Chains of the Cosmos

Space and Time Part 2

Nora's phone vibrated in her pocket, and when she checked, she saw it was a call from the burner phone. She quickly stepped into the small break room at work, glancing around to ensure she wouldn't be overheard, and answered the call.

"Nina," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Nora," Nina's voice came through, low and purposeful. "I'm sending someone over to you. He'll be handling the surveillance on your car, your phone, and your laptop. We need to make sure everything is secure. I trust him, and I need you to work with him. Don't make things difficult."

Nora felt a chill run down her spine, but she didn't question Nina. Not now. "Who is it?" she asked, her curiosity piqued despite herself.

"His name is Dmitri. He's one of my guys—very thorough. Don't worry, he'll take care of everything. He'll be in the parking lot soon."

The call ended abruptly, and Nora stood there for a moment, the weight of what Nina was asking settling over her. The idea of involving someone else in her life—especially someone from Nina's world—was both unsettling and necessary. She wasn't in a position to refuse, not if she wanted to protect herself and whatever future she was trying to build.

As she left the building later that day, she found herself walking toward the parking lot, her mind swirling with thoughts. She spotted the unfamiliar black car parked near hers and saw a tall figure standing by it, casually leaning against the hood. As she got closer, she realized it was him—Dmitri.

He was leaning on the hood of the car, one hand in his pocket, the other casually holding a small device that she assumed was used to scan her car for tracking devices. His fair crew cut caught the light, and his piercing grey eyes met hers with an almost predatory calm. There was an undeniable presence to him—something magnetic. She couldn't help but feel a slight flutter of nerves as he straightened up, pushing off the car when he saw her approaching.

"Miss Nora," he greeted her, his voice smooth, almost too smooth, like he was used to getting what he wanted. "Nina told me a lot about you. Pleasure to meet you." His smile was almost too charming, the kind that made it hard to tell if he was being genuinely friendly or if there was something more behind his eyes.

Nora gave him a cautious nod, trying to remain unaffected by his appearance or demeanor. "You must be Dmitri," she said, her tone guarded. "What exactly are you doing?"

"Just making sure you're safe," he said casually, his eyes scanning her face before moving toward her car. "You never know who's watching, right?" He crouched down, pulling out a small tool and starting to work under the car. "I'm just going to sweep for any trackers, maybe put in something more discreet, if you want. You're probably being followed more than you know."

Nora crossed her arms, her posture defensive, but she couldn't help but feel a bit drawn to his confidence. There was an ease about him, something that made him seem both untouchable and completely in control. "How much did Nina tell you?" she asked, her voice a little sharper than she intended, but she couldn't hide the curiosity—and suspicion.

Dmitri chuckled softly, still focused on his work. "She told me a little about you. That your husband is a bit of a control freak," he said casually, his voice almost playful. "But that's the light version, right?"

Nora's stomach clenched at the mention of Hap, but she managed to stay composed. "That's the light version," she agreed dryly. "He's a murderer. And now I'm pregnant with his baby."

Dmitri paused, his eyes glancing up at her for a brief moment before he continued his work. His smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "That's... intense," he said quietly, as if trying to gauge how much she would reveal. "You don't want any part of this, Dmitri. You don't want to get involved in my mess," Nora said, her voice carrying a note of warning.