Alex's eyes remained fixed on the screen for a few seconds before he finally turned toward Adrian.
"Boss…"
His voice was lower than usual.
Careful.
Measured.
"It's one of Nikolai's hideouts."
The words settled heavily in the car.
Every man inside felt it.
Because that name—
It wasn't just another enemy.
It was a storm.
"And I think we should call for more force…"
Alex added, his tone firm but cautious.
Adrian didn't even let him finish.
He raised his hand.
A simple gesture.
But enough to silence everything.
His gaze remained forward.
Unmoving.
His voice—
Dangerously calm.
"I am enough."
A pause.
Sharp.
Final.
"To take them down by myself."
The car fell into silence again.
No one dared to argue.
Because this wasn't arrogance.
This was Adrian.
"And besides…" he continued slowly, his lips curling into a faint, cold smirk, "…I'm sure they don't have much force there."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"Overconfidence is what kills people."
Alex exhaled quietly.
He didn't agree.
But he didn't disagree either.
Because he knew—
When Adrian decided something—
It was already done.
"Yes, boss."
—
The convoy accelerated.
Faster.
More aggressive.
Cutting through the empty roads like something unleashed.
The closer they got—
The heavier the air felt.
Because this time—
This wasn't a guess.
This was real.
—
Meanwhile—
Inside the hideout—
Elena sat on the edge of the bed.
Her hands clenched tightly into fists.
Her jaw locked.
Refusing to move.
Refusing to break.
Across from her—
Nikolai sat casually on a chair, one leg crossed over the other, watching her like she was his favorite form of entertainment.
A tray of food rested between them.
Untouched.
"Come on, little bird…"
His voice was smooth.
Mocking.
"Your daddy bird is trying to feed you."
He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.
"Trying to take care of you."
A pause.
His smirk widened.
"And you're being so stubborn."
Elena's eyes flashed with anger.
Her glare sharp.
Unyielding.
"I am NOT going to eat."
Her voice came out firm despite the tremor beneath it.
"It's better to starve than eat from your hand."
For a second—
Silence.
Then—
Nikolai burst out laughing.
Loud.
Uncontrolled.
His shoulders shaking with amusement.
The sound echoed in the room, sending a chill down Elena's spine.
But she didn't move.
Didn't react.
Because that's what he wanted.
"Such attitude…"
he murmured, wiping the corner of his eye like he was genuinely entertained.
"I like it."
His tone dropped slightly.
Darker.
More dangerous.
"But you will eat."
A pause.
Heavy.
"Otherwise…"
His eyes locked onto hers.
"…I'll find a better way to fill your mouth."
Elena's breath hitched instantly.
Her body stiffened.
The meaning behind his words—
Clear.
Threatening.
Her mind screamed at her to respond.
To fight.
But her instincts—
They told her something else.
Don't push.
Not now.
Not like this.
And that—
Made her hate herself even more.
Because she had to choose silence.
—
Nikolai noticed.
Of course he did.
His smirk deepened.
"There it is…"
he murmured softly.
"That fear."
He leaned back lazily.
Satisfied.
Then reached for the spoon again.
Scooping a portion of food.
Holding it up toward her.
"Now…"
His voice softened slightly.
Almost coaxing.
"Be a good girl."
Elena stared at the spoon.
Her fingers curled tighter.
Her pride—
Her anger—
Her resistance—
All clashing inside her.
But slowly…
Very slowly—
She leaned forward.
Her lips parted slightly.
And she took the food.
The movement felt heavy.
Like defeat.
She chewed slowly.
Carefully.
As if expecting something.
Anything.
Poison.
A trap.
But nothing happened.
Just food.
Normal.
Simple.
And yet—
It felt wrong.
—
Nikolai watched her closely.
Every reaction.
Every hesitation.
Then he chuckled.
Low.
Amused.
"Don't worry, little bird…"
he said, his voice dropping into something husky.
"It's not spiked."
He leaned closer.
Too close.
"The only poison in this room…"
A pause.
His eyes darkened.
"…is me."
Elena's throat tightened.
"And you…"
he continued softly, "…are surprisingly good at handling poison."
Her eyes flickered for a moment.
But she said nothing.
Because she realized something.
He wasn't just feeding her.
He was testing her.
Pushing her.
Trying to see how far she could bend before she broke.
And she refused—
To break.
Far away—
Adrian stepped out of the car—but not directly in front of the hideout.
Instead, he stopped at a distance.
Far enough to remain unseen.
Close enough to observe.
With a sharp movement, he signaled the driver to turn off the headlights. Darkness swallowed the area instantly, turning everything into shadows and silhouettes.
Perfect.
Adrian lifted his hand and rotated his index finger mid-air.
A silent command.
His men moved immediately.
Like ghosts.
Within seconds, they spread out—surrounding the hideout from every possible angle. No sound. No wasted movement. Just precise execution.
The building ahead stood still.
Quiet.
But not empty.
"Alex."
Adrian didn't look at him.
"Binoculars."
Alex handed them over instantly.
Adrian raised them to his eyes, his sharp gaze scanning every inch of the structure. The entrance. The windows. The rooftop.
Nothing escaped him.
And then—
He saw them.
Guards.
A few.
Scattered.
Careless.
A slow, dangerous smirk formed on his lips.
"Not enough," he murmured under his breath.
He lowered the binoculars and handed them back to Alex.
Then—
He tapped his earpiece.
His voice dropped.
Cold.
Controlled.
"Listen carefully."
Every man froze into attention.
"Put silencers on your weapons."
A pause.
"Any unnecessary noise will alert whoever is inside."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"And I don't want that."
Another pause.
Longer.
"Heads down. Move silent."
"Yes, boss," came the low responses through the comms.
Adrian reached behind, tucking his weapon securely against his waistband, checking his gear with practiced ease.
Then he turned to Alex.
Their eyes met briefly.
"I'll enter from the rooftop."
His tone left no room for discussion.
"And you…"
He stepped closer, his voice lowering further.
"Find the control panel. Any system, any backup server, anything."
Alex nodded immediately.
"Even if it's the smallest clue," Adrian continued, his gaze sharp and unyielding, "I want everything."
A beat of silence.
"Leave nothing behind."
"Yes, boss."
Adrian gave a short nod.
And just like that—
Alex disappeared into the darkness.
Blending.
Vanishing.
—
Adrian turned back toward the hideout.
His expression hardened.
The calm before the storm.
His body moved next—
Silent.
Lethal.
He scaled the side structure with precision, using shadows as cover, his movements almost invisible to the human eye.
One step.
Then another.
Until—
He reached the rooftop.
He crouched low, scanning the area again.
Clear.
For now.
His fingers tightened around his weapon.
Eyes burning with focus.
Because somewhere inside this building—
There was an answer.
A clue.
Or—
A trap.
And Adrian Volkov—
Was ready for all three.