Dark Christmas: Chapter 32

“It’s almost Christmas.”

Amelia’s standing by the window, her fingers tracing the cold glass as she looks out at the neighborhood. The Christmas lights flicker in the distance, casting a faint glow across her face.

I don’t respond, I just watch her. She’s been restless, more so each day. I can tell she’s getting tired of being cooped up in here, trapped for her own safety. I know she wants her life back the way it was before.

I get it. I don’t want her to feel like a prisoner but what happens when it’s finally safe for her to leave? What if she walks out of here and out of my life?

She told me she loves me. I want to believe it, but the reality is, when all this is over, she’ll have the choice to go back to how things were. And maybe she’ll want that more than staying here with me.

I watch her closely, thinking about how she’s been acting lately. Distant. Preoccupied. Every time I ask if something’s bothering her, she dodges the question, brushing it off with some lame excuse. It leaves me wondering if she’s already planning her exit.

She finally turns from the window, her expression guarded. “I need a nap,” she says, leaving the room before I can say anything else.

I watch her walk away, frustration building inside me. Something’s wrong, and I don’t know what it is. But I can feel her slipping away, and that’s not something I’m willing to let happen. Not without a fight.

I don’t have much time to dwell on Amelia’s sudden distance before my phone rings. The screen lights up with a video call from Mashkov. I answer, taking the call in my office. His face appears, wind whipping through his silver hair, an endless stretch of blue water behind him. He’s on a yacht.

I smirk. “Nice. Retirement suits you.”

Mashkov grins, a cigar hanging from his lips. “You should try it sometime, Melor. The sea air, the freedom… no one trying to put a bullet in your head.”

I chuckle. “Not in this life.”

His grin fades, and he leans in closer to the camera. “Let’s get to it. I’ve got Denis’ location.”

That gets my full attention. “Where?”

“East San Jose,” Mashkov says, taking a drag from his cigar. “Sketchy part of town. He’s staying with some woman—could be an ex, could be his current lover, hard to say.”

“Doesn’t matter who she is, Mashkov. What matters is getting Denis alone. I don’t want her involved. If we can get him alone, fine. But if not, we keep her clear.”

I end the call with Mashkov, my mind already working through the details. I message Sasha next, filling him in on everything. His response is immediate: I’ll be there when it’s time. Just give the word.

With everything set, I lean back in my chair, the weight of the plan settling over me. Duke jumps onto my lap, his soft fur brushing against my hand. He always seems to know when I’ve got something on my mind, his little motor kicking in as he nestles against me.

I scratch behind his ears, my thoughts swirling. We’ve got Denis’ location, and we’re close to finishing this. But I can’t shake the feeling that once it’s over, nothing will be the same.

I push the thought away. It doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is ending this, taking Denis out, and securing our safety. Once he’s gone, maybe I can finally have some peace with my woman.

But first, I’ve got to make sure there’s a future to protect.

I hear footsteps rushing toward my office, quick and urgent. My muscles tense, expecting the worst, but when Amelia bursts into the room, her face isn’t filled with fear, it’s lit with pure joy.

‘Claire’s going into labor!’ she exclaims, breathless. ‘We have to get to the hospital now!’

For a split second, I’m caught off guard, but then I smile. “We’ll leave in a minute.”

She’s gone before I can say another word, hurrying upstairs to change. As soon as she’s out of sight, I pull out my phone and text Sasha.

Claire’s in labor. We’re heading to the hospital. Meet us there and do a perimeter check with Mashkov’s men.

Sasha’s response is fast, as always.

On my way.