Chapter 4 Dangerous Seduction
1708 Words
The next morning, Sophia wakes up to the sound of noise outside her window. She pulled back the curtains to find a crowd of reporters and police gathered on the outskirts of the estate.
"What's happening?" She hurriedly threw on her robe and ran downstairs.
Alexander was answering the phone in the living room and when he saw her, he gestured for her to hold her tongue for a moment.
"... Yes, my lawyer will handle this... What warrant? I need to see the official court documents..."
Hanging up the phone, Alexander walks over to her, "Did you sleep well?"
"What's going on out there?" Sophia points out the window.
"The FBI wants to search the estate." Alexander says gently, "The events of last night have given them an excuse."
"Can they find anything?"
Alexander smiles, "Of course they can't. I'm no amateur, Sophia."
Just then Elena hurried in, "Mr. Alexander, FBI agents are at the door. The lead is Agent Sarah Chen, she has asked to see you."
"Send her in." Alexander straightened his suit, "Sophia, you go upstairs. This scene is not appropriate for your presence."
"No, I'm staying." Sophia's tone was firm, "If this concerns me, I have a right to know."
Alexander glanced at her and finally nodded in agreement.
A few minutes later an Asian female FBI agent walked in followed by two male agents.
"Mr. Volkov, I'm Special Agent Sarah Chen," she showed her credentials, "We need to ask you some questions."
"Have a seat." Alexander gestured, "Would you like some coffee?"
"No, thanks." Sarah Chen sat down and her eyes turned to Sophia, "Are you Mrs. Volkov?"
"Yes." Sophia straightened her back.
"Can you describe in detail the events that occurred last night at the hotel?"
Sophia looked at Alexander, who nodded.
"Someone threatened me in the restroom." Sophia said, "But I couldn't see their faces."
"What did they say?"
Sophia repeated what she had heard last night.Sarah Chen took careful notes.
"Dmitri Petrov," Sarah Chen looked up, "do you know that name?"
"No." Sophia shook her head, "It was the first time I heard it last night."
Sarah Chen turned to Alexander, "But you know it, right?"
"Of course." Alexander made no bones about it, "He was my enemy and has been dead for ten years."
"Did you kill him?"
"No." Alexander's answer was dry, "He died in an FBI raid. I'm sure it's well documented in your files."
Sarah Chen frowned, "So what's your take on the fact that his organization is now reactivated?"
"My opinion is that you should be catching the real criminals instead of wasting time harassing law-abiding citizens." Alexander's tone grew impatient.
"Law-abiding citizens?" Sarah Chen sneered, "Mr. Volkov, your 'business' activities have been under our surveillance."
"Surveillance is one thing, evidence is another." Alexander stood up, "Without a formal warrant, I think our conversation can end."
Sarah Chen stood up as well, "There will be a warrant. Also, Mrs. Volkov, if you need protection, the FBI can provide you with a witness protection program."
"Thanks, but I don't need it." Sophia's answer took Sarah Chen a little by surprise.
"Are you sure? Being with Mr. Volkov could put you in greater danger."
"My wife is safe." Alexander walked over to Sophia, "Much safer than under your protection."
Sarah Chen gave them a deep look, "I hope so."
After the FBI agents left, Alexander walked over to the window and looked out at the dispersing crowd.
"Why did you turn down her offer?" He asked.
"Because I didn't trust her." Sophia walked over to him, "And running away won't solve the problem."
Alexander turned around with some sort of emotion in his eyes that she couldn't decipher, "You're changing, Sophia."
"What do you mean?"
"When I first met you, all you wanted to do was run away. But now..." He reached up and ruffled the hair around her cheek, "You're starting to look like a real Romano."
The gesture was intimate and made Sophia's heart race. She tried to back away, but realized her body wouldn't listen.
"Are all Romano's stubborn?" She joked.
"Stubborn, brave, and loyal." Alexander's hand slid down to her neck, "And, very attractive."
Sophia felt breathless, "Alexander..."
"You know, when I saw you confront Giovanni last night, I almost wanted to kiss you." Alexander's voice went low, "In front of everyone."
"Why didn't you?" Sophia didn't know why she was asking that question.
"Because I wanted you to initiate." Alexander moved closer to her, their breaths intertwining, "I want you to actually want me, not out of fear or obligation."
Sophia's heart was beating wildly, she could feel the heat from Alexander's body and that mesmerizing scent of danger.
Just as the two were about to kiss, the doorbell rang.
They quickly broke apart, Sophia's cheeks reddening while Alexander coughed lightly.
Elena walked in, "Sir, we have a visitor."
"Who?"
"Officer Ryan Mitchell." Elena's expression was a little strange, "He says he has something important to discuss with you."
Alexander and Sophia looked at each other, "Send him in."
Ryan walked in in his civilian clothes, looking even more tired than last night.
"Sorry to interrupt, but it's a real emergency." He looked at Sophia, "Maybe Mrs. Volkov should hear this."
"Go ahead." Alexander said.
"We found three bodies, in the abandoned factory south of town." Ryan's tone was serious, "One of them had this in his pocket."
He pulled out a picture, a picture of Sophia, but crossed out with a red marker.
Sophia felt a chill run down her spine.
"Who are they?" Alexander asked.
"All members of the Russian mafia, according to the fingerprints. Looks like infighting." Ryan looked to Alexander, "Does this have anything to do with you?"
"I was at the charity dinner all last night and there were hundreds of witnesses." Alexander's answer dripped.
"I know." Ryan nodded, "But that doesn't mean your men didn't act."
"My men have alibis too." Alexander said coldly, "Detective Mitchell, are you accusing me?"
"I'm warning you." Ryan's tone became serious, "These men are dead, but the threat hasn't gone away. We have intel that there are more coming to Chicago."
"What intel?"
Ryan hesitated, "A man named Alexei Kozlov arrived in Chicago yesterday from New York. He's Dmitri Petrov's nephew and the new head of the organization now."
Sophia noticed that Alexander's expression became very grave.
"Alexei Kozlov," Alexander repeated the name, "How is he still alive?"
"You know him?" Ryan caught the information keenly.
"I thought he died in the firefight three years ago." Alexander turned toward the window, "Looks like I underestimated them."
"So what now?" Ryan asked, "Keep this up and Chicago will turn into a war zone."
"That's not my problem." Alexander turned back, "I just want to protect my wife."
"The best protection is cooperation." Ryan walked toward Sophia, "Mrs. Volkov, your safety is our primary concern. If you are willing to cooperate with the investigation..."
"She won't cooperate with any investigation." Alexander interrupted, "And I think our conversation can end now."
Ryan looked at Sophia as if he wanted to say something, but finally nodded.
"Fine. But if you guys change your minds..." He put his business card on the table, "Feel free to contact me."
Immediately after Ryan left, Alexander walked over to the safe and removed a pistol.
"What are you going to do?" Sophia asked.
"Getting ready for battle." Alexander checked the ammo, "Alexei Kozlov isn't your average criminal, he's crazy. Since he's here in Chicago, that means the war has really started."
"But you just said those bodies had nothing to do with you."
Alexander stopped moving and looked at her, "I didn't lie. I really didn't kill those people."
"Then who killed them?"
Alexander was silent for a moment, "The Moretti family."
"What?" Sophia was shocked, "Why?"
"Because Giovanni wanted to start a war between the Russians and me." Alexander rechecked his pistol, "So he could profit from it and regain control of Chicago."
"So he took advantage of my encounter in the restroom?"
"Most likely. Those men who threatened you may not have been Russians at all, but Moretti's men." Alexander slid his pistol into his waistband, "But now that Alexei's here, it all gets complicated."
"So what do we do?"
Alexander stepped in front of her and put his hands on her shoulders, "From now on you can't go alone. marcus will protect you 24/7."
"What about you?"
"I'm going to take care of something." Alexander's eyes turned dangerous, "It's time to show Chicago that there's a price to pay for challenging me."
"Wait!" Sophia took his hand, "This is too dangerous. Maybe Ryan's right, we should cooperate with the police."
"Cooperate?" Alexander sneered, "Sophia, you're still too naive. In this world, only the strong survive."
"But what if something happens to you?" Sophia wondered why she was worried about him.
Alexander froze for a moment, then caressed her cheek, "Worried about me?"
"I... I just don't want to be a widow." Sophia looked away, afraid to look him in the eye.
Alexander let out a soft laugh, "Don't worry, I don't die that easily."
He moved closer to her and placed a light kiss on her forehead, "Wait for me to come back."
Watching Alexander's back as he left, Sophia felt more uneasy than ever. She realized that her feelings for this dangerous man were changing.
From fear to dependence, from resistance to worry, she didn't know what the next step would be.
But there's one thing she's sure of - she can't lose him.
No matter what the reason.
Just then Elena walked in, "Can I get you anything, ma'am?"
Sophia looked at Elena and remembered Valentina's words. This woman had been Alexander's lover and now she was serving her.
"Elena, we need to talk."
Elena's expression became alert, "About what?"
"About your past with Alexander." Sophia said directly, "I think I have a right to know."
Elena's face turned pale, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't pretend." Sophia stood up, "I know you were once lovers."
Elena bit her lip, pain flashing in her eyes, "That... That's in the past."
"Past?" Sophia walked towards her, "But are your feelings past?"
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