Chapter 126 Chapter 126
Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Six
Dimitri
I sat in the darkness, waiting.
Petrov had said one week. It had been four days.
Three more days until he reached me.
But could I survive that long?
The cold was getting worse. The hunger was unbearable.
They had not fed me since I was thrown in here.
I was slowly dying. I could feel it.
My body was shutting down. Bit by bit.
"Boss!" Petrov's voice came through the wall. "Are you there?"
I tapped weakly. Yes.
"Good!" Petrov said. "I am getting close! Maybe two more days!"
Two days. Could I last two more days?
I tapped again. Trying to sound strong.
"Hang in there!" Petrov encouraged. "We are going to make it!"
I wanted to believe him. I really did.
But I was so weak and tired.
Maybe it would be easier to just give up. Even if he succeeded in digging the hole, I don't have the strength to escape. I would get caught before I make it outside.
I picked up the stone I had dropped days ago and pressed it to my wrist again.
Then I heard gunfire. Distant but unmistakable.
What was happening?
The sounds grew louder and closer.
Someone was attacking the villa?
Hope surged through me. Was it my men? Had they come for me?
I pressed my ear to the wall.
The fighting was intense. It went on for what felt like hours.
Then suddenly, it stopped. Everywhere became silent.
I waited.
Had my men won? Were they coming for me?
I heard footsteps. Coming down the corridor.
Multiple people in heavy boots.
The door to my cell opened. Torchlight flooded in. I shielded my eyes.
"Get him up," a voice ordered.
Alexei?
Guards entered, grabbed my arms and hauled me to my feet.
I could barely stand. My legs gave out.
They held me up and dragged me out of the cell.
"What is happening?" I croaked.
"Your rescue attempt failed," Alexei said. He was standing in the corridor, covered in blood.
My heart sank. "What rescue?"
"Your man Boris," Alexei explained. "He came with twenty men. Demanded to see you."
Boris. He had tried to save me.
"Where is he?" I asked.
"Dead," Alexei replied. "I killed him myself. Along with all his men."
No. Not Boris.
"And it is all because of your dear wife," Alexei continued. "She told them where you were."
Irina. She had tried to help. And now Boris is dead because of it.
"You bastard," I spat.
"Save your strength," Alexei said. "You are going to need it."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I am moving up your execution," Alexei announced. "Tonight. Right now."
My blood ran cold. "You promised irinat…"
"The deal is off," Alexei interrupted. "She betrayed me. So you die. Simple as that."
"No," I said. "Please. Give me more time."
"Time for what?" Alexei asked. "To plan another escape? To have more people die trying to save you? No. This ends tonight."
He nodded to the guards. "Bring him to the courtyard."
They dragged me up the stairs, through the corridors.
To the courtyard where I had watched Sergei die. Where Mikhail's legs had been broken.
Now it was my turn.
Guards lined the walls, watching.
In the center of the courtyard was a post with chains.
They chained me to it. My arms were above my head.
I hung there. Barely able to support my own weight.
Alexei walked to stand in front of me.
"Any last words?" He asked coldly.
I looked at him. My brother.
"I forgive you," I said quietly.
Alexei blinked. "What?"
"I forgive you," I repeated. "For everything. For all of this."
"I do not want your forgiveness," Alexei said angrily.
"Too bad," I replied. "You have it anyway."
Alexei's face twisted with rage. "You think you are better than me? Even now? Chained and about to die?"
"I am not better than you," I said. "I am just tired of hating you."
"Well, you will not have to hate me much longer," Alexei said. He pulled out a gun and aimed it at my head.
"Goodbye, brother," he said.
I closed my eyes. Irina and Nikolai's face flashed across my eyes.
At least I would see them in my dreams.
"Wait!" A voice shouted.
I opened my eyes.
Irina was running into the courtyard. Guards were trying to hold her back.
"Stop!" She screamed. "Please! Do not kill him!"
"Take her away," Alexei ordered.
"No!" Irina fought against the guards. "Dimitri!"
Our eyes met across the courtyard.
"I love you," I mouthed to her.
"I love you too!" She screamed, sobbing.
"Enough!" Alexei roared. He turned back to me and raised the gun.
His finger tightened on the trigger. Then the wall exploded.
Stone and debris flew everywhere.
Everyone hit the ground, covering their heads.
When the dust cleared, there was a massive hole in the courtyard wall.
And through that hole, armed men poured in.
But they were not Alexei's men.
They were wearing different uniforms. It was dark and more professional.
At the front was a man I recognized.
Mikhail?
He was in a wheelchair. His legs were in casts. But he was alive.
And beside him was another man I thought I would never see again.
My cousin. Viktor.
He had been living in America for years. Managing our operations there.
"Dimitri!" Viktor shouted. His voice was cold as steel. "Where are you?"
"Here!" I called weakly.
Viktor's eyes found me.
His face darkened with rage when he saw my state.
"Kill anyone who resists!" He ordered his men. "But take Alexei alive!"
Gunfire erupted. Alexei's guards tried to fight back.
But they were outnumbered and outgunned.
Viktor's men were more dangerous than Alexei’s men. They moved with speed.
Within minutes, the courtyard was secured.
Alexei was on his knees with his hands behind his head, surrounded by guns.
Viktor ran to me and started unlocking the chains.
"I am sorry it took so long," he said. "Mikhail contacted me two weeks ago. Told me what happened. I came as fast as I could."
The chains fell away. I collapsed.
Viktor caught me. "Easy. I have got you."
"Irina," I gasped. "Where is Irina?"
"I am here!" Her voice called.
She ran to me and threw her arms around me.
"You are alive," she sobbed. "You are alive."
"Thanks to you," I said. I held her as tight as my weak body would allow. "You saved me."
"I almost got you killed," Irina said.
"But you did not," I replied. "You fought for me. Even when I had given up."
Mikhail wheeled over. "We need to move. Now. Before Alexei's reinforcements arrive."
"What a
bout him?" Viktor asked, gesturing to Alexei.
"Bring him," Mikhail ordered. "We are taking him with us.
"
"No!" Alexei shouted. "You cannot do this!"
"Watch us," Mikhail said coldly.
Viktor's men grabbed Alexei and bound his hands.
"Where is Nikolai?" I asked Irina.
"With Lucia," Irina said. "In the nursery."
"Let’s get him first," I said.
Viktor helped me stand. Irina supported me on the other side.
We made our way inside. Up to the nursery.
Lucia was there, holding Nikolai, looking terrified.
"Mrs. Irina!" She gasped. "What is happening?"
"We are leaving," Irina said firmly. "Give me my son."
Lucia handed Nikolai over without hesitation.
Irina held him close. "We are going home, baby. We are finally going home."
Nikolai looked at her. Then smiled.
He remembered her.
Despite everything, he still knew his mother.
"Let us move!" Mikhail called. "Now!"
We hurried back down.
Vehicles were waiting. Black SUVs.
"Get in!" Viktor ordered.
Irina and I climbed into one vehicle with Nikolai. Mikhail and Viktor took another.
Alexei was thrown into a third vehicle, bound and surrounded by guards.
The convoy started moving. Out through the destroyed wall. Away from the villa.
"It is over," Irina whispered. "We are free."
"Not yet." I replied.
"Huh?" Irina asked.
I looked at her and smiled.
"Watch me,"