By morning, i was already knee-deep in intel, going over files i’d pulled in secret from the FBI’s restricted database.
My stomach churned with each name i scrolled past. These were high-profile players, the kind with connections that ran deeper than any government. It felt impossible to believe that i, one person, could have any impact on the mess i was diving into.
And yet… Dmitri’s words echoed in my mind. *“My enemies are your enemies.”*
I let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing my temples, but before i could dwell on it, my phone buzzed. An unknown number. Heart pounding, i picked up.
“I assume you’re free this evening?” Dmitri’s voice was low and calm, tinged with amusement.
“Depends,” i replied, managing to sound nonchalant. “What exactly did you have in mind?”
“A little… investigation.” Dmitri’s tone held a challenge. “I’ll text you the address. Wear something that blends in. We don’t want to draw attention.”
The line went dead, leaving me to stare at my phone, feeling the thrill and the dread knot in my chest. I knew that every step forward with Dmitri brought me closer to a point of no return.
---
Later that evening, i slipped into a black jacket and jeans, my hair tucked under a dark baseball cap, hoping i looked more like a casual civilian than an FBI agent. I'd left my badge and weapon behind, a calculated risk i don’t take lightly, but one i knew was necessary.
The address Dmitri sent led me to an upscale gala on the Upper East Side, the kind of place crawling with politicians and diplomats. A sleek figure stepped out from the shadows of a nearby alley just as i approached.
“Ah, you came,” Dmitri said, his gaze sweeping over me in approval. He was dressed in a tailored suit, looking every bit the polished businessman, though there was an edge of danger to him that even the finest tailoring couldn’t disguise.
I crossed my arms. “You didn’t say anything about a gala.”
“We need access to someone on the guest list.” Dmitri handed me a small earpiece, his fingers brushing against mine for just a moment. “And I need you to be my ‘plus one.’”
I raised an eyebrow, slipping the earpiece into place. “You planned this out pretty well.”
“I’m a man of details,” Dmitri replied with a slight smirk. “Now, follow my lead.”
He took my arm, and we strode past the doorman, who barely blinked as we entered. My mind was racing, but i kept my expression neutral, determined not to give anything away.
Inside, the room was filled with glittering chandeliers, clinking glasses, and the low murmur of conversation. But my gaze quickly settled on a man near the back—one Dmitri had mentioned earlier, a key figure in an international intelligence ring.
Dmitri leaned in close, his voice a soft murmur by my ear. “That’s Viktor Ivanov. He’s one of the men I told you about. He runs operations out of Moscow, but lately, he’s been extending his reach here in the States. Tonight, we need to get him to talk.”
“And how do you plan to do that?” i whispered back, feeling his breath so close it made my pulse quicken.
Dmitri’s lips barely moved. “You’ll distract him. Pretend you’re a journalist or something. Get him talking about his ‘business ventures.’”
I shot him a skeptical look but nodded. Without hesitation, i squared my shoulders and slipped away from Dmitri’s side, making my way toward Viktor.
Dmitri watched me go, his expression unreadable, but there was a gleam in his eye—a mixture of admiration and… something else.
As i reached Viktor, i adopted a casual, inquisitive smile. “Mr. Ivanov, right? I’m a freelance journalist working on a piece about global business leaders. I’d love to get a few words from you.”
Viktor eyed me for a moment, clearly assessing whether i was worth his time. But with a slight nod, he motioned for me to sit beside him, leaning in with a grin.
“Well, of course. What would you like to know?” he replied, his thick Russian accent tinged with charm.
I kept the conversation going, asking vague questions about his “ventures” while listening closely to any slip-ups. All the while, i could feel Dmitri’s gaze on me from across the room, both a comfort and a warning.
After a few minutes, i caught Viktor’s gaze flickering to a man standing by the bar, and he muttered something under his breath in Russian—a name i recognized from Dmitri’s files. Bingo.
My pulse quickened. But before i could push further, Viktor’s demeanor shifted, his eyes narrowing.
“Forgive me, miss,” he said coolly, his charm slipping away. “But I believe our conversation is over.”
I kept my expression calm, nodding as i rose to my feet, but the chill in Viktor’s eyes sent a shiver down my spine. I turned, heading back toward Dmitri, who was already moving toward the exit.
Once we were outside, Dmitri placed a hand on my waist , guiding me into an alleyway to avoid the passing security patrols. “Did you get anything?” he asked quietly, glancing down the street.
“He mentioned a name. Someone from your files,” i replied, keeping my voice low. “But he got suspicious. I think he recognized I was fishing for something.”
Dmitri let out a quiet chuckle. “You’re a natural, Rose. Though you might need to work on your poker face a bit.”
I rolled my eyes, but a smile tugged at my lips. “Just tell me this intel was worth the risk.”
“It was,” he said softly, his eyes serious as they met mine. “You have no idea how much.”
For a moment, we stood in the shadowed alleyway, the city noise a distant hum. The space between us felt electric, charged with the weight of secrets and the thrill of something forbidden. I could feel his gaze lingering on me, and despite everything—my training, my loyalty, my duty—i found myself wanting to close that gap.
But before either of us could move, footsteps echoed from the street, and Dmitri’s expression shifted back to business. “We need to go. Meet me tomorrow night. I’ll send the location.”
With a final glance, he slipped into the night, leaving me with the taste of danger and the thrill of what was still to come.
YOU ARE READING
SHADOWED ALLIANCE
Romance"They were trained to see each other as enemies-until their hearts became the only battlefield."
