The trap was set. Now, all they had to do was wait for Logan to take the bait.Odette sat in front of the mirror in Katya’s penthouse, her fingers running through the soft waves of her hair. She barely recognized herself—not because of the way she looked, but because of the woman staring back at her.She wasn’t the same person who had walked into Anton’s world blind.She had seen betrayal, blood, and power plays.And she had survived them all.Now, it was time to do more than survive. It was time to win.The faint click of heels approached behind her. In the reflection, Katya appeared, draping a sleek, fur-lined coat over Odette’s shoulders.“You look like someone ready to break a man,” Katya mused, a smirk tugging at her lips.Odette exhaled, steadying her nerves. “That’s the goal, isn’t it?”Katya’s smirk widened. “Oh, I do love this version of you.”Annika strolled in, tossing a phone onto the vanity table. “It’s done. The leak’s out.”Odette picked up the phone and scanned the scr
Odette sat on the edge of Katya’s velvet couch, staring at the burner phone Logan had given her. The room was silent except for the faint hum of Moscow’s nightlife beyond the frosted windows.Katya leaned against the bar, arms crossed, watching her with amused curiosity. Annika sat on the opposite couch, chewing on a licorice stick like this wasn’t one of the most dangerous moments of Odette’s life.“He actually believed you?” Annika asked, voice thick with disbelief.Odette exhaled, running her fingers over the smooth, black phone. “He wants to believe me.”Katya smirked. “That’s even better.”Annika’s brows furrowed. “What if he’s testing you? What if this is some kind of double trap?”Odette had thought about that.Logan was smart. He knew how to manipulate, how to play the long game. But so did she.If he wanted to test her? She’d pass.If he wanted her to prove herself? She’d give him a damn show.Odette met Annika’s gaze. “Then I’ll play along until I don’t need to anymore.”Kat
CHAPTER 94 Odette’s fingers curled around the paper, her pulse roaring in her ears. This was a trap. Not just for her, but for Anton. If she did this—if she followed through—she wouldn’t just be proving herself. She’d be crossing a line she could never uncross. She forced her face to stay blank. “Why this target?” Viktor smirked. “Because Logan needs to know you’re serious.” Odette swallowed hard. This wasn’t just about playing a role anymore. This was about becoming someone else entirely. She could feel Viktor watching her, waiting for hesitation. Waiting for weakness. She wouldn’t give him any. Odette folded the paper neatly and tucked it into her coat. Then she met Viktor’s gaze, voice calm and unwavering. “Consider it done.” Viktor grinned. “I knew I liked you.” Odette forced a smirk. “You have good taste.” She stood, smoothing down her coat. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a job to do.” Viktor chuckled. “We’ll be watching.” Odette didn’t doubt it. She turne
The cold air stung Odette’s face as she stepped out of the black SUV, her boots crunching against the icy pavement. The warehouse loomed ahead, a skeletal structure of rusted steel and broken glass. This was where everything was supposed to come full circle.Where she would finally destroy Logan.Her heartbeat was steady. Controlled.There was no room for doubt.She adjusted her gloves, glancing at Annika beside her. “Everything set?”Annika nodded. “Viktor swapped out the body an hour ago. The fake kill scene is perfect.”Katya smirked. “And more importantly, Logan’s men are already sniffing around.”Odette exhaled slowly. This was it.No more waiting. No more hiding.Tonight, she was going to end Logan for good.Inside the warehouse, the lights flickered weakly, casting long shadows over the concrete floor. A lifeless body lay sprawled across the ground, blood pooling beneath it.Odette crouched beside it, pretending to inspect her work. The “corpse” was breathing shallowly—alive, b
The night air was thick with tension.Odette’s breath curled in the cold as she walked down the quiet Moscow street, her gloved fingers tightening around her coat. Something felt wrong.It wasn’t just paranoia—it was an instinct, a feeling in her gut that something was about to happen.Then her phone vibrated.She pulled it out, frowning at the unknown number.Hesitating for only a second, she answered. “Hello?”A voice came through, rushed, panicked. “You need to get to Anton’s estate. Now.”Odette’s pulse spiked. “Who is this?”No answer.Just two chilling statements before the line went dead.“The Sokolovs are already inside.” “I’ll send you the address”. The world tilted.Odette didn’t hesitate, even though she hasn’t spoken with Anton ever since she left New York. She’s still involved in this deadly game. She ran.By the time she arrived at the location, chaos had already unfolded.Anton’s estate loomed in the distance, its gates forced open, black smoke curling into the sky.
The shot rang out before Odette could react.For a split second, the world froze.Then, fire erupted in her side, white-hot and searing, knocking the breath from her lungs. Her vision blurred as her knees buckled, the marble floor rushing up to meet her.A strangled shout tore through the chaos.Strong arms caught her before she hit the ground, cradling her against a solid chest. The familiar scent of cedarwood and clean linen surrounded her, grounding her in the storm.Anton.“No, no, no—Odette—stay with me,” his voice was rough, raw with panic. His hands pressed against her wound, the warmth of her blood spilling through his fingers.She tried to speak, to warn him—there’s someone else, someone feeding them information—but the words wouldn’t come.The pain was unbearable, sharp and unrelenting, but fear clawed at her chest for an entirely different reason.Anton was still exposed.The sniper could still take another shot.A second gunshot rang out.Anton moved swiftly, shielding her
Odette watched as Anton walked toward the door, his posture rigid, movements precise. He wasn’t hesitating. He wasn’t second-guessing.Because he already knew.Her stomach twisted.Anton had always been a step ahead—calculating, methodical, ruthless when necessary. But this wasn’t just about outmaneuvering an enemy.This was about betrayal.And if Anton had known about the traitor before she even got shot, why hadn’t he done anything?Unless…Unless he had allowed it.A chill ran down her spine.She pushed herself up on the bed, wincing as pain seared through her side. Anton glanced over his shoulder at the sound, his silver-gray eyes narrowing.“You shouldn’t be moving.”Odette ignored him. “Who’s at the door?”He didn’t answer.Instead, he unlocked it with a smooth twist of his wrist.The door swung open.And Damien walked in.Damien.Anton’s right hand. His closest ally.If Anton trusted anyone, it was him.Which meant…Odette’s breath caught in her throat.Anton hadn’t known about
Gunfire rattled the basement walls.Odette’s heart slammed against her ribs as she pressed herself against the concrete pillar, trying to make sense of the chaos.Anton stood in the center of the room, gun raised, scanning the darkness. The flash of muzzle fire illuminated the sharp tension in his jaw, the calculated rage simmering beneath his silver-gray eyes.Rafael was gone.And that meant everything had just gotten worse.Damien was already moving, barking orders into his earpiece. “Lock down the exits. Nobody leaves this property unless it’s in a body bag.”Odette swallowed, the lingering pain in her side forgotten.Anton exhaled slowly, tilting his head as if listening beyond the chaos. Then, with chilling certainty, he muttered, “They were never here to take Rafael.”Odette’s blood ran cold.Anton turned to her. “They were here to take you.”For a split second, the world stopped.Odette’s breath hitched. “What?”Anton didn’t answer. He was already moving, grabbing her wrist and
Anton had spent months proving himself.Months of waiting.Of constantly showing up.Of continually choosing her, over and over again.And Odette had spent those same months resisting.Not because she didn’t love him.But because loving him had never been the problem.Trusting him was and she is so scared of giving out her heart again. But trust—real trust—wasn’t won overnight.It was built, brick by brick, moment by moment.And Anton?Anton had laid the foundation, patiently and relentlessly.Until finally—Odette let herself believe it.Believe him.Believe everything he has been trying to prove. And for the first time since this all began—she let herself want him again, this time with no doubts. Really, truly, want him.Not as a ghost from her past.Not as a memory she tried to bury.But as a man who had fought for her.And won.A man whom she has given her heart to. The first time they went out in public together, the world noticed.Odette hadn’t wanted a spectacle, but she di
Odette had spent months convincing herself she could live without Anton.That she was better off without him.That she had moved on.But every time she saw him, every time he showed up and didn’t push, every time he just… waited—Her resolve cracked.And tonight, it finally broke.It had been a long day.Her body ached, exhaustion pressing against her limbs like a weight she couldn’t shake.She had spent the afternoon organizing the nursery—folding tiny clothes, arranging baby books, trying to ignore the growing sense of anticipation and fear inside her.She wasn’t ready.Not for motherhood.Not for Anton.Not for any of it.But time didn’t care if she was ready.Time kept moving, pulling her forward whether she liked it or not.And now, as she stepped out of the building, the cool night air brushing against her skin, she felt so unbearably lost.Then she saw him.Anton stood near the curb, his presence as steady as ever.He didn’t say anything.Didn’t move toward her.He just waited.
Odette was tired.Not physically—her body had adjusted to the pregnancy, the nausea had faded, and for the first time in weeks, she felt stable.No, this exhaustion ran deeper.It was the kind that weighed in her chest every time she saw him.Every time Anton appeared—silent, steady, unshaken—standing just close enough to remind her that he was still there.That he wasn’t leaving.Not this time.And she hated it.Hated that he made it so damn hard to push him away.Hated that he was doing everything right.And most of all—she hated that it was working.It started with small things.Little gestures that she didn’t notice at first.Or rather—refused to notice.Anton always kept his distance.But when she went to the grocery store, he was there—pretending to be occupied by something else.When she went to the doctor, he never followed her inside.But every time she stepped out of the clinic, she felt his presence.Like he was watching, waiting.Like he was protecting her.Like he was sti
Odette stared at Anton, her heart hammering violently in her chest.I’m leaving it all behind.The words still echoed in her mind, pressing against the walls of her carefully built defenses.He was saying everything she had once wanted to hear.Everything she had once prayed for.But now?Now, it felt like too little, too late.Anton watched her, waiting.Giving her space.Giving her a choice.Odette inhaled sharply, forcing herself to steady.And then—She turned away.Her voice was quiet but firm.“You can’t just say things like that and expect me to believe you.”A muscle in Anton’s jaw tightened. “I’m not expecting you to believe me.”She looked back at him, eyes narrowing. “Then what are you expecting?”He held her gaze. “To prove it to you.”Odette clenched her fists.She hated that he was calm.She hated that he knew she wouldn’t walk away—not yet.Because she had questions.Because she still wanted answers.Because—**despite everything—**she still wanted him.And that was what
Anton hadn’t spoken to Annika in weeks.Not because he didn’t trust her—but because he knew what she would say.He had been watching Odette.Keeping his distance.Waiting for the moment she would come to him.But she never did.And when Annika finally reached out, her voice was sharp with frustration.“You’re an idiot.”Anton pinched the bridge of his nose. “Annika—”“No. Listen to me,” she snapped. “I’ve kept my mouth shut long enough.”Anton exhaled slowly. “I don’t have time for this.”“You don’t have time?” Annika let out a bitter laugh. “You’ve had months. And you’re wasting all of them.”Anton didn’t respond.Because he already knew where this conversation was going.He could feel it.The shift.The weight of something inevitable.And then—Annika spoke the words that shattered him.“She’s pregnant.”Silence.The kind that suffocates.The kind that crushes.Anton’s grip tightened around the phone.His breath was slow. Controlled.But inside—inside, everything was collapsing.“Say
Odette had felt it the moment she stepped outside her apartment.The weight of eyes on her.A presence lingering just out of reach.At first, she had convinced herself it was paranoia. A trick of her mind.But as the days passed, it became harder to ignore.Anton was watching her.She felt it in the way certain shadows lingered longer than they should.In the subtle hum of something just beneath the surface.In the way her instincts—so finely tuned from months of survival—refused to let her dismiss it.And yet… he never approached her.Never confronted her.He just… watched.As if waiting for something.As if waiting for her.She first noticed it at the bookstore.A small, quiet shop tucked between a bakery and a florist. She had been running errands, determined to settle into her new normal.She was reaching for a book when a shift in the air made her glance toward the entrance.Anton stood outside, across the street.His hands were in his coat pockets, his sharp gaze unreadable.He
Odette’s breath caught in her throat.Anton stood across the café, his broad frame unmistakable even from a distance. He was mid-conversation with someone, but the second their eyes met, the world tilted.She knew this feeling.The sharp pull in her chest, the way the air seemed to thin around her, the sudden weight of everything unsaid pressing down on her shoulders.Anton’s expression was unreadable.But his storm-gray eyes—they saw her.Not just physically.He saw her.For a moment, neither of them moved.Odette’s fingers tightened around the strap of her purse. Every rational thought screamed at her to walk away.She could do it.She could turn around, push open the door, and pretend this never happened.But her legs wouldn’t move.Not yet.Anton’s posture shifted, his weight moving slightly forward.A hesitation.A decision.Then, before she could react, he started toward her.Odette’s pulse spiked.Her heart slammed against her ribs, and suddenly, she wasn’t ready.Not for this.
Odette ran her fingers along the edge of the ultrasound photo, tracing the faint outline of the tiny life growing inside her.It had been a week since the scare.A week since she heard the heartbeat.A week since she had finally stopped lying to herself.She was going to be a mother.And for the first time since she found out, she let herself feel it.It was terrifying.But it was also… undeniable.She wasn’t sure when the fear started turning into something else—something quieter, something warmer.But it had.And that was enough.At least for now.She pressed the ultrasound photo between the pages of her notebook, closing it carefully before pushing it aside.Amerie walked in just as she finished, holding two cups of coffee. “Alright, I caved and smuggled this in. If they catch us, we were framed.”Odette snorted, taking the cup with a grateful nod.Amerie settled into the chair beside her. “How are you feeling?”Odette exhaled, wrapping her fingers around the cup. “Better.”It wasn
Odette wasn’t sure when she started holding her breath.Maybe it was when the dizziness hit, sharp and sudden, making the walls of her hospital room blur.Maybe it was when she pressed a hand to her stomach, her heartbeat thundering beneath her palm.Or maybe it was when the pain started—not unbearable, but deep and sharp enough to make her panic.She sucked in a slow breath, forcing herself to stay still.This was nothing.It had to be nothing.She was fine.She repeated the thought over and over, but her body didn’t believe it.The pressure in her lower abdomen twisted, sending another dull ache through her.Odette clenched the sheets, her pulse hammering.No.Not this.Her fingers shook as she reached for her phone, nearly dropping it before managing to press Amerie’s contact.It barely rang before her best friend answered.“What’s wrong?”Odette tried to swallow the lump in her throat. “I—” She broke off, inhaling shakily. “I need you to come.”Amerie’s voice immediately sharpened