Chapter 58

AVALINE

“Part of this deal is that we’ll both be under your protection until our annulment. And I’ll take her with me when I leave Saint Petersburg.” I couldn’t stop my mouth. I just needed to get that out of the way so I could breathe.

Czar’s expression hardened for a fraction of a second. But that brief moment was enough to raise the hairs on my body.

He only gave a nod. But my heart felt at ease. I don’t need long promises; I know he’d always keep his word.

Countless times now, Pascal has managed to disappear from Czar’s grasp. Was he really a coward who can’t face fights like what the La Archante claims? Or maybe he’s more competent than they anticipated.

I don’t think Pascal cares much about how people see him. In fact, his own survival is his priority.

My eyes narrowed. What if that was his tactic? He’s purposefully making Czar chase him down more. The La Archante is constantly going into fights just to get to Pascal Monteval. Czar’s people are dwindling while Pascal remains safe wherever he’s hiding.

The way to defeat Pascal Monteval isn’t through bloodshed but by mirroring his actions. We should lure him in the same way he is luring Czar.

Czar stopped the car but didn’t turn off the engine. I hesitated whether to get out of the car since he was still in his seat. Is he going to think? Does he want to be alone? Or does he have somewhere else to go?

“Aren’t you getting out?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I’m going to find the bastard. I can’t let him slip away again.” His jaw tightened. He is a proud man; he won’t sit around giving commands to his soldiers and wait for Monteval to return. He wants to do everything himself.

I sighed and nodded. What else could I say? Stop him? We’re not really married, after all. I’m certain my input doesn’t carry much weight here.

“Just... be careful, Czar,” I swallowed hard. “I know you can handle anything, but you’ll be surprised how much being blinded by aggression can affect your mission immensely.”

I slipped my soft fingers between his rough ones, feeling a little braver today because I'm so aware of everything I could lose. In times of war, anything could be my last.

And maybe he's thinking the same thing because he squeezed and held my hand tighter, as if our clasped hands could never be close enough.

His large hands enveloped my small ones, and being wrapped in his warmth and roughness felt like a shield from the arrows that the world constantly aims at us.

I shuddered when his hand unconsciously caressed my wedding ring, as if it were a trophy he loved to touch and admire from time to time. My eyes went to his wedding ring and emotions stirred within me.

"I'll keep you safe. You don't have to worry about Pascal. I'll find him, I promise. He will never corner you like that again."

When my palms became sweaty from how long he held me, I slipped my hand away.

"They're waiting for you," was my excuse.

I kissed his cheek and caught his eyes darkening as if he was about to forego everything and drag me back and have his way with me. I got out of the car like I wasn't flustered by my boldness.

For a moment, his car stayed in its place even though I was already out. Even with the car window between us, I could feel him looking at me from inside. Just feeling the weight of his gaze without seeing him heightened my pulse rate.

When he left, I immediately went inside the mansion with a plan already in place.

Devika was already there when I entered the mansion. Czar must have called her before we got home. Alaric was with them, so no one else would be watching over me.

"Where are the Levesque brothers keeping Sibley Esquilin?"

Devika's expression hardened, as if she was bothered by the thought of me being near her. The Levesque brothers' protectiveness must have rubbed off on her as well.

I rolled my eyes. "What do you think she's going to do to me? Eat me alive? I just want to talk to her."

"And then?" tension increased in her voice. "And why do you want to talk to her?"

Because she might just be my bridge to Pascal Monteval.

"This is for La Archante's cause," I said simply. "She has more access to Pascal Monteval than we do. She's under our protection now, so she should work with us."

Devika gripped my wrist. "And what does Sir Czar think about this?"

This time, I was done being intimidated by how Devika is more capable than me. I gripped her back and smiled.

"We'll just lower our chances of winning this war if you keep listening to my husband, don't you think? We need to expand our options. If he's not willing to listen to reason, then I'll just do it myself."

I didn't consult Czar about this plan but I had no doubt he would oppose it too. Czar, by his very nature, will not accept a strategy that did not come straight from him. And what kind of capo wife would I be if I don't keep him on his toes occasionally? It keeps the romance alive.

My smirk widened until I was chuckling. I could see Devika's hesitation. She played with her dagger in hand while contemplating.

I almost scowled. We are not in a soap opera where the villain is too nice and waits for the protagonist to be ready before attacking. Every wasted second on our end is a gain for the other side.

"Do you want us all wiped out or will we act?" my voice thundered. I'm not particularly fond of any of them except my husband, but these are important people to him. So I don't want anyone to suffer any further. If there's something I can do, I'll do it.

"You won't do anything to her," she rushed out. "Anything that threatens her, I mean."

I raised an eyebrow. "I need her help. Do you think I'm going to hurt her?"

"Just making it clear," she said. "She might retaliate against you if you do anything to her. So... don’t provoke her."

Her cheeks flushed slightly. My brows furrowed as I bit my lip to stifle my amusement. I'm confused and want to laugh at the same time. What is this... development?

I nodded. "I have no such plans. As much as possible, I want her cooperation, so provoking her is not on my list of options."

Devika and I left our phones behind. It's a risky move because we wouldn't have backup in case something went wrong, but Czar would immediately figure out my plan if he tracked our location.

We arrived at one of La Archante's hotels.

From what I know, Alaric was the one who insisted on keeping Sibley.

"Alaric has better taste," I commented.

Devika leaned closer and spoke in a lower voice. "Better taste?"

I did the same since we were avoiding attention from the staff. Everyone here would automatically report back to Czar.

"When Czar kidnapped me, he jailed me in a plain room. I didn’t owe anything to La Archante at that time. Sibley, on the other hand, tried to kill Czar and me, and she gets to stay at a hotel? Czar is fucking tasteless."

In order to experience being treated like a celebrity, I have to try to kill Czar. Noted.

Initially, Devika was stunned into silence and puzzled about how to react. But later on, she let out a hesitant chuckle until it became genuine.

My mouth twitched.

Inside the elevator, it was just the two of us, but we still kept our heads down, avoiding the CCTV. The only sounds I could hear were the elevator ascending and the pulse pounding in my ears. It was only a few floors, but this was the longest elevator ride I ever experienced.

The leather jacket I was wearing made me feel like an action star on a mission even though I really didn’t know what would happen next. In my head, I'm fantasizing that this will be the huge breakthrough.

Devika swiped the card to Sibley's hotel room. Maybe it was all my training with Czar that made distrust second nature. I hadn’t even fully opened the door when I was ready to dodge.

And indeed, a lamp was thrown my way. I caught it immediately. A woman who I thought was Sibley charged at me because this couldn't possibly be anyone else. I caught the lamp and kicked her leg to throw her off balance. As I got close to her bed, she quickly followed me. I rolled back onto the bed before she could catch up and corner me. I stood up on the other side.

She landed a punch to my face and a kick to my stomach. I stumbled back. I pushed against the wall behind me with my foot to regain balance and advanced once more. She threw a right uppercut which I blocked then threw a left. She swept our arms under and swiped a dagger across my face but I managed to duck. I held both her wrists in one hand and twisted them. I kicked sideways straight into her stomach and she landed on the bed.