Mikhail’s POV

Everything was going perfectly.

Valarie was trapped. Her dear brother was next.

And Damien Volkov? That bastard would come crawling soon enough.

For now.

Everything was falling into place.

Until—

That fucking Sebastian Vasiliev.

The second he saw the security cameras flicker, the second his men’s screams echoed through the speakers—Mikhail’s rage exploded.

"NO."

He slammed his glass against the wall, watching it shatter into a million useless pieces.

That son of a bitch.

That traitorous, obsessive bastard.

Sebastian was supposed to be his ally. They had a deal. They had an understanding.

Yet here he was, butchering his men, painting the floors with their blood—all for that damn woman.

Mikhail’s lips curled into a snarl. "Get me a gun."

One of his men scrambled to obey, hands shaking.

Mikhail ignored him, turning back to the screens.

Valarie and Sebastian, fighting together.

Moving in sync. Like a goddamn power couple.

His teeth gritted.

He had been right. There was something about the Ivanov siblings.

Something that made men—strong, ruthless men—completely lose their minds over them.

Damien had his Luca.

And now Sebastian was losing himself over Valarie.

Mikhail hated them.

He hated how they attracted the most dangerous men in the underworld.

He hated how unstoppable they were.

And more than anything—he hated losing.

His eyes darkened.

Fine. If Sebastian wanted to fight for Valarie—he’d give him a war.

******* Valarie’s POV

She had him.

Mikhail stood in front of her, cornered, trapped.

The bloodied remains of his men littered the ground behind her, their bodies still warm, but Valarie’s focus was locked onto him.

Mikhail . The bastard responsible for everything.

He had tormented her family, taken Elijah, sent men after Luca—he deserved to die.

Valarie dripped in blood, her chest heaving, muscles burning, but she didn’t care. The weight of her gun was firm in her grip, her dagger in the other, ready to carve into him.

And the best part?

He had nowhere left to run.

She took a step forward.

He smirked.

"You really think this is over, Officer Ivanov?" His voice dripped with amusement.

Valarie didn’t hesitate.

She lunged—aiming straight for his throat.

But before she could reach him—

A body was thrown between them.

Elijah.

Her breath hitched.

He was barely standing, his arms bound, his face bruised, his breathing ragged.

But worse—Mikhail had a knife pressed to his ribs.

Her heart stopped.

“No—”

Mikhail laughed.

“Oh, come on, Valarie.” He mocked her. “You didn’t actually think I’d let you win, did you?”

Her fingers twitched over the trigger.

Elijah’s eyes met hers. Calm. Gentle.

Like he knew.

Like he was already prepared to die.

Her stomach twisted.

“Let him go,” she growled, her voice shaking.

Mikhail just smiled.

And then—he stabbed him.

The blade sank deep into Elijah’s stomach.

Once.

Her world tilted.

Twice.

Her fingers went numb.

Three times.

The gun slipped from her grip.

Mikhail grinned at her reaction. “How does it feel, Officer?” he taunted, twisting the blade. “To watch someone you care about bleed out right in front of you?"

Elijah gasped, blood bubbling past his lips.

But even then—he smiled.

“V-Val…” his voice was weak. “I-It’s okay.”

Okay?

Okay?!

Rage.

Blinding, soul-crushing rage.

She was going to rip Mikhail apart.

But before she could move—smoke exploded around them.

Her eyes burned—she couldn’t see.

Coughing, she swung wildly, trying to grasp Mikhail, but he was already gone.

“Elijah!” She stumbled forward, catching him before he collapsed.

His body was soaked in blood.

His face was pale.

Too much blood.

Too much.

Valarie’s hands trembled.

Her vision blurred.

But her rage burned brighter than ever.

Mikhail wasn’t getting away with this.

*******

“Elijah! Stay with me!”

Valarie’s voice shook as she pressed down on his wounds, trying to stop the endless flow of blood. It was warm, thick, too much.

Her hands were covered in it—his blood.

“No, no, no,” she whispered, desperation clawing at her throat. “You’re going to be fine. Just hold on! The medics are coming!”

She screamed into her earpiece. “I need a medic! NOW!”

No response.

Elijah coughed weakly, blood dripping from the corner of his lips. His warm brown eyes met hers, full of something soft—something accepting.

“V-Val…” His voice was too faint.

“Shut up!” she snapped, shaking him slightly. “Don’t you dare talk like that! You’re not dying!”

His lips curved into the barest of smiles.

“You always… bossy.”

Valarie’s breath hitched.

Don’t do this.

“Of course, I’m bossy,” she forced a laugh, even as her chest ached. “So you better listen to me and stay alive, dumbass.”

His breathing grew shallow.

His fingers trembled as he reached up, brushing bloody knuckles against her cheek.

She choked on a sob.

“Elijah, please.”

He just smiled.

“You know I… I always loved you, right?” His voice was weak. “Since the first time I saw you… sneaking into the headquarters like a lunatic , punching me .”

She let out a shaky laugh, eyes burning.

She hated how warm his blood felt.

Hated how cold his skin was getting.

“Elijah—”

“You don’t have to say it,” he whispered, eyes soft. “I know. you love me too.”

Her throat closed.

He sighed.

“You deserve to be happy, Val.” His eyes flickered, not at her—behind her.

Sebastian.

Valarie’s body stiffened.

Elijah’s smile widened, even as he bled out in her arms.

“Don’t fight it,” he murmured, barely above a breath. “You deserve love too…”

After that Valarie frantically tries to call help , medics anything to save Elijah.

******

Sebastian’s POV

The room smelled of iron and death.

Elijah was dying.

Sebastian watched from the shadows as Valarie frantically searched for medicine, her bloodstained hands trembling as she dug through supplies.

She was desperate.

But it was too late.

Elijah knew it. Sebastian knew it.

The dying man coughed weakly, his breath rattling. Then, with trembling fingers, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a beautiful, silver ring.

His blood-slicked hands made it hard, but he held onto it like it meant everything.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes.

“Come here,” Elijah rasped.

Sebastian didn’t move.

Elijah gave a weak chuckle. “Tch… what? You scared of a dying man?”

Sebastian’s jaw ticked. But he stepped closer.

Elijah extended the ring.

Sebastian didn’t take it.

Elijah scoffed. “I know you’ve been stalking her.”

Sebastian’s body stilled.

Elijah smirked despite the blood staining his lips.

“You think I never noticed?” His voice was weak, but his eyes were sharp. Knowing. “You watch her like she’s your fucking religion.”

Sebastian’s fingers curled.

“You're obsessed.” Elijah let out a shallow breath. “You think I didn’t see the way you look at her?”

Sebastian said nothing.

Elijah smirked. Even now, he was infuriating.

“You’re a fucking monster,” Elijah muttered. “But then again… so am I.” He coughed, body jerking in pain.

Sebastian’s fists tightened.

“She’ll never be yours, you know.”

Sebastian finally looked him in the eye.

Elijah laughed weakly. “Not completely. Not truly. Valarie is—” he exhaled sharply, eyes flickering. “She’s… untamable.”

Sebastian knew that.

That’s why she was his perfect obsession.

Elijah pushed the ring into Sebastian’s palm, gripping it with the last of his strength.

Elijah’s breaths were shallow, his body trembling in Sebastian’s arms. Blood soaked through his shirt, staining everything crimson. But even as death loomed over him, his eyes held steady resolve.

“You love her.” Elijah’s voice was weak, but the certainty in his words was sharp. “I see it.”

Sebastian tightened his grip on the ring Elijah had slipped into his hand. It felt heavy—heavier than anything he’d ever held, heavier than the weight of all the lives he had taken.

“I don’t love,” Sebastian murmured, his voice low.

Elijah let out a faint, knowing chuckle, though it turned into a pained cough. “Liar.” He took a ragged breath. “I know you’ve been watching her… following her. Not just as some twisted obsession. You won’t let anything happen to her. You won’t let her be alone.”

Sebastian’s jaw clenched. For once, he didn’t argue.

Elijah turned his head slightly, looking up at him. His eyes weren’t filled with anger or hate—but acceptance. “Promise me,” he whispered. “Promise me you’ll keep her safe.”

Sebastian exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face. He hated promises. He never made them. But this time…

“I promise.”

Elijah smiled faintly, his body trembling from the cold creeping into his bones. “Good,” he whispered. “Then I can go in peace.”

“Take care of her.”

Sebastian stared at him, silent.

Elijah’s smirk faded.

His next words were barely a breath—but Sebastian heard them loud and clear.

“If you break her, I’ll haunt you, you bastard.”

Sebastian smirked, pocketing the ring.

“Bold words for a dead man.”

Elijah chuckled weakly. “Fuck you.”

Then his breathing slowed.

Sebastian watched as the life drained from his eyes.

Valarie’s desperate voice echoed from across the room.

“Elijah, hold on!”

She didn’t know yet.

He's gonna die.

*** Valarie burst into the room, breathless. Her hands were covered in blood, clutching supplies she had scavenged. “Help is coming,” she said, kneeling beside him, pressing against his wounds. “Just hold on, Elijah.”

Elijah looked at her with nothing but warmth. His lips trembled, and with all the strength he had left, he reached up, brushing a hand against her cheek. “Val…” His voice was soft, filled with something fragile yet unbreakable. “I love you.”

Tears slipped down her face. “Don’t say that. You’re going to be fine.”

But Elijah only smiled, his grip weakening. His eyes flickered to Sebastian one last time before his body relaxed completely.

The room fell silent.

Valarie shook him, her voice breaking. “Elijah?”

No response.

“Elijah, wake up! Open your damn eyes!”

Stillness.

Sebastian watched as the life drained from Elijah’s face, the warmth fading, leaving nothing but a shell.

Valarie let out a gut-wrenching scream.

His hand slipped from her face.

His body went limp.

“Elijah?”

Nothing.

“Elijah—NO!”

Her screams shattered the air.

****