Dimitri sat in the passenger seat, occasionally glancing at Marina through the rearview mirror. The city passed by in a blur, but Marina could barely focus on her surroundings. Her mind replayed Viktor's parting words: You have one chance to prove your worth. Don't disappoint me.
"What's the plan?" Dimitri's voice broke through her thoughts.
Marina looked up, startled. "Plan?"
"To get the file. Where is it, and how do you intend to retrieve it without drawing attention?"
She hesitated, biting her lip. "It's hidden in my apartment. In the vent beneath my bed."
Dimitri raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Not exactly foolproof, is it? If someone from your father's camp suspected you, that's the first place they'd look."
Marina's chest tightened. She hadn't considered how obvious her hiding spot might have been. "I didn't have time to think of anything else," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I just needed to get away."
Dimitri didn't respond. Instead, he exchanged a look with the driver, who nodded subtly. The weight of her mistake pressed down on Marina as the car turned onto a quieter street, drawing closer to her apartment building.
At the Apartment Complex
The car came to a halt a block away from the building. Dimitri turned to Marina, his expression hard. "Stay close. Don't speak to anyone unless I tell you to. If something goes wrong, you run back to the car. Do you understand?"
Marina nodded, her palms clammy with sweat.
They stepped out into the dimly lit street, and Marina instinctively pulled her coat tighter around herself. The towering facade of her apartment building loomed ahead, its once-familiar presence now carrying a sinister edge.
Dimitri moved with practiced ease, scanning their surroundings as they approached the entrance. "Keys?" he demanded.
Marina fumbled with her bag, pulling out the small keychain she had thankfully remembered to take with her when she fled.
"Good," he said, unlocking the door and ushering her inside.
The building was eerily quiet. The faint hum of the elevator and the distant chatter of a television were the only sounds as they ascended to her floor. Each step Marina took felt heavier than the last, her breath catching as they reached her door.
Dimitri signaled for her to stay back as he inspected the lock and frame. After a tense moment, he gave a nod and gestured for her to open it.
Marina's hands trembled as she turned the key and pushed the door open.
---
The Apartment
Everything looked the same, yet different. The familiar scent of lavender from her diffuser lingered faintly, but the air felt colder, heavier. She scanned the living room, her heart sinking when she noticed a small detail—the books on her coffee table had been shifted.
"Someone's been here," Dimitri said quietly, noticing her reaction.
Marina nodded, her throat tight. "We need to hurry."
She led him to the bedroom, her steps cautious as she pushed the door open. The room was untouched—or so it seemed. The bed was neatly made, the curtains drawn just as she'd left them.
"Where's the vent?" Dimitri asked, already scanning the floor.
"Under the bed," she whispered, kneeling beside the frame. She pulled the bed slightly away from the wall, revealing the small metal grate.
Dimitri crouched beside her, pulling out a small multi-tool. With practiced precision, he removed the screws and carefully pried the vent cover off. Marina reached inside, her fingers brushing against the edges of the folder she had hidden. Relief washed over her as she pulled it out, the weight of the documents grounding her.
"Got it," she said, holding it up.
Dimitri nodded. "Let's go."
As they turned to leave, a faint creak echoed from the living room. Both of them froze.
"Stay behind me," Dimitri whispered, drawing a handgun from his coat.
Marina's heart pounded as they crept toward the door. Another sound—a shuffling of feet—sent a surge of panic through her. Someone was here.
Dimitri peeked around the corner, his body tense. He held up a hand, signaling for Marina to stay put.
Moments later, she heard the unmistakable sound of a struggle. A loud crash echoed through the apartment, followed by a sharp grunt.
Unable to stay hidden, Marina peeked around the corner. Her blood ran cold at the sight of a masked intruder wrestling with Dimitri. The man was tall and built, his movements quick and calculated. Dimitri fought back with equal ferocity, but the intruder had the upper hand.
Without thinking, Marina grabbed the nearest object—a heavy lamp—and swung it with all her might at the intruder's head. The impact sent him stumbling, giving Dimitri the opening he needed to subdue him.
The man collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Dimitri straightened, breathing heavily as he wiped a streak of blood from his cheek.
"Nice swing," he muttered, his eyes scanning the room for any more threats.
Marina clutched the folder to her chest, her hands trembling. "Who was he?"
Dimitri knelt beside the intruder, pulling off his mask. The man's face was unfamiliar to Marina, but Dimitri's expression darkened.
"He's one of your father's men," he said grimly. "They know you're here."
---
The Escape
The weight of Dimitri's words sent a chill down Marina's spine. She had known her father wouldn't give up easily, but this was a stark reminder of just how far he was willing to go.
"We need to leave. Now," Dimitri said, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward the door.
Before leaving, Dimitri placed a call. "Clean-up team. Apartment 13B. Make it quick." His voice was sharp, precise—a reminder of Viktor's tightly coordinated network.
They hurried back to the car, the unconscious intruder left behind as a warning to whoever came looking next.
---
Back at the Estate
Viktor was waiting for them when they returned. He stood in the grand foyer, his dark eyes sharp as they approached.
"Well?" he asked, his gaze shifting between Marina and Dimitri.
Marina handed him the folder, her hands shaking. Viktor took it without a word, flipping it open to skim through the content.
After a long moment, he closed the folder and looked at her, his expression unreadable. "You've done well," he said, surprising her. "But this is just the beginning."
Marina nodded, her exhaustion evident. As Viktor handed the folder to Dimitri with a curt nod, his gaze lingered on Marina, cold yet calculating.
In that moment, she realized something: she wasn't just a pawn in Viktor's game. She was a tool he intended to sharpen and use to its fullest potential.
The first step had been taken, but the road ahead would only grow more treacherous.