Chương 7 - EVERYTHING BURNS
Flames swallowed the Ember Lounge before firefighters could save it.
Lena stood across the street wrapped in a paramedic's blanket and watched three years of her life collapse beneath a burning roof.
She should have felt grief.
Instead she felt strangely free.
The Ember Lounge had been where she learned to disappear.
Maybe she did not need it anymore.
Gabriel survived surgery.
The bullet had missed his artery.
Lena’s mother arrived the following afternoon under federal protection.
Their reunion happened privately.
Lena waited outside the hospital room while her parents faced seventeen stolen years.
When the door finally opened, Elena Marquez stepped out crying.
She hugged Lena.
“Your father is an idiot.”
Lena laughed.
“That sounds promising.”
“He owes me seventeen anniversaries.”
“Make him pay interest.”
For a few hours, life almost felt normal.
Then Nikolai disappeared.
No goodbye.
No explanation.
Lena called.
Nothing.
By evening, she was furious.
Gabriel knew where he had gone.
“To end it.”
“By himself?”
“He thinks that's how men like him protect people.”
“That's stupid.”
“Very.”
“Where?”
Gabriel smiled faintly.
“You're exactly like your mother.”
He told her.
Nikolai had gone to Dragunov Shipping headquarters.
Viktor had contacted him with an offer: surrender control of the harbor businesses and the attacks would stop.
Nikolai intended to agree.
Lena stared at her father.
“He's giving Viktor everything?”
“To keep Viktor away from you.”
“That isn't protection. That's surrender.”
Gabriel shrugged carefully because of his shoulder.
“I didn't say it was smart.”
Lena found Nikolai alone in his office.
A contract lay on the desk.
“You're signing it?”
He looked up.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I am getting very tired of hearing that.”
“This ends tonight.”
“No. This gives Viktor exactly what he wants.”
“It keeps him away from your family.”
“You don't know that.”
“I know men like Viktor.”
“So do I now.”
Lena tore the contract in half.
Nikolai stared at her.
“You've become remarkably comfortable destroying my property.”
“Send me a bill.”
He stood.
“This is not a game.”
“I know.”
“Then understand something. Everyone close to me becomes a target.”
“Maybe because you keep deciding for everyone.”
Nikolai said nothing.
Lena stepped closer.
“My father decided disappearing would protect me. Seventeen years later we're still cleaning up the damage.”
That landed.
“You don't protect people by removing their choices.”
His expression softened.
“I don't know another way.”
“Learn.”
For several seconds they simply looked at one another.
Then Nikolai touched the bruise on her cheek left by Marcus.
His hand was surprisingly gentle.
“I thought you were going to die on that pier.”
“I thought the same about you.”
“I didn't like it.”
“Neither did I.”
A small smile touched her mouth.
“Sounds inconvenient.”
“Extremely.”
Then he kissed her.
Not like a powerful man claiming something.
Like a lonely man asking permission.
Lena answered by pulling him closer.
For a few seconds Viktor, Anton, the ledger, and the burning club disappeared.
When they separated, Nikolai rested his forehead against hers.
“You are trouble.”
“You grabbed my wrist first.”
He almost laughed.
Then the office lights went out.
Nikolai immediately moved Lena behind him.
The emergency lights activated.
A figure appeared in the doorway.
Anton.
He held a gun.
“Touching.”
Nikolai stepped forward.
“Where's Viktor?”
“Gone.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means he finally realized something.”
Anton entered.
“He doesn't need the harbor anymore.”
Lena watched him carefully.
“Then what does he want?”
Anton looked at her.
“Revenge.”
He tossed a phone onto the desk.
A live video appeared.
Evelyn was tied to a chair.
Beside her sat Lena’s mother.
Lena's blood turned cold.
Anton said, “Midnight. Old Eastport courthouse.”
Nikolai's hands clenched.
“If either of them is hurt—”
“My father doesn't care about your threats anymore.”
Anton looked exhausted.
For the first time, Lena saw something strange.
He wasn't enjoying this.
“Why are you helping him?” she asked.
Anton looked at her.
“He's my father.”
“That doesn't answer the question.”
His jaw tightened.
“You don't understand.”
“Actually, I do.”
She thought of Gabriel.
“You can love your father and still know he's wrong.”
Anton looked away.
For one second, hesitation crossed his face.
Then he left.
Nikolai reached for his weapon.
Lena stopped him.
“What?”
“He wanted us to see that hesitation.”
“You trust him?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“But I think Viktor made one mistake.”
“What?”
“He spent his entire life teaching Anton that loyalty means obedience.”
May you like
Lena looked toward the doorway.
“Maybe Anton finally learned the difference.”
