The ballroom glittered with a thousand lights.
I stood at the entrance in a midnight blue gown that Adrian had insisted on."If we're walking into danger, at least look stunning doing it"..and surveyed the crowd. Three hundred guests, minimum. All dressed in their finest, champagne flowing, orchestra playing.
Somewhere among them were twenty FBI agents, disguised as waiters, guests, security.
And somewhere, potentially, was someone sent by Volkov to kill us.
"Smile," Adrian murmured beside me, his hand at the small of my back. "We're supposed to look relaxed."
I forced my lips to curve. "How are you so calm?"
"I'm not. I'm terrified. But I'm a good actor." His hand squeezed slightly. "Panic button in your clutch?"
"Yes. Tracking device in my bracelet. I remember." I touched the delicate diamond bracelet a gift from Adrian this morning, with FBI tech hidden inside. "You?"
"Watch and cufflinks. We're covered." He scanned the crowd with practiced ease. "I see Agent Chen. She's the woman in red by the bar."
I spotted her. She caught my eye, gave the tiniest nod.
Everything was in place.
"Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood!" James appeared, impeccably dressed as always. "Wonderful turnout. The foundation should raise record funds tonight."
"Let's hope that's the most exciting thing that happens," Adrian said dryly.
James's eyes sharpened. He knew about the threat, about the plan. He'd wanted to cancel the gala entirely, but the FBI had insisted it was the best opportunity.
"Be careful," James said quietly, gripping Adrian's shoulder. "Both of you."
"Always," I promised.
We moved into the crowd, playing our parts. Adrian shook hands with business associates, I made small talk with society women I'd come to know over the past months. All while my eyes constantly scanned, looking for anything out of place.
A waiter moved too stiffly FBI agent.
A couple near the exit seemed too alert more FBI.
But nothing suspicious. No one who seemed dangerous.
Maybe Volkov wouldn't take the bait after all.
"Sophia Blackwood, as I live and breathe!"
I turned to find Elena pushing through the crowd, Lucas trailing behind her with an indulgent smile.
"You look amazing," Elena gushed, hugging me tight. "Married life clearly agrees with you."
"Thanks. You too." I pulled back to look at her. "Wait. You and Lucas."
"Told them we're together?" Lucas grinned. "Yeah. Finally. Figured after watching you two nearly die multiple times, life's too short to hide."
Elena elbowed him. "Very romantic, babe."
"It's true though." Lucas's expression turned serious. "Be careful tonight. Both of you."
"You know?" I asked quietly.
"Lucas knows everything," Adrian said. "Comes with being my best friend and COO."
"Just stay close to the FBI agents," Lucas advised. "And if anything feels wrong."
"We run. Got it." I squeezed Elena's hand. "Thanks for being here."
"Nowhere else I'd rather be. Well, maybe Bora Bora, but you guys already took that trip."
Despite everything, I laughed.
The evening progressed. Dinner was served seven courses of incredible food I barely tasted. Speeches were made about the foundation's work. Adrian gave a brief talk about continuing his parents' legacy that made my chest tight with pride and fear.
What if this was the last time I heard him speak?
No. Stop. We were going to be fine.
During dessert, I excused myself to use the restroom. Adrian's hand tightened on mine.
"I'll come with you."
"To the ladies' room?"
"I'll wait outside."
Agent Chen materialized beside us. "I'll accompany Mrs. Blackwood. You stay visible, Mr. Blackwood. We need Volkov to see both of you."
Adrian didn't like it I could see it in his jaw but he nodded. "Five minutes. If you're not back."
"I'll be back."
The restroom was down a hallway, away from the main ballroom. Agent Chen walked slightly behind me, one hand inside her clutch where I knew she kept a gun.
"Anything suspicious?" she asked quietly.
"Not yet. Maybe he's not coming."
"He's coming. Men like Volkov don't ignore challenges. Be ready."
Inside the restroom, I checked my makeup in the mirror a excuse to breathe, to calm my racing heart. My reflection looked composed, elegant.
I barely recognized myself from the woman who'd died on a restaurant floor two months ago.
So much had changed. I'd changed.
The door opened behind me. I glanced up, expecting to see another guest.
Instead, I saw a woman in a server's uniform I didn't recognize. Something about her movement was wrong too purposeful, too focused.
Our eyes met in the mirror.
I saw the moment she realized I'd noticed.
Her hand went to her waist.
"Gun!" I screamed, diving behind a stall door.
The bathroom mirror exploded as a shot rang out. Glass rained down, and I heard Agent Chen returning fire, shouting into her radio.
"Shots fired! Ladies' restroom, west wing! Suspect is female, server uniform."
Another shot cut her off.
I scrambled further into the stall, hands shaking as I fumbled for the panic button in my clutch. Found it. Pressed it hard.
Help was coming. Adrian would know I was in trouble. The FBI would.
The stall door exploded inward. The woman stood there, gun pointed at my face.
"Mrs. Blackwood. Mr. Volkov sends his regards."
Russian accent. Cold eyes. Professional killer.
"Please," I managed. "Whatever he's paying you."
"It's not about money. It's about respect. You don't humiliate the Syndicate and live." Her finger tightened on the trigger. "Nothing personal."
"Drop it! FBI!"
The woman spun, firing toward the bathroom entrance. I heard shouting, more gunfire, chaos.
I didn't think. I just moved.
Grabbed the heavy toilet tank lid ridiculous movie move but all I had and swung it at her head with everything I had.
It connected with a sickening crack. She went down hard, gun skittering across the tile.
I grabbed it hands shaking so badly I nearly dropped it and pointed it at her.
"Don't move," I said, voice trembling. "Don't you dare move."
She didn't. She was unconscious, maybe dead. Blood pooled under her head.
Oh God. Had I killed her?
"Sophia!"
Adrian burst through the door, two FBI agents behind him. His face was white as death.
"I'm okay," I said automatically. "I'm.."
The gun dropped from my shaking hands. Adrian caught me as my knees gave out.
"I've got you. I've got you." He held me tight, one hand cradling the back of my head. "Jesus Christ, Sophia. When I heard shots."
"Agent Chen," I gasped. "She was shot, I heard."
"I'm fine." Agent Chen limped in, one hand pressed to her shoulder where blood seeped through her dress. "Vest caught most of it. Mrs. Blackwood, that was quick thinking."
"Is she dead?" I couldn't look at the woman on the floor. "Did I kill her?"
One of the agents checked her pulse. "Unconscious. Severe concussion. But alive."
Relief and horror warred in my chest. "Good. That's good."
"We need to evacuate," Agent Chen said, all business despite being shot. "There could be others. Mr. Blackwood, get your wife to safety. Now."
Adrian didn't need to be told twice. He lifted me into his arms I was shaking too hard to walk and carried me out.
The hallway was chaos. Guests being evacuated, FBI agents everywhere, someone shouting orders.
Adrian found a small office, ducked inside, kicked the door shut. Set me down on a sofa.
"Let me see you. Are you hurt?" His hands ran over me frantically, checking for injuries.
"I'm fine. I'm not shot, I'm not." My voice broke. "Adrian, I hit her. With the toilet lid. I might have killed her."
"Hey. Hey, look at me." He cupped my face, made me meet his eyes. "You defended yourself. That woman came to kill you, Sophia. You did what you had to do."
"I know, but.."
"No buts. You survived. That's all that matters." He pulled me close, and I felt him shaking too. "When I heard those shots, when I realized you were in there.."
"I'm okay. We're okay."
"This time. But Sophia.." He pulled back, his expression tortured. "I can't do this. I can't keep putting you in danger. This whole plan was insane.."
"It worked. They caught someone."
"And you almost died!"
"But I didn't." I grabbed his hands, held tight. "Adrian, listen to me. This is the life we have. Powerful people make powerful enemies. We can hide, or we can fight. And we've never been the hiding type."
"I want to be. For you, I want to be."
"No, you don't. And neither do I." I kissed him, fierce and desperate. "We're survivors. Both of us. We survive together."
Before he could respond, someone pounded on the door.
"Mr. Blackwood! All clear. We need you both for statements."
The next hour was a blur. FBI agents, police, statements given over and over. The assassin was taken away in an ambulance, under heavy guard. Agent Chen was treated by paramedics, refusing to go to the hospital until the scene was secured.
"She talked," Chen told us once things calmed down. "The assassin. Gave up Volkov's location in exchange for a deal. We've got teams moving on his position now."
"Is it over?" I asked.
"Maybe. If Volkov's where she says he is, if we can take him alive." Chen winced as a paramedic cleaned her shoulder wound. "You two did good tonight. And Mrs. Blackwood? That toilet tank move? I'm adding that to the training manual."
I laughed, slightly hysterical. "Happy to contribute."
By midnight, we were finally allowed to go home. James had stayed through everything, waiting with Lucas and Elena.
"Thank God you're both alright," James said, hugging us both tight. "Never again. We're never doing something like this again."
"Agreed," Adrian said firmly.
At home, Margaret met us at the door with warm tea and worry.
"Go rest," she ordered. "Both of you. I'll handle everything else."
In our bedroom, I finally fell apart.
The adrenaline crashed, and I started crying huge, gasping sobs that I couldn't control. Adrian held me through it all, murmuring reassurances, just being there.
"I was so scared," I admitted when I could speak. "When she pointed that gun at me, I thought."
"I know. Me too." He rocked me gently. "But you fought back. You survived. God, Sophia, you're so brave."
"I don't feel brave. I feel terrified."
"That's what makes it bravery. Being terrified and doing it anyway."
We stayed like that for a long time, holding each other, both processing how close we'd come to losing everything.
My phone buzzed. A text from Agent Chen:
Volkov in custody. It's over. You're safe.
I showed Adrian. He read it, then closed his eyes in relief.
"It's really over."
"It's really over."
"No more assassins. No more threats."
"No more running." I cupped his face. "We can just live now. Just be married and happy and normal."
"Normal." He laughed shakily. "Not sure we've ever been normal."
"Then we'll be our version of normal. Together."
"Together," he agreed, then kissed me like I was air and he'd been drowning.
Later, wrapped in each other with the city lights filtering through the windows, I thought about everything that had brought us here.
Death. Rebirth. Revenge. Justice. Love. Danger. Survival.
It had been the most insane two months of my life two lifetimes, really.
But I wouldn't change any of it.
Because it had led me here. To Adrian. To us. To this life we'd built on the ashes of everything we'd lost.
"Sophia?" Adrian's voice was drowsy.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For choosing me. That day in my office. You could have run, could have handled Ethan differently. But you chose me. Chose us."
"Best decision I ever made."
"Best deal I ever made," he countered.
I smiled in the darkness. "We need new lines."
"Never. Those are ours. Forever."
"Forever," I agreed.
And as I drifted off to sleep in the arms of the man I loved, safe and whole and home, I knew one thing for certain:
This was just the beginning.
Not the end of our story, but the end of the chaos. The start of the life we'd fought so hard for.
A life of love. Partnership. Peace.
Finally, blessedly, wonderfully peace.
END OF CHAPTER 14