Dimitri paced back and forth in the grand living room, his usual cold attitude mixed with frustration. His empire, the powerful network he had built with such precision, was starting to crumble and the reason was clear—Viktor. The man was like a shadow, always creeping around, always a step ahead, slowly tearing apart everything Dimitri had worked for.

Sera stood quietly in the corner, pretending to dust the bookshelf while secretly watching him. His movements were sharp, his body tense and his jaw clenched so tight she thought he might break a tooth. Papers and maps lay scattered on the table, each marked with red ink, showing all the areas where Viktor had managed to sneak in and cause damage.

“Damn him,” Dimitri muttered, slamming his fist on the table. The sudden noise made Sera jump but she quickly turned back to the shelf, hoping he hadn’t noticed.

"You’re awfully quiet today," Dimitri said out of nowhere, his voice slicing through the silence like a blade.

Sera froze for a second before turning to meet his icy stare. "I didn’t think you wanted my opinion," she said carefully, keeping her voice steady, though his gaze sent a chill through her.

His jaw tensed but instead of snapping at her, he leaned back against the table, arms crossed. "What do you think?" he asked, catching her off guard.

Sera blinked. Was he actually asking for her thoughts? "About… Viktor?"

"Who else?" he replied impatiently.

She hesitated before stepping closer to the table, her eyes scanning the maps. She wasn’t an expert in his world but she could see the pattern Viktor was creating. He wasn’t hitting directly he was cutting off the foundation of Dimitri power.  His suppliers, his transport routes, his finances one by one, Viktor was shutting them down.

"He’s taking away your resources," she murmured, running a finger over one of the maps. "He’s not fighting you head-on but he is making sure you won’t have the means to keep control."

Dimitri expression darkened, though his anger wasn’t aimed at her it was at the map, at the damage Viktor had done. "And what would you suggest I do?" His voice held a hint of mockery, like he didn’t believe she had an answer.

Sera glanced up at him, her heart beating faster. "You need to be smarter than him. He’s expecting you to fight back with force but if you use his own tricks against him, you might actually stand a chance."

For a moment, Dimitri just looked at her, his expression impossible to read. Then, to her surprise, the corner of his lips twitched into a smirk. "You’re smarter than I thought," he said, his tone carrying something close to amusement.

Sera wasn’t sure how to respond, so she just stepped back, letting him return to his thoughts.

○●○

That night, Dimitri called a meeting with his most trusted men. Sera wasn’t allowed inside but she could hear their voices drifting down the hall low, serious, each word carrying weight as they discussed strategies to counter Viktor attacks.

Sera sat in the kitchen, hands folded in her lap, trying to shut out the noise. She didn’t want to think about Dimitri’s world, about the constant danger that seemed to follow him like a shadow. But ignoring it was impossible.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the kitchen door swung open. Dimitri stood there, his face set in stone, his eyes filled with revenge.

"You’re coming with me," he said, leaving no room for argument.

Sera frowned. "Where?"

"To a meeting," he answered, already turning away.

Sera hesitated. She wanted to refuse, to tell him she had no place in this, but something in his eyes stopped her. It wasn’t anger but a need for control, for certainty.

And she knew better than to challenge him when he was like this.

She followed him to the car, where the driver was already waiting. Dimitri didn’t say a word the entire ride, his attention was locked on his phone. Sera sat quietly next to him, her fingers twisting together in her lap as the city lights blurred past the windows.

They arrived at a secluded warehouse on the edge of town, the kind of place that sent a shiver down Sera spine. Dimitri men were already there, standing guard at every entrance and exit, their faces serious and watchful.

Dimitri led her inside, where a group of men stood gathered around a large table. As soon as they spotted Sera, their eyes flicked toward her, a mix of confusion and curiosity in their expressions.

“This is Sera,” Dimitri said, his tone firm, leaving no space for arguments.

Sera could feel their stares but she kept her gaze low, still not knowing why Dimitri had brought her here.

“Why is she here?” one of the men asked, his voice rough and wary.

“Because I want her here,” Dimitri answered sharply, shutting down any more questions.

The meeting started and Sera listened quietly as they discussed their plans. It was a world she had never been part of, filled with terms and strategies that felt completely foreign to her. But she could sense the tension in the room, the heavy responsibility each man carried as they worked to keep Dimitri empire standing.

As the conversation continued, Sera found herself watching Dimitri. He had a way of commanding attention without even trying his presence alone was enough to keep the room in check. But there was something else going on, something he really tried to hide.

When the meeting ended, Dimitri walked over to her, his expression impossible to read. “What do you think?” he asked.

Sera hesitated, unsure of what answer he expected. “It’s… a lot to take in,” she admitted. “But I can tell they respect you.”

For a brief moment, Dimitri eyes softened before he gave a small nod. “Good.”

As they stepped out of the warehouse, Sera couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get even more dangerous. Viktor was catching up quick and Dimitri empire was about to fall apart.

But looking at Dimitri, she wondered if he could really stop everything from falling apart. Or was Viktor already one step ahead from Dimitri?