Page 128 of The Bratva Stalker's Ruthless Claim
“What kind of chatter?” I ask.
Timofey’s voice is calm when he answers.
“Katerina.”
Ellie goes completely still beside me.
Timofey continues, “She’s surfaced again. Under a new alias.” His eyes lift to meet mine in the mirror. “She’s alive.”
A sharp tension coils through my spine.
“And she’s consolidating what remains of the syndicate.”
For a moment, the only sound in the car is the steady rumble of tires against asphalt.
The peace I felt seconds ago evaporates.
My jaw tightens.
Beside me, Ellie slowly lowers her phone.
My mind is already racing, spinning through possibilities, contingencies, plans. If Katerina is resurfacing, then this isn’t finished. Not really. Not until she’s stopped for good.
A decision begins forming before I can stop it.
I should let Ellie go home without me.
Let her fly back to safety, back to the people who love her. I’ll stay in Romania. Track Katerina down before she has the chance to rebuild anything. Before she has the chance to come after Ellie again.
I have to end this.
I’m about to say it when Ellie reaches for my hand.
Her fingers slide into mine, warm and steady, grounding me before the words leave my mouth. She lifts my hand gently and presses a soft kiss to my knuckles.
“Please, Mike,” she says quietly. “Let it be. I’m tired.”
Her voice isn’t weak. It’s just honest.
“Ellie….” I shake my head. “We can end this. For good this time.”
She studies me for a moment, those sharp, brilliant eyes searching my face.
Then she exhales softly.
“I don’t think Katerina will bother us again,” she says. “Not anytime soon.” She glances out the window, watching the Romanian countryside slide past. “It would take her years to rebuild what she lost. Her networks, her data, her influence.”
She looks back at me.
“And even if she does try…we’ll deal with it then.”
My hand tightens around hers.
“But right now?” she continues softly. “Right now, I just want my peace.” Her thumb brushes slowly across my knuckles. “And I want you fully by my side when I finally get it.”
The words hit harder than any argument.
I stare at her for a long moment.
