Today is the day Cecily sees her sister.

This single trip demands more caution than half the missions I’ve led.

We’re traveling light, no bulletproof convoy or gaudy show of power.

We need minimal fanfare so Thorne’s men won’t notice Cecily leaving the estate and follow us to Seraphina, thereby putting them both at risk.

“We’ve mapped the route,” Aleksei explains. “I hope you’re ready to dodge any watchers who might be lurking.”

“I’m ready,” I answer as I nod toward the row of vehicles. Two SUVs, a driver and guard in each, plus me and Cecily. “We keep it small. That’s the entire point.”

He isn’t convinced. “Your plan is workable, but if Thorne intercepts…”

“I won’t let that happen. Our men are posted along the route, discreet but prepared. If someone tries to follow, we’ll know.”

“Grigor wants his protocols upheld. Seraphina’s safety is a priority for him, and we can’t compromise it.”

“I’m fully aware. This visit is about bridging a gap, not exposing them.”

“Fine. I’ll keep an eye on everything from here. Signal me if there’s an emergency.”

Without another word, Cecily climbs into the rear seat of the lead SUV. I follow and take the spot next to her. Our driver, a young man I trust, glances in the rearview mirror. I give him a nod, and we pull out with the second SUV behind us.

The estate gates open on command to let us slip onto a quiet road. Cecily stares out the window, clearly anxious, judging by her posture.

I clear my throat and tell her, “As promised, we’ll keep a low profile. No big convoys or flags that scream Barkov.”

She gives the barest tilt of her head. “I appreciate that. I don’t want Seraphina’s safehouse to become a target.”

A part of me wants to reassure her further, but I leave it at that.

There’s no way to guarantee anything in this world.

We ride in silence for several minutes, heading west. Occasionally, the driver updates me about a turn or cross street.

I keep an eye on the mirror, watching for suspicious vehicles. So far, no sign of anything unusual.

Eventually, we approach a quiet residential area. It looks ordinary: small houses with gardens and winding lanes that never see heavy traffic. This anonymity is exactly why Grigor chose it for Seraphina. Maksim’s SUV follows us closely, turning whenever we do.

We pull up to a familiar single-story house with a modest porch. Grigor’s guards keep watch. Their presence is subtle—a man cleaning up branches on the side, another leaning by a shed. If you didn’t know better, you’d think it was a casual suburban scene.

Cecily leans forward in her seat. “This is it?”

“Yes. Seraphina’s inside.”

The SUV stops, and I jump out first to inspect our surroundings.

The second SUV pulls in behind us. Maksim steps out, taps his phone, then signals that everything is clear.

I help Cecily out of the vehicle and guide her toward the gate.

She pulls her arm free but doesn’t snap at me.

We’re both on edge but for different reasons.

We enter the yard. One of Grigor’s men comes up to tell us, “They’re waiting inside.”

“Thanks.” I glance at Cecily, who purses her lips as she eyes the house. It must be surreal seeing her sister’s location guarded by men with guns who aren’t employed by her father.

We reach the front door, which opens to reveal Grigor himself. “Dimitri,” he greets, then turns his attention to Cecily. “Your sister’s in the living room.”

He steps aside, and Cecily barely acknowledges him before rushing past. I follow just in time to catch Seraphina appearing from a side room. Her eyes brighten the instant she sees Cecily. “You made it,” she breathes, moving closer with open arms.

They come together in a tight embrace. Cecily trembles as she buries her face in Seraphina’s shoulder.

Seraphina holds her, and her eyes shut as tears slip free.

This right here is why I insisted on bringing Cecily despite my brothers’ objections.

She’s endured months of isolation, and seeing her sister’s relief hits me harder than I thought it would.

“Thank you for keeping your word,” Grigor remarks. “She asked about Cecily daily.”

I offer a nod, ignoring the prickle of guilt that I once treated this reunion like a piece of strategy. “How is Seraphina holding up?”

“She’s anxious but safer here than anywhere else. Thorne hasn’t found us yet, so that’s something, I guess.”

Maksim steps inside behind us, instinctively eyeing the corners for threats. “Have you heard anything about Thorne’s movements?”

“Nothing concrete,” Grigor replies. “He’s still slippery.”

I chew on the inside of my cheek, resisting the urge to bark out a plan.

This visit is about Cecily and Seraphina.

We can’t overshadow it with more talk of war.

Instead, I watch Cecily pull back, and my heart stutters at the tears staining her cheeks.

Seraphina dabs them away, managing a small smile.

“How are you?” Seraphina asks. “I worried Father would never stop chasing you.”

Cecily nods. “He tried. Dimitri’s men intervened. It’s…” She falters and glances my way, then refocuses on her sister. “Complicated. But I’m safe.”

Seraphina’s eyes slide to me. “Thank you. I know your marriage with my sister is…unconventional. But if it keeps her out of Father’s clutches, I’m grateful.”

“Unconventional is one word for it,” Cecily mumbles as she wipes her face. She tries for a wry grin but can’t hold it.

My heart wrenches at the sorrow behind those hazel eyes.

She’s been furious for weeks, yet beneath that is an immense capacity for devotion.

Seraphina has told us stories about when they were younger, how Cecily took every blow Thorne aimed her way whenever she could just so Seraphina could avoid it.

And now she’s in a forced marriage to me just so she can spend time with her sister.

My father used to tell me to avoid attachments that could compromise my judgment.

I can’t help wondering if I’m already lost, seeing how fiercely Cecily loves.

Seraphina guides her toward the couch, and they sit side by side. Maksim and Grigor confer near the entry, discussing security rotations. Their voices fade into the background. I remain standing, trying not to intrude on the sisters’ conversation.

“Are you comfortable in the Barkov estate?” Seraphina asks, brushing stray hairs from Cecily’s face.

Cecily shrugs. “As comfortable as one can be with locked gates and armed guards. Dimitri tries not to make it feel like a cell.”

Upon hearing my name, my hearing instinctively swivels in their direction. I sense her looking up. She’s unsure how to define my role in all this. We’ve fought, we’ve clashed, and we’ve made love. The whole situation is baffling, even for someone like me who has seen it all.

Seraphina sighs. “This entire situation is twisted. I never thought we’d become so entangled with the Barkovs.”

Grigor walks over to rest a hand on Seraphina’s shoulder. “Well, I for one, wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Neither would I,” Seraphina confesses before fixing her sister with a stern look. “Still, I promise you, I’m done letting him control my life.”

They exchange a determined look. I swallow the lump in my throat, realizing how deeply Thorne’s manipulations affect them both. Then, Cecily reaches for Seraphina’s hands and whispers, “If anything changes, if you need me, send word. I’ll overcome whatever obstacles stand in my way.”

My respect for her grows unbidden. Despite her situation, she’s hellbent on comforting her sister.

Cecily is resilient and unstoppable when it comes to protecting her sister.

Everything about the look on her face promises pure loyalty.

That quiet sincerity stirs something inside me, something that has been dormant for a long time.

It makes me want to protect her even more.

Time slips away as they talk, flipping between cautious happiness and not-so-happy memories.

Seraphina hangs on every word Cecily shares about the estate, Redwood Point, and how close we came to disaster.

Of course, she leaves out what happened between us when I returned home from that fiasco, but my mind replays those moments in vivid detail.

I can still feel her, still taste her, still remember how good it felt to hold her.

That moment in bed was like nothing else.

I’ve been with a lot of women, but nothing compared to the rush of being with her.

The way she responded, the way her body molded to mine…

it was like we were made for each other.

But it was also a moment of weakness. Cecily was vulnerable, and I let myself get carried away. What she needs is a friend, not someone who takes advantage.

I can’t let it happen again.

Eventually, Grigor checks the clock on the wall. “We can’t risk a long visit,” he murmurs. “The more time you spend outside your estate, the greater the chance of discovery.”

Cecily frowns, but she nods. “I understand.”

She and Seraphina exchange another tight hug. I step toward the door to signal Maksim, letting him know it’s time. Seraphina turns my way once more, this time with gratitude plain on her face. “Keep her safe, Dimitri.”

“Always.”

We exit the safehouse under the watchful eyes of Grigor’s men. The yard is clear and the surrounding streets are quiet. Our vehicles wait with their engines idling. Cecily hesitates on the porch for a moment, glancing back at the house. I sense her desire to stay, but she follows me down the steps.

Maksim helps us into the SUVs, then nods at our drivers to begin the trip back. This time, Cecily’s silence feels charged with reflection rather than anger. She stares out the window, occasionally blinking as if holding back emotions.

I rest my forearm on the seat in front of me and ask, “Everything go the way you wanted?”

“Yes. Thank you for making it happen. I know it wasn’t easy.”

“I try to keep my word.”

She nods before returning to the view outside.

We continue traveling the side roads, taking an indirect route to avoid any watchers.

Halfway back, Maksim radios that we have a minor detour due to a stalled vehicle on one of the streets.

Our driver adjusts and slips through a residential block.

I’m on edge, expecting trouble, but we see nothing.

We arrive at the estate without incident, passing through the gates that seal behind us. The moment we park, Cecily steps out then disappears into the corridor leading to her suite.

“Well, that was a success,” Maksim comments.

“Because we kept it minimal.”

He exhales in a thoughtful way. “Let’s catch up in your office.”

I follow him as my mind replays Cecily’s face at the safehouse.

That mix of relief and love for her sister.

I never doubted her devotion to Seraphina, but seeing it in person changed something in me.

It was as if I could feel the strength of their bond.

It stirred feelings deep inside, ones I thought had been beaten and burned out of me long ago.

We reach my office, and I close the door. Maksim sits across from me. “I have a few security updates. We’re monitoring suspicious chatter, but nothing urgent. Our men are rotating with Aleksei’s, so we stay covered.”

“Fine.” I lean back. “Anything else?”

“Yeah, one more thing. It’s about Cecily.”

“What about her?”

“I don’t think I need to say this, but… You know who raised her, Dimitri. Thorne is cunning. Teaching his daughter deception would be second nature.”

I bristle. “You still think she’s plotting against us? Even after—”

“Not necessarily,” he interrupts me with a raised hand. “But you need to remember she was brought up in a nest of manipulations. Just because she’s sharing your bed and acting grateful doesn’t mean we can drop our guard.”

“I’ve seen how she cares for her sister. That’s real, not an act.”

He shrugs. “Maybe. But blood ties are powerful. And Thorne has ways to coerce even the most unwilling participants.”

My hands curl into fists, but I manage to keep my voice level. No good will come from losing my temper with my brother, who is only looking out for me. “I don’t believe Cecily’s involved in that. She despises him.”

“I’m just cautioning you. Don’t forget we’ve been betrayed before. If she’s working for Thorne, we won’t see it until it’s too late.”

“She isn’t,” I say it with such conviction that it surprises even me, but my brother just shakes his head.

“Suit yourself. But if you’re wrong, the Barkov name takes the hit. Keep your eyes open.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

He strides out, and I sit in my chair, drumming my fingers on the desk.

My line of sight falls on a ledger detailing shipments, a notepad full of the next week’s obligations, and the phone that could ring any second with fresh trouble.

None of it holds my focus. Instead, my thoughts spiral around Cecily.

I recall the real emotion on her face when she hugged Seraphina and the quiet gratitude in her voice when she thanked me.

That didn’t look like a woman planning betrayal.

Yet the doubt planted by Maksim lodges in my mind, refusing to budge.

Thorne is devious, there’s no denying that.

Could he have manipulated Cecily into playing the perfect role?

This forced marriage is forging something unexpected. Part of me wants to shield her from every threat, to earn her trust despite how we started. Another part fights to remain detached. Maksim’s warning echoes. If I let my guard down, the entire Barkov empire might pay the price.

I can’t dismiss the threat that Thorne poses. Every day he searches for weaknesses in our armor. If he finds one, he’ll exploit it. If Cecily is that weak link…

I don’t know. I hate doubting her. But what if it’s true?

For the first time, I wonder if the only way to protect my family is to push her away.

The idea sits in my gut like a stone, heavy and immovable.

There’s only one problem: I can’t bring myself to do it.