I’m done waiting for Thorne to make the next move.

If he comes at us again, he’ll find our walls fortified and our men ready to take him out.

This estate is my responsibility, and I refuse to let anyone slip through a second time.

Leon’s betrayal still burns, but I won’t let it poison our entire operation.

We’ve purged the weak links and tightened every aspect of our security, yet there’s a restless energy simmering around every corner.

I start my morning in the newly reorganized security office, where three of our men hunch over monitors that display live camera feeds. I approach the console as I inspect each screen for signs of suspicious activity.

“Any anomalies overnight?” I ask in a clipped tone and set my coffee mug on a side table.

One guard, a tall man named Mikhail, rifles through a report. “None. We cycled through the new patrol schedule, and the rotations went off without issue. A handful of workers arrived early to restock the kitchen, but they were cleared at the gate.”

“Good. I’ll be doing an inspection of the perimeter myself this afternoon. Until then, stay alert. Thorne has resources we can’t underestimate.”

Mikhail nods and returns his focus to the monitors. I stand there for a minute longer, verifying that each feed covers the estate’s vulnerable angles. Everything looks in order, so I pivot and exit into the hallway to see if the new protocols are being followed as diligently as the reports claim.

As I walk, I pass through corridors where guards stand at intervals.

Each one offers a greeting, but I keep my responses brief.

A few cast curious glances my way—no doubt they’ve heard the rumors swirling about an impending wedding.

Gossip spreads quickly in a place like this, and I can almost sense the questions they long to ask.

I’m not in the mood to satisfy their curiosity.

I’m still working through my own doubts about that plan, even though I know it’s the best choice to keep Cecily safe.

I round a corner and stop near the east wing, where the attack nearly succeeded, thanks to Leon’s tip-off.

Fresh bullet holes have been repaired, and new locks installed on the doors.

The sight of the patchwork paint triggers a reminder of how close we came to losing everything that night.

If Thorne had succeeded, Cecily would be gone, and who knows if we’d ever find her again.

The very notion stirs anger in my chest—an anger I direct into ensuring such a breach never happens again.

One of my men, Makar, stands watch near a narrow window that overlooks the courtyard. He straightens when I approach and offers a quick salute. “All quiet so far,” he says.

“Keep it that way,” I reply as I place a hand on the window ledge. “When’s your next rotation?”

“In two hours.” He flips through a clipboard. “I hand over to Vadim at midday. Then I move to the outer gate for the afternoon shift.”

“Have the revised schedules been difficult to memorize?”

He shrugs. “A bit of confusion at first, but everyone understands the stakes. We don’t want a repeat of Leon.”

“Good.” After a final glance around, I continue down the hallway. Each time I see a guard in position, abiding by the new instructions, a thread of tension eases from my shoulders. It’s still early, but the day holds a sense of purpose: we’re tightening the net around Thorne.

Eventually, I reach a smaller parlor that serves as a meeting room for private discussions. Nikolai stands just inside, flipping through a stack of documents. He looks up when I enter, then waves a piece of paper.

“This is a summary of last night’s patrol logs,” he explains. “No signs of infiltration, no suspicious vehicles reported. We’re solid.”

I accept the summary and skim it. “Good. Maksim and Aleksei here yet?”

He jerks a thumb toward the next room. “They’re waiting. Akim, too.”

I set the paper aside and head in that direction.

The next room is cozy, with a circular table in the center.

Maksim leans against a wall, looking bored.

Akim stands near a bookshelf, reading pages in a reference guide about security systems. Aleksei sits at the table, scanning notes with a studious air that marks him as the eldest—and nominal leader—of our family.

“Dimitri,” Aleksei greets me, motioning for me to join them. “Let’s get started.”

I move to the table and pull out a chair. “Are we missing anyone?”

“Grigor sends his regrets,” Aleksei responds. “He’s busy handling some personal matters regarding Seraphina’s safehouse. He’ll check in later.”

Grigor is as involved as the rest of us, though he’s stationed elsewhere with Seraphina. “Understood. Let’s review the status.”

Aleksei stacks a set of folders neatly. “First, perimeter security. The additional cameras and sensors are all operational, correct?”

Maksim responds, “Yes. I took a full tour of the grounds late last night. The men posted at the gates cycled through the new schedule without trouble.”

Akim closes the reference book. “Internal security is also stable. After we weeded out anyone whose loyalty was in question, morale improved. Nobody wants to end up like Leon.”

Silence hangs for a moment. We all recall the sight of Leon’s final moments. The betrayal stung, but we handled it decisively. That’s how the Barkovs operate.

Aleksei glances at me. “What about Cecily? How is she handling the increased guard presence?”

“She’s…frustrated. I’ve told her the guard placements aren’t optional, but she resents it.”

Maksim snorts. “Of course she does. She hates feeling caged.”

I press my palms flat against the table. “She’ll have to endure it. Thorne’s not finished with us. One misstep, and she’s gone.”

Nikolai steps in from the adjoining room and hands Aleksei a folded sheet of paper. “Just got an update from our watchers outside the city. No unusual activity. Thorne’s been quiet since his last move.”

Aleksei reads it quickly and responds, “Quiet usually means planning. We can’t relax.”

Thorne’s silence is indeed suspicious. His attempts haven’t stopped, they’ve only gone underground. “We need to keep pressing on potential leads. Have we interrogated every informant who might know Thorne’s next step?”

“Working on it,” Maksim confirms. “We found two men who might have sold him weapons. We’ll question them tonight, see if they can point us in the right direction.”

Aleksei closes his folder. “Good. Now, for the main point of this meeting: how to prevent future attempts. We can’t just play defense forever.”

My pulse spikes with the knowledge of what he’s implying. The entire reason we’re all here is to finalize the steps we’ve been discussing for days. I exchange a look with Maksim, who raises a brow.

“I’ll be frank,” Aleksei continues, “we all know the most direct method to protect Cecily. If she’s no longer a Thorne, but a Barkov, Thorne loses his primary advantage. He can’t abduct his own daughter if she’s part of our family, not without declaring open war, and he isn’t equipped for that.”

Akim places the reference book on the table. “We’ve debated the pros and cons, but it keeps coming back to the same conclusion. She becomes a Barkov.”

Maksim glances my way. “We leave it to Dimitri to confirm.”

I swallow the bile that works its way up my throat. We’ve danced around this topic before, but it’s time to commit. “If we do this, we do it soon. I don’t want to give Thorne a chance to suspect we’re planning anything. Once Cecily is publicly ours, he’ll think twice before trying another stunt.”

Aleksei nods. “Agreed. How do you plan to handle it with her?”

“I haven’t told her yet. I’ll approach her once we have everything prepared. She’ll fight, obviously. But it’s not truly up for debate.”

Maksim rubs his chin. “She might run. You know that.”

“I’ll make sure she can’t. We have enough men to watch every exit. If she’s foolish enough to attempt an escape, I’ll track her down myself.”

“Try to be diplomatic,” Aleksei suggests. “We need her safe and cooperative, or at least not actively sabotaging our efforts.”

I nod, though I can’t deny a subtle feeling of guilt. Cecily will resent me more than ever, but I can’t see another path. My priority is her safety, not her feelings. “I’ll handle it gently, but we can’t delay. Every day we wait is another day Thorne can strike.”

Akim checks his phone. “Grigor just sent a quick update. Seraphina remains secure, and no sign of Thorne’s men near her location. Seems like Thorne still has all his focus on Cecily.”

“Then we need to move,” I conclude. “Today, I’ll finalize the marriage arrangement. Tomorrow, I’ll talk to her. If we do it right, we’ll cut Thorne’s plans off at the knees.”

Aleksei stands and gathers his papers. “I’ll have the legal side prepared. We’ll keep it discreet. We don’t need Thorne catching wind until it’s too late.”

“She’s not going to be thrilled,” Maksim comments.

I lift my shoulders in the most careless shrug I can muster. She doesn’t have to be. She just has to be alive.”

Nikolai steps aside, letting Aleksei pass. “We’ll be behind you, no matter how this plays out.”

I give a curt nod. “Appreciate it.”

With that, the meeting concludes. My brothers disperse, each heading off to fulfill their roles. I remain in the room a moment longer, trying to calm the endless thoughts in my head. The plan is set. I’ve steeled myself for the backlash, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

When I leave, I walk directly to my office, keen on tying up the last details.

The corridor is filled with quiet activity—guards patrolling, staff moving carefully, people trying not to draw attention.

I step inside my office and shut the door.

A stack of documents waits on my desk, some concerning family business, others referencing the marriage arrangement.

The edges of the papers feel ominous, a tangible reminder that I’m about to change both Cecily’s life and my own.

I drop into my chair and begin rifling through the pages.

Aleksei wants everything ironclad, including an official statement that Cecily marries into the Barkov name to ensure Thorne loses any legal or moral claim.

The Bratva’s traditions can be brutal, but they’re clear-cut: once she’s one of us, Thorne’s only recourse is war.

And we stand prepared for that. We’re not a scattered outfit that he can pick apart.

We’re a united force with deeper roots than Thorne ever had.

Tomorrow, I’ll deliver the decision to Cecily. She’ll likely explode with anger and might throw something at me, but eventually, she’ll realize it’s non-negotiable. Cecily becomes a Barkov, and his leverage disappears instantly.