The Arrangement: Chapter 32

As the city’s lights streak by, casting fleeting shadows inside the car, I press the end call button on my phone, letting out a slow, deliberate breath. The conversation I’ve just wrapped up, laden with plans and contingencies, sits heavy in my thoughts.

Viktor catches my eye in the rearview mirror, his stoic demeanor tinged with curiosity. ‘Everything set?’ he asks, his voice as steady as ever.

‘Yes, it’s all in motion,’ I reply, my tone even, masking the whirlwind of strategies and potential outcomes racing through my mind. I pause, reflecting on the call I just made, a conversation I never envisioned having. ‘You know, if you told me a year ago I’d be making that call, I would’ve laughed. Funny how things change.’

Victor nods, understanding the depth of what’s unsaid. The car hums quietly as we continue our drive, the anticipation building with each passing mile.

‘We’re heading into uncertain territory. You ready for what’s waiting at Aleksey’s?’ Michael’s question breaks the silence, pulling me back from my reverie.

I meet his gaze in the mirror again, my resolve firm. ‘I’m ready. Aleksey’s estate is where this ends, one way or another. We have to confront him, even if we have to do it on his own turf.’

The car slows as we approach the gates of Aleksey’s mansion, and I brace myself for what’s to come. The element of surprise I’d hoped for vanishes the moment we’re met by guards, clearly forewarned of our arrival.

‘He’s expecting you. Go to the front door. Alone,’ one of the guards instructs, an edge of arrogance in his voice.

Stepping out of the car, I glance back at Victor and Michael, their loyalty unwavering. ‘Stay sharp,’ I tell them, my voice low. ‘No matter what happens, we see this through. But listen, if Tory comes out alone, you take her straight to my father. Make sure she’s safe, no matter what.’

Approaching the mansion, every step is measured. The enormity of what I’m about to do looms large, yet there’s no turning back. Everything has led to this moment.

I’m flanked by guards almost immediately, their presence as unwelcoming as the cold night air. They’re thorough, ensuring I’m not armed, their hands swift and professional as they check for weapons or a wire.

‘Just making sure you’re not crashing the party with any unwelcome surprises,’ one mutters, almost humorlessly.

‘Appreciate the warm greeting,’ I reply dryly, unable to resist a comment on the excessive security detail. Their faces remain impassive, no sign they registered my attempt at levity.

Once cleared, I’m ushered inside, another trio of guards taking over to lead me deeper into the mansion. Their silent, imposing forms are a clear message: I’m walking into the lion’s den, and they want me to know it.

The journey through the corridors is silent, the tension palpable. We arrive at Aleksey’s office, and the door swings open to reveal my half-brother. He stands in front of the window, his silhouette stark against the night sky.

As I step into the room, the door closes behind me with a quiet thud. Aleksey turns, his expression one of cold anticipation, as if he’s been waiting for this moment just as much as I have.

‘Welcome, brother,’ he greets, his voice smooth, laced with a venomous charm. ‘I was beginning to think you wouldn’t make it.’

I meet his gaze, my resolve steeling within me. ‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world,’ I respond, stepping further into the room, ready for whatever comes next.

Noticing Nicky skulking to the side, I cut through my half-brother’s nonsense and go straight to the point. ‘Where’s Tory? I want to know she’s safe.’ My voice leaves no room for ambiguity; I’m not here to play Aleksey’s games.

Aleksey’s laugh, sharp and unwelcome, echoes off the walls. ‘You’re in no position to make demands, brother.’ Despite his words, he signals Nicky with a terse nod. ‘Go fetch her.’

As Nicky exits, Aleksey turns his attention back to me, a smirk playing on his lips. ‘Playing the hero, huh? You’ve gone soft, Maksim. You never used to care this much before.’

“And you’ve always lacked the brains for the business, Aleksey. This isn’t about being soft. It’s about doing what’s right, something you wouldn’t understand.’

The brief flicker of annoyance in Aleksey’s eyes tells me my words have hit their mark.

‘What happens now?’ I demand, every muscle in my body tensed for what comes next.

He leans back, a cold glint in his eye. ‘You’re going to watch as your woman dies, Maksim. And then, it’ll be your turn.’

I shake my head, incredulous at his shortsightedness. ‘And you think anyone will follow you after doing something like that? Our father will have you killed for this.’

He unfolds his plan with chilling calmness. ‘Nicky will help me pin it all on one of the guards. Once Father takes care of him, I’ll be in line to lead.’

I can’t help but laugh despite the gravity of our situation. ‘You sound incredibly stupid, you know that? Every time you open your mouth, it’s just astounding.’ My words are pointed, designed to provoke.

Aleksey’s composure cracks, anger flaring in his eyes. ‘You think you can insult your way out of this?’

‘No,’ I reply, steel in my voice. ‘I think you’re underestimating everyone, especially our father. This plan of yours? It’s going to crumble, and I’ll be there to see it.’ My defiance is a clear challenge, throwing his own arrogance back in his face.

Pushing further, I dig into Aleksey’s weak spots. ‘You’ve always been desperate to prove you’re the smartest in the room, brother. But deep down, you know you’re not cut out for this. It’s not just about sitting in the big chair; it’s about earning it, understanding the responsibility. Something you’ve never quite grasped.’

His facade of control begins to crack, his grip tightening around the edge of his desk like a man clinging to the last shreds of his plan.

With a malicious smirk, I continue. ‘You’re a joke, always have been. Too blinded by your own insecurity to see the bigger picture.’

Aleksey snaps, the gun in his hand suddenly pointed in my direction. There’s a moment where everything seems to hang in the balance, his finger twitching on the trigger. But then, he reins in his rage, holstering the gun with a forced laugh. ‘You think you’re very clever, don’t you?’

I find the entire display amusing. ‘More than you’ll ever be,’ I shoot back.

Our standoff is abruptly interrupted by the door swinging open. Nicky marches in, flanked by guards, with Tory in tow. The sight of her, here, in the flesh and so close yet so far, sends a sharp pain through my chest. Our eyes meet, a silent exchange of worry, relief, and unspoken promises.

We both instinctively move toward each other, only to be held back by the guards. The space between us feels like miles, each second apart an eternity. Despite the grim circumstances, seeing Tory again reignites a flame of hope within me. No matter what Aleksey has planned, we’re together now, and that changes everything.

As Nicky manhandles Tory closer to Aleksey, something inside me snaps. The sight of her in danger, so close to that monster, ignites a fury I can barely contain. Without thinking, I lunge toward them, only to be instantly subdued by the guards, their grips iron-tight, holding me back with force.

Aleksey, seizing the moment, brandishes his gun once again, this time aiming it directly at Tory. His voice is cold, laced with a venomous triumph. ‘I’m calling the shots now, big brother. If you have any sense left, you’ll remember that. Unless you want to die here, start acting like you understand your place.’

I’m seething, my response defiant. ‘You’ll kill me regardless. I’m not as stupid as you seem to think.’ My heart pounds, every instinct screaming to protect Tory, to fight regardless of the odds.

Aleksey gives a nonchalant shrug, his cruelty unwavering. ‘Maybe I’ll just end her life and leave you broken, a constant reminder of what you’ve lost.’ His smirk is sinister, enjoying the twisted game he’s playing. Then he hints at something more, a deeper layer of his plan. ‘You don’t even grasp the full extent of what’s at stake here, Maksim.’

Confusion cuts through my anger. ‘What are you talking about?’ I demand, struggling against the guards’ hold. My mind races, trying to decipher Aleksey’s cryptic taunts. What hasn’t he revealed? What more could he possibly have planned?

My brother’s silence is maddening, his smile all the more infuriating. He’s holding something back, some critical piece of this nightmare I haven’t pieced together yet.

Aleksey’s laughter pierces the heavy air, deranged and chilling. ‘Oh, brother, the look on your face is going to be priceless.’ He cackles, then drops the bombshell, ‘Your precious Tory is pregnant.’

My world stops. The revelation hits like a physical blow, and for a moment, I’m completely disoriented, the reality of the situation crashing down on me. I turn to Tory, searching her eyes, and find them brimming with tears. The truth in her gaze is undeniable.

Aleksey, reveling in the moment, goads her. ‘Go on, tell him what you told me.’ His gun is still menacingly pointed at her.

With a voice barely above a whisper, Tory confirms, ‘It’s true. I’m pregnant.’ The words hang heavy between us, a revelation that changes everything.

The sight of Aleksey aiming his gun at her, at our unborn child, ignites a rage within me that knows no bounds. In a flash of motion fueled by pure fury, I lash out at the nearest guard, my training taking over. A swift punch to his jaw disorients him enough for me to grab his gun, turning it on Aleksey.

The room is charged with tension, a precarious standoff that could erupt at any second.

‘You won’t get away with this,’ I growl, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. ‘Harming Tory, our child… you’ve crossed a line from which there’s no return.‘

Aleksey, with a twisted grin, doesn’t miss a beat. ‘It’s almost pathetic, your misplaced loyalty to someone who means nothing in the grand scheme of things.’

I keep my focus, gun steady in my grip even as his words aim to wound. ‘Is that what you tell yourself to justify this? That everyone else is just collateral damage to your ambition?’

He scoffs, the sound echoing mockingly in the tense air. ‘Please, you think you’re any better? Trying to pretend you’re some kind of saint? It’s a weak façade, brother. Deep down, you’re just as willing to take what’s yours by any means necessary.’

The distance between Aleksey and me, though not vast, is enough to seed doubt. I’m a good shot, but under these circumstances, with Tory’s life hanging in the balance, the margin for error is nonexistent. A miss could seal her fate, and that’s a risk I can’t take.

And then there’s the other plan, the ace up my sleeve I’ve been anxiously waiting to play. Where the hell are they? I wonder, frustration gnawing at me. Timing is everything, and right now, it feels like ours is running out.

Suddenly, the room plunges into darkness.

Aleksey curses loudly, confusion and anger lacing his voice as he demands, ‘What the fuck is going on?’

A smirk spreads across my face, the first genuine sign of hope since this standoff began. ‘Looks like our guests have finally arrived,’ I say, more to myself than anyone else. The cavalry has come, right on cue.

In the cover of darkness, the dynamics shift. This blackout isn’t just a power failure; it’s a signal, a meticulously planned move announcing the arrival of reinforcements. My heart races, not with fear, but with the adrenaline of impending action.

Aleksey’s temporary disorientation gives us a precious advantage. It’s time to turn the tables on him, to seize control of the situation and ensure the safety of Tory and our unborn child.