... be careful."
Judas gave her a look over and pried her hand off his arm. His jaw tight, before his gaze flicked to me. His eyes were darker now. "Behave,"
I nodded quickly with my heart still pounding.
As Judas followed his father out, Rara turned her attention back to me, her expression softening. "I'm sorry about all this, dear," she said gently. "Alexei can be... intense, but his heart is in the right place. Most of the time," she added with a faint smile.
I swallowed hard, managing a small nod. "It's okay," I murmured, though I wasn't sure if I believed it myself.
Rara studied me for a moment, her gaze searching but kind. "You must be special for Judas to care so much," she said thoughtfully.
Her words caught me off guard. Special? Judas barely even knew me. Or so I thought.
"I-I don't think-"
"Don't overthink it, darling," she said lightly. "Now, why don't you sit? You look like you could use a moment to breathe."
I nodded, grateful for her kindness, and sank into the nearest chair. My mind was still spinning, but one thing was clear: whatever I had stumbled into was far more dangerous-and far more personal-than I had ever anticipated.