Chapter 4 - The Night the Safe House Wasn’t Safe
The safe house sat outside the city behind stone walls and iron gates.
Natasha carried one twin inside while Simon carried the other.
“You call this a house?”
“It has bedrooms.”
“It has a guard tower.”
“That too.”
Anthony entered behind them.
“Perimeter is secure.”
Simon nodded.
“No phones except encrypted units.”
Natasha stared at him.
“You really live like this?”
“I didn’t used to bring work home.”
“Until?”
“Until home became the target.”
That night, Natasha put the twins to sleep.
Simon stood at the window.
“You should rest,” she said.
“So should you.”
“I’m not the one staring into darkness like Batman.”
“Batman?”
“Rich. Traumatized. Dresses in black.”
Simon turned.
“You think I dress like Batman?”
“That’s what you took from that sentence?”
For the first time, she heard him laugh.
A real laugh.
Short.
Unexpected.
Then the lights went out.
Simon’s hand immediately moved beneath his jacket.
“Natasha.”
“I’m here.”
“Take the boys.”
Emergency lights flickered red.
Anthony’s voice came through Simon’s earpiece.
“East gate breach.”
“How many?”
“Unknown.”
Simon pushed Natasha toward a hallway.
“Safe room. Now.”
“What about you?”
“Go.”
Gunfire cracked outside.
Natasha flinched.
One twin woke screaming.
Then the second.
Their bodies began trembling.
“No, no, no.”
Simon looked at them.
“Can you calm them?”
“With gunfire outside?”
“Try.”
Natasha started the rhythm.
Her fingers shook.
Snap.
Snap.
Snap.
The babies continued crying.
Simon crouched beside her.
“What do you need?”
“I need you calm.”
“There are armed men outside.”
“And your sons can feel you panicking.”
“I’m not panicking.”
“You’re terrifying the wallpaper.”
Another gunshot.
Natasha grabbed his hand.
“Three beats.”
Simon stared at her.
“Do it.”
Together they tapped against the stroller.
Three beats.
Pause.
Three beats.
Slowly, the babies focused.
Simon’s breathing slowed too.
Natasha noticed.
“So it works on mafia bosses.”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
Anthony appeared.
“We need to move.”
They entered the safe room.
Minutes passed.
Then thirty.
Finally, Anthony returned.
“Clear.”
Simon stood.
“Who?”
“Victor’s men.”
Simon went still.
Anthony handed him a phone.
“There’s more.”
On the screen was a message.
She leaves, or next time we take the heirs.
Simon read it twice.
Natasha saw his expression.
“What does it say?”
“Nothing.”
“Simon.”
He handed her the phone.
She read it.
Then looked at him.
“Well.”
“You’re leaving.”
Natasha blinked.
“What?”
“You leave tonight.”
“No.”
“This isn’t a negotiation.”
“You hired me because your sons need consistency.”
“They need to be alive.”
“So do I.”
“That’s exactly the point.”
Natasha stepped closer.
“You think sending me away fixes this?”
“It removes the leverage.”
“Victor isn’t attacking because of me. He’s attacking because you’re changing the organization.”
Simon’s jaw tightened.
“He’ll use you.”
“Then protect me.”
“I am protecting you.”
“By firing me?”
“By getting you out.”
Natasha stared at him.
“Do you know what your problem is?”
“I suspect you’re about to tell me.”
“You think protection means making every decision for everyone.”
“That has kept people alive.”
“It also keeps everyone at a distance.”
Simon’s eyes hardened.
“This isn’t therapy.”
“No. It’s reality.”
She pointed toward the nursery.
“You want those boys to grow up differently? Then start acting differently.”
Silence.
Simon looked away.
Natasha lowered her voice.
“I’m not leaving because Victor ordered me to.”
“You could die.”
“I could have died crossing the street before I met you.”
“That’s different.”
“Why?”
Simon didn’t answer.
Natasha stepped closer.
“Why is it different?”
His eyes met hers.
“Because I care what happens to you.”
The words hung between them.
Natasha’s anger disappeared.
Simon seemed almost annoyed that he had said it.
She spoke quietly.
“That sounds inconvenient.”
“You have no idea.”
A guard entered before either could say more.
“Boss.”
Simon turned.
“We found something.”
“What?”
“Victor isn’t just trying to scare you.”
The guard placed documents on the table.
May you like
“He’s moving against you tomorrow night.”
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