Chapter 4 - The Baker Who Refused to Hide
The estate plunged into lockdown.
Steel shutters dropped over the lower windows.
Red security lights flashed in the hallway.
Men shouted from somewhere below.
Kalin pushed Ara into the bedroom.
“Stay here.”
She grabbed his sleeve.
“No.”
His eyes flashed.
“This is not a debate.”
“They used me to get inside.”
“That is exactly why you stay.”
“Kalin—”
He leaned close.
“For once in your life, listen to me.”
Ara froze.
Then her expression changed.
“For once in my life?”
He realized his mistake.
Too late.
“You watched me for six months,” she said. “You don’t know my life.”
“Ara—”
“You know what time I close. You know what music I dance to. You know my cat.”
Gunfire cracked downstairs.
She didn’t flinch.
“But you don’t know what I’ve survived.”
Kalin stared.
“My father disappeared when I was sixteen. My mother got sick when I was nineteen. I worked two jobs, slept four hours a night, and kept that bakery alive through debt, broken pipes, and a landlord who tried to double my rent.”
Her eyes burned.
“I don’t need a prince to lock me in a tower.”
Kalin’s jaw tightened.
“I am trying to keep you alive.”
“Then start treating me like someone whose opinion matters.”
A voice barked through Kalin’s earpiece.
“Boss, east corridor clear. Two intruders down. One moving toward kitchen service access.”
Ara turned.
“Kitchen?”
Kalin caught her arm.
“No.”
“I know this house’s kitchen better than your men do.”
“You’ve been here twelve hours.”
“I spent four of them bothering your chef.”
Even then, Kalin almost laughed.
She pulled free.
“Service doors. Walk-in freezer. Delivery entrance.”
His expression shifted.
“Delivery entrance.”
“What?”
“The attack came through the south perimeter.”
“So?”
“The estate receives bakery supplies through the east service gate.”
Kalin’s eyes sharpened.
“They’re not trying to reach me.”
Ara understood.
“They’re trying to leave.”
“With something.”
They ran.
Kalin stayed half a step ahead, weapon low at his side.
Ara moved carefully, one hand over her wound.
They reached the kitchen just as a masked man emerged from the pantry carrying a hard black case.
He stopped.
Kalin raised his weapon.
“Put it down.”
The man smiled beneath the mask.
Ara saw his free hand move.
“Kalin!”
She shoved a steel cart forward.
It crashed between them.
The man fired once.
Kalin dragged Ara behind the marble island.
Russo and two guards burst through the opposite door.
“Drop it!”
The intruder ran toward the service exit.
Russo tackled him before he reached it.
Seconds later, he was pinned to the floor.
Kalin rushed toward Ara.
“Are you hit?”
“No.”
“Let me see.”
“I said no.”
He gripped her shoulders.
“Ara.”
She stared at him.
“I’m fine.”
Only then did he breathe.
Russo kicked the black case away from the captured man.
“Boss.”
Kalin opened it.
Inside were folders, a laptop, and several encrypted drives.
Viktor arrived.
His face darkened.
“What is that?”
Kalin lifted one folder.
“Kovatch shipping records.”
Russo searched the captive.
“Employee badge.”
He handed it over.
Viktor looked.
“That badge belongs to accounting.”
Kalin stared at the intruder.
“You came here to steal financial records?”
The man laughed.
“You think this is about money?”
Kalin crouched.
“Then tell me what it’s about.”
“You were supposed to kill Rossi last night.”
Kalin’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“So Rossi would kill you.”
Ara stepped closer.
“And while both families fought, Tomas steals from both.”
The prisoner looked at her.
Recognition flashed in his eyes.
Kalin noticed.
“You know her.”
The man smiled.
“Everyone knows her now.”
Kalin grabbed his collar.
“What did Tomas tell you?”
“Boss—” Russo warned.
But Ara stepped forward.
“Let him go.”
Kalin looked at her.
“He wants you angry.”
She crouched several feet from the prisoner.
“You shot up my bakery?”
The man said nothing.
“You destroyed everything I built.”
Still nothing.
Ara’s voice stayed level.
“And you did it because you thought Kalin would become stupid when I got hurt.”
The prisoner’s smile widened.
Ara nodded.
“Looks like you were right.”
Kalin’s gaze snapped toward her.
She continued.
“But you made one mistake.”
The man frowned.
“What?”
“You assumed I’d let him.”
For the first time, the prisoner’s smile disappeared.
Ara looked at Kalin.
“Ask him where Tomas is meeting Rossi.”
Kalin understood immediately.
He turned back.
“When?”
The man looked away.
Russo found a phone in his pocket.
“Last outgoing message.”
He opened it.
His face changed.
“Warehouse 19. One hour.”
Viktor swore.
Kalin stood.
“Tomas is arranging a meeting with Anton.”
“To tell him you ordered the bakery shooting,” Ara said.
“And provoke retaliation.”
Viktor crossed his arms.
“So what do we do?”
Kalin looked at Ara.
She waited.
For once, he didn’t order her away.
“What do you think?”
Ara almost smiled.
“Call Rossi before Tomas gets there.”
Russo shook his head.
“Rossi won’t believe us.”
Ara looked at the wrecked black case.
“Then give him something he’ll believe.”
Kalin followed her gaze toward the captured intruder.
A cold smile appeared.
May you like
“Bring him.”
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