Page 41 of Captured By the Russian Wolf

He frowned, his expression hardening. "It was planned."

"Obviously," I snapped, pacing the room as the rage boiled over again. "They knew exactly where to hit, exactly how to breach the estate. And they came prepared."

Mikhail didn't say anything for a moment, but I could feel his eyes on me, watching, waiting. He was my second-in-command, my most trusted man, but even he didn't know what to say right now. He knew I wasn't just angry about the attack.

I was angry about her.

"What do you want to do?" he asked finally, his voice careful, measured.

I stopped pacing, my fists clenched at my sides. "I want to know who the fuck sent them," I growled. "I want to know how they knew we were here."

Mikhail nodded, his expression grim. "I'll find out."

I didn't doubt him. Mikhail was a cold, ruthless bastard when it came to tracking down information. He'd get to the bottom of it. And when he did, whoever was behind this ambush would wish they'd never been born.

But there was still one question gnawing at me, one thought that I couldn't shake.

Had this been about her? Had someone found out who Lily was, what she was really after? Was this connected to her past, to Alexei? Or was this a move against me, an attempt to hit me where I was most vulnerable?

I wasn't sure anymore.

"Watch her," I ordered, my voice low, dangerous. "I want eyes on her at all times."

Mikhail's brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't argue. "You think she's involved?"

I let out a harsh laugh, shaking my head. "I don't know what the fuck to think."

The truth was, I didn't know if Lily was involved in this attack. But I couldn't take any chances. Not anymore.

"She's already lied to me once," I continued, my voice cold. "If she's involved in this, if she had anything to do with what just happened, I'll?—"

I stopped myself, my fists clenching tighter. I didn't want to say the words. I didn't want to admit that I wasn't sure what I'd do if it turned out she was still playing me. The thought of her betraying me again… it was too much.

Mikhail's gaze was steady, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. He knew me well enough to see what this was doing to me.

"I'll keep an eye on her," he said simply. "But, Nikita… if this was a rival family, you know they'll keep coming."

"I know," I muttered, my voice like ice. "And I'll be ready for them."

Mikhail nodded, but before he could say anything else, I turned and walked out of the room, my mind spinning with a thousand conflicting thoughts.

I made my way through the darkened corridors of the mansion, my body aching from the fight, my mind still consumed with thoughts of Lily. The memory of her standingbeside me, her hands steady as she fired that gun, played over and over in my head. She had fought for me. She had stayed when she could have run.

But why?

Was it guilt? Fear? Or was it something else?

I pushed open the door to the bedroom, my chest tight as I saw her sitting on the edge of the bed, her back to me. Her shoulders were tense, her head bowed. She must have heard me come in, but she didn't turn.

For a long moment, I just stood there, watching her, the weight of everything crashing down around me. The lies, the betrayal, the fucking ambush—it all twisted inside me like a knife in the gut. And yet, despite everything, I couldn't shake the pull I felt toward her. The need to protect her. The need to possess her.

Even now.

She didn't look up as I stepped closer, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.

"I didn't know," she whispered, her voice soft, broken. "I swear I didn't know they were coming."

I stopped just behind her, my breath heavy, my body aching with the weight of it all. Part of me wanted to believe her. Part of me needed to believe her. But I couldn't. Not fully. Not after everything.

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