Page 134 of Konstantin

KONSTANTIN

Tessa’s off this morning,quieter than usual. The silence between us stretches thick, heavy, like a blanket smothering the room. She’s been off since last night—lying in bed, barely speaking, her eyes distant, as if her mind is somewhere far away.

I didn’t press, thinking maybe she just needed some space, but this morning is different. It’s as if she’s here physically, but emotionally, she’s miles away, and it’s driving me crazy. I hate seeing her like this.

Even as I try to focus on my work, my gaze keeps drifting to her office. Whatever’s going on with her, it gnaws at me.

Getting up from my desk, I walk over to her office, the door already cracked. She doesn’t hear me come in until I’m standing right in front of her.

“How’s the progress on those files?”

She jumps, startled, and the smile she gives me is both forced andhollow.

“It’s coming,” she says, her attention flickering away for just a second. “Almost done.”

I can tell it’s a lie. I can see it on her face, in the way she avoids looking at me.

Closing the door behind me, I lower onto the chair next to her desk and take her hand in mine, forcing her to look at me.

“What’s wrong, malyshka?” I ask gently, like I’m coaxing the truth out of her. “Anything I can do?”

Her shoulders tense, and she swallows thickly, like she’s fighting something back. “What do you mean?”

My head shakes with disappointment. “Don’t lie to me, Tessa.”

She sighs, her chest rising and falling as she exhales. Her fingers twitch, and she releases a sigh. I can feel her hesitate, as if she’s considering whether to let me in on whatever is haunting her.

“It’s that dream. The one I told you about.” She meets my eyes, and I’m still unsure if she’s telling me the truth. “I had it again last night, and…it was worse than usual.”

My hand squeezes hers. I can see how much it’s affecting her, how deeply it cuts.

“When do you see your therapist again?” I ask, hoping that the process of talking it through will help ease some of this tension.

She glances at the clock on the wall. “In three hours.”

“Good.” I lean forward, cupping her cheek gently. “Youwillremember, Tessa. And youwillbe okay, because I’m here now.”

Her eyes flutter, and for a moment, she leans into me, her proximity making every muscle in my body tighten. She loses herself in the comfort of my words, in my touch, and it stirs something deep within me, makes me feel more powerful than I’ve ever known.

Then, without warning, she throws her arms around me, and I pull her close, as if I can keep the world at bay just by holding her.

Her warmth sinks into me, grounding me in a way I’ve neverfelt before. I breathe her in, feeling the way her body presses against mine, the way she melts into me.

I’ve never allowed myself to feel like this. Never let anyone get this close. This deep. I’ve always believed in love as long as it was for everyone else, not me. But holding her now, it’s undeniable.

I don’t just care for her. It’s something deeper, something real. Something worth fighting for.

I know giving myself to her this way could destroy everything I’ve built, but I won’t let it get that far. I’ll protect her, be the man she needs me to be. And when the time is right, I’ll tell her what she truly means to me.

Because for the first time in my life, I’m not afraid to want someone. Not afraid to admit that in ways I never imagined, she’s everything I never knew I needed.

EMILIA

The waiting room is quiet, but the silence is heavy and oppressive. The soft hum of the bright lights above fills the space, and the steady ticking of the clock on the wall only makes me more anxious. I sit on the edge of the chair, bouncing my foot, reliving what Riley told me over and over again.

Maybe she was wrong. That’s possible, right?

But she’s never been wrong before, not when it comes to intel. Though I still refuse to believe it could be true, that Gerardo would hurt Nate or me this way. It makes no sense.