Chapter 7 - The Housekeeper Goes Hunting
Viktor’s men expected frightened servants.
Instead, they got darkness, alarms, sprinklers, and doors opening where walls should have been.
Elena knew every passage.
She moved through the manor like she had built it herself.
Her goal wasn’t to hunt anyone.
It was to reach the security hub.
Without cameras, Cassian’s surviving men were blind.
She reached the east staircase and heard footsteps below.
Two attackers.
She ducked into a linen closet.
They passed.
Elena stepped out after them and fired into the ceiling.
The men turned.
That moment was enough for Cassian’s guards at the other end of the hallway to see them.
Seconds later, the corridor was clear.
One guard stared at her.
“Elena?”
She pointed toward the west wing.
“Three men coming through the gallery. Don’t stand in the doorway.”
“How do you—”
“Move.”
They moved.
Cassian caught up with her near the library.
“You are incredibly difficult to follow.”
“You weren’t supposed to.”
“Get used to disappointment.”
She almost smiled.
Then she saw his shoulder.
Blood.
“You’re hit.”
“Scratched.”
“That’s what stubborn men say before fainting.”
Cassian looked at her.
“That concern I hear?”
“Professional irritation.”
“You’re a housekeeper again?”
“For the next ten seconds.”
She pulled him into the library and wrapped his wound.
Cassian watched her hands.
“You could’ve left months ago.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Elena tied the bandage.
“Maria got sick.”
“That’s why?”
“She didn’t have family.”
“So you stayed in a cartel fortress because an old woman needed help?”
Elena looked at him.
“Not every decision is strategic, Cassian.”
He noticed she had used his first name.
Before he could respond, a nearby monitor flickered alive.
Dante appeared on the screen.
He was bleeding from his forehead.
“Elena.”
Cassian stood.
Dante continued.
“I made a mistake.”
Cassian laughed.
“You betrayed me.”
“I betrayed Viktor first.”
Elena stared.
Dante held up a small black drive.
“I copied his deployment files. I can give you every name, every payment, every officer he owns.”
Cassian moved closer to the monitor.
“Why?”
“Because Viktor promised Julian the Thorne empire.”
Dante swallowed.
“And promised me the same thing.”
Elena said, “You believed him.”
“I wanted to.”
“Where are you?”
“The chapel.”
Cassian looked at Elena.
She shook her head.
“Trap.”
Dante heard her.
“Of course it’s a trap.”
Then he gave a weak smile.
“But not for you.”
The camera moved.
Behind Dante sat Viktor Volkov.
A gun rested against his neck.
Viktor smiled.
“Elena.”
Then the camera shifted again.
Maria was sitting beside him.
Hands tied.
Elena’s face drained of color.
Viktor leaned forward.
“You have three minutes.”
He pressed the gun against Maria’s head.
May you like
“And this time, I suggest you come alone.”
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