The air was heavy with the promise of rain as midnight approached. Battery Park was nearly deserted, with only the distant murmur of the city breaking the silence.
I had chosen a secluded spot, hidden by shadows, but with a clear view of the entrance to the park. I scanned my surroundings, each rustle and whisper of the trees setting my nerves on edge.
And then i saw him.
Dmitri moved through the darkness with that same effortless grace, his dark coat blending into the night. As he approached, his gaze locked onto mine, and for a split second, i felt a flicker of vulnerability—a sliver of something human that contradicted the legend surrounding him. But as he stopped a few feet away, his expression hardened.
“Impressive,” he murmured, eyes scanning the surroundings. “You came alone. I wasn’t sure you would.”
I crossed my arms, keeping my distance. “You said you had answers. Don’t waste my time, Dmitri.”
He smirked, tilting his head slightly. “Always so eager for the truth, aren’t you? I’ve always admired that about you.”
“Enough games,” i snapped, though my pulse quickened. “Tell me why you’re here.”
Dmitri’s gaze softened, just a fraction. “Believe it or not, Rose, I didn’t come to cause trouble. I’m here because I need... help.”
The word seemed foreign coming from him, and i narrowed my eyes, suspicious. “Help? Since when does the infamous Dmitri Sokolov ask the FBI for help?”
“Not the FBI,” he corrected, taking a step closer. “You. I trust you.”
I felt a sharp pang at his words, but forced myself to stay guarded. “What kind of ‘help’ are we talking about?”
Dmitri hesitated, his jaw tightening as if weighing his next words carefully. “There are people in my organization—powerful people—who want me dead. I can’t keep running, not anymore. I need information, and I believe you’re the only one who can get it.”
I clenched my fists, torn between duty and the inexplicable urge to believe him. “And what makes you think I’d help you? You’re wanted in half the world.”
“Because you know there’s more at stake here,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. “My enemies are your enemies, Rose. They have infiltrated every level of intelligence. If I fall, they’ll have nothing stopping them from wreaking havoc on your soil, your city. You need me just as much as I need you.”
The weight of his words settled over me, chilling me to the bone. If there was even a shred of truth in what he was saying, the consequences were terrifying.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “If I agree to this, it would mean breaking every rule, going against everything I’ve sworn to protect.”
Dmitri’s gaze softened, his face inches from hers now. “Then why are you still here?”
A moment passed between us, a silent exchange that was both an unspoken promise and a warning. I closed my eyes, feeling the pull of a choice i could barely understand. And in that heartbeat, i knew there was no turning back.
I nodded, my voice steady but laced with caution. “I’ll help you. But if you betray me, Dmitri, I’ll be the one to bring you in. Remember that.”
His lips curved into a shadow of a smile, but his eyes held the faintest trace of gratitude. “Understood, Agent Miller.”
And with that, Dmitri turned, disappearing into the darkness once more, leaving me alone with the thrill—and the terror—of the dangerous alliance i had just forged.
YOU ARE READING
SHADOWED ALLIANCE
Romance"They were trained to see each other as enemies-until their hearts became the only battlefield."
