Dawn rose slowly over the coastline, painting the mansion in pale gold. The chaos of last night still echoed in Alana's bones gunshots, the cold stare of a sniper, Alaska's rage unleashed like a hurricane.
Alaska stood in the bedroom, buttoning the black tactical suit that clung to him like a second skin. A holster crossed his shoulder, weapons strapped to his thigh, every detail screaming danger.
He wasn't just preparing for any mission.
He was preparing for war.
Alana watched from the bed, clutching the blanket. The ring he had placed on her finger felt like both protection… and a countdown.
"When will you be back?" she whispered.
Alaska paused, his movements slowing.
"It won't be long."
But his eyes said something else.
Something darker.
Something uncertain.
Kenan waited downstairs with the other men, suitcases loaded into armored SUVs. The engines rumbled impatiently.
Alana stood, crossing the room until she was right in front of Alaska. Close enough to feel his warmth, close enough to see the exhaustion hiding behind his strength.
"You're going to Russia," she said.
Not a question.
A truth she didn't want to accept.
Alaska exhaled softly.
"We found more of Kavron's people there. Someone with knowledge about the Direndra massacre… and about me."
"And you think walking into his territory is a good idea?"
He reached for her chin, lifting it gently so she would look into his eyes.
"What I think," he murmured, "is that if I don't finish this now… he'll come back. For me. For you. For everything connected to the Direndra name."
She swallowed hard.
Her fear tasted bitter.
"You made me a promise, Alana," he continued quietly.
"That you'd pull me back from darkness."
A faint smile ghosted over his lips.
"So let me fight the darkness first."
Her eyes glistened.
"You're not allowed to die. Not now. Not ever."
Alaska leaned closer, their foreheads touching.
"I don't plan on dying," he whispered.
"Not when I finally have something worth living for."
Alana slipped her hands up his chest to his neck, voice trembling.
"Promise you'll come back… with your heart still beating."
He didn't answer with words.
He kissed her instead.
Not gentle
but full of hunger, fear, and a love too intense to hide.
His hand slid to her cheek, thumb brushing her lips as if memorizing their shape.
When the kiss broke, he whispered against her mouth:
"I swear… I'll return alive. Because you're waiting."
Alana stood on tiptoe and kissed his forehead soft, sacred.
"Promise me," she breathed.
"Promise you'll come back with your life."
Alaska's voice was hoarse.
"I promise."
She pressed a trembling kiss to his cheek.
Then, with a courage she barely felt, she kissed his lips tenderly one last claim before fate dragged him away.
His fingers curled into her hair, refusing to let go.
It took every shred of strength he had to step back.
Kenan appeared in the doorway.
"Boss. It's time."
Alaska nodded once but didn't take his eyes off Alana.
He moved toward the stairs, each step heavy.
Alana followed, refusing to let their distance grow too quickly.
At the entrance, the cold morning wind cut through the silence.
Alaska turned.
"Stay here," he said firmly.
"My men will guard you. No going outside. No taking risks. Understood?"
She nodded, though fear choked her voice.
"Be careful," she whispered.
He smiled small but real.
A smile he only gave her.
"You keep breathing for me, Alana. That's all I need."
He placed one final kiss to her forehead slow, deliberate, like sealing a vow and then brushed his lips against hers one last time, lingering as if he could freeze this moment.
Alana's fingers clutched his coat.
"Don't make me wait too long."
He stepped into the car before he could change his mind.
The doors slammed shut.
Engines roared.
Alana stood there on the front steps… watching the only man she had ever truly loved disappear behind tinted bulletproof glass.
Her heart followed him.
Upstairs, from the bedroom window, she saw the convoy pull farther and farther away three black SUVs cutting through the morning mist.
Tears blurred her vision.
"You better come back," she whispered to the empty air.
"Because I can't lose you. Not now… not ever."
Inside the lead vehicle, Alaska stared straight ahead jaw clenched hard.
Kenan glanced at him.
"Boss… Kavron will come for her again. You know that."
"I know."
Alaska's voice was ice.
"And if he touches her…"
His fingers curled slowly into a fist.
"I'll burn Russia to the ground."
He leaned back, eyes closing briefly.
His heart was no longer with him.
It was asleep in his bed
wearing his ring.
And he would tear apart the world
before he allowed anyone to steal her from him.