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DECLAN

“ I ’m sorry, Charlotte. Say that again.” My voice is gravel, low and laced with disbelief.

No. I must’ve misheard.

Because the words she just said… they don’t make sense.

“The only way to ensure Isabella’s safety is to offer me over to Vlad. A swap.”

She says it calm and casual, like she’s ordering coffee.

“I know how that man’s sick brain works. He’ll want to punish me. He won’t be able to turn that down.”

My blood turns to fire. The room tilts. Charlotte, my Charlotte, offering herself to the monster that shattered her.

“No.” The word claws out of me like a beast.

Mikhail shifts, scratching his jaw through his mask. Silent. Watching. But all I see is her.

My fists clench so tight I feel bone grind. My chest is a pressure cooker.

“Not fucking happening.” The finality in my tone doesn’t even make her blink.

“Declan, it’s an option,” Enzo says, and I turn on him like I could kill.

“You think I’d risk her?” I growl.

“This isn’t about me,” Charlotte cuts in, firm. “It’s about Isabella. My life for hers? That’s an easy deal. No one else gets hurt.”

She won’t even meet my gaze. Good. Because if she saw the hellstorm in my eyes, she’d know I’m two seconds from burning the world down.

“You think she thrives without a mother?”

That lands. She jerks, spine straightening like I slapped her. “Don’t you dare.”

Venom drips from her voice.

“Hold up.” Finn cuts through the tension, casual like it’s just strategy, not the fucking air I breathe we’re gambling with. “We offer a deal. Doesn’t mean we actually follow through.”

My gaze snaps to him. “A setup?”

Mikhail nods once. “We have locations. Resources. People. Between Moscow, Vegas, New York…”

My mind races. She’s not going back to that man. Not on my watch.

And if this goes sideways, I know her. She’ll sacrifice herself without hesitation.

“I’m not risking Charlotte.”

She’s already pushing back her chair. That spark in her eyes of pure rage, the kind of fight that both infuriates and seduces me.

“I’m not staying here.”

“You think I can’t make you?” I speak it low. Deadly.

She stiffens.

“You wouldn’t dare.” Her voice shakes, but not from fear. From fury.

I stand, towering over her, every inch of me ready to dominate.

“Oh, I fucking would.”

Her breath catches. And just like that, she’s seconds away from throwing a punch or tearing my clothes off. Probably both.

“Enough eye-fucking,” Conan snaps.

We pull apart. Barely. I’m still burning.

“I’ll call Drago. We plan this right.”

“Who’s at the complex?” Enzo asks.

“Vlad, Emil, and Emil’s son,” Charlotte replies. Her tone is all business.

“And Tatiana?” Enzo questions.

She shakes her head.

“No. I’m kept away from her. She lives in her own compound somewhere hidden.”

Enzo hums, deep in thought.

“Too risky.” Enzo shakes his head. “Two innocent kids. And the off chance of hurting Tatiana? That’s a suicide pact.”

He looks at Charlotte. “We fake the deal. A clean swap. Then we intercept. Can you do it?”

I want to rip his tongue out for asking. But she says yes. Of course she does.

My heart cracks, the sound of it loud in my own head. Finn nudges my shoulder. “Let’s get Drago in. Hang tight, brother.”

“Your daughter must come first. Listen to Charlotte. You can’t cage a mother’s spirit. We need her,” Mikhail says coolly. Before I can reply, he’s already on the phone and walking towards the door.

I know that. Doesn’t mean I’ll accept it.

What eats me alive isn’t just the plan. It’s how quickly she was willing to walk away from us.

To leave. Like I’m just a chapter she’s ready to close.

“Finn. Conan. Take her home.”

The door opens and Mikhail steps back in, phone on speaker.

“He needs proof of life.”

Charlotte steps up, brushing right past me, and takes the phone.

“Voitelnitsa.”

A pause.

“Are you okay?” Drago’s voice is deep.

“Yes. This was my idea. We need to talk.”

“How’s she?”

That cracks Charlotte’s calm. “Keeping you on your toes?”

He chuckles.

Her breath hitches. My heart clenches.

“She doesn’t know me,” I whisper to Finn.

“You okay?”

“No.”

“You trust her?”

I nod.

“I don’t want to lose her, Finn. I can’t.”

“You won’t.”

His voice is convincing. His hand grips my arm.

“We’ve got this. Like always.”

“Tell her mommy loves her. I’ll see her soon.”

Her voice breaks. I move, pulling her into me, arms locked around her waist like I’ll never let go.

“I will. I tell her every night,” Drago replies softly.

Charlotte’s still holding the phone. “Is this really it?”

“It is,” Drago answers. “You understand the danger?”

I grip her tighter. I like this guy. He gives a damn.

“Yes. But I’ve spent ten years planning my escape. This was always the endgame. Only now, I’m not alone.”

Drago sighs. “I’ll do what I can on this end. I’ll keep Tatiana out of this. She doesn’t need to know.”

Enzo steps in. “Good. Keep it that way.”

“No debts. Let me speak to Mikhail.”

“Thank you,” Charlotte whispers.

“I’ll see you soon, Voitelnitsa. Remember your training.”

Plan’s in motion. But she doesn’t realize— it’s my turn now.

I’m not letting her fight this alone. The others file out, and Charlotte spins in my arms.

“Didn’t realize you had such a death wish, heartbreaker. Should’ve said so sooner.”

Her eyes flicker with pain. I hate myself for saying that.

“I’ve trained for this. I know how to kill. You don’t get to make me weak just because you love me. I will save our daughter. With or without you.”

She tips her chin up, daring me to fight her on it.

“Oh, really?” I grab her cheeks.

“You want another punch to the dick?” she teases.

“No, but you can get down on your knees and suck it,” I murmur, voice dropping an octave as I unbuckle my belt.

She drops. Instantly.

And fuck me, she’s never been more perfect. A killer. A queen. And still all mine.

“You were made for me,” I growl. “And I’ll punish you for your recklessness later.”

She doesn’t flinch. She thrives under it.

And that? That’s why we’ll win. There is no other outcome to this.

We haven’t gone through hell, not to get a taste of heaven.

I step past her, heading for the door.

“What—where are you going?” She stands, breathless.

I smirk. “We’re going home.”

It’s time she realizes… she’s not fighting this war alone anymore.