Footsteps approached me from behind, drawing my attention toward the entrance.
“Ma’am.” A tall, muscular man halted before me. “The car’s ready. We’re waiting for you downstairs.”
It was Ilya, one of Artur’s most loyal men. The man was a skilled fighter, and I was certain that he was going to do all he could to protect me.
“I’ll be down in a minute,” I answered. “Lemme just gather my stuff.”
He gave a curt nod and left.
Ilya was the one who’d temporarily replaced Konstantin. At least for now. Konstantin was badly wounded during the last attack and was still recovering in the ICU.
Because of everything happening, Artur had asked the men guarding me to move stealthily. We used regular cars that could easily blend in, nothing that would draw unwanted attention.
Even when we moved on the highway, the two vehicles in front and behind the one carrying me were at a safe distance. There were other cars between us, and because of that trick, nobody would know it was a convoy.
I was in the backseat of the car, and Ilya was my driver. Another colleague of his was riding shotgun, both dressed in regular clothes that fit the narrative. I pressed my head against the glass, absently watching the city blur past outside.
After a long drive, we arrived at a secluded villa at the outskirts of town. Just like the mansion, the safe house was surrounded by vast vegetation. The air was filled with the sound of chirping birds and the rich scent of nature.
The place was a small cabin standing lazily in the glades of the forest. At least that’s what it looked like from this angle. The vehicles rolled to a stop, and Ilya killed the engine.
“We’re here.” He opened the car door, stepped and opened mine.
The other guy had by now already begun walking over to the trunk to get my luggage. I climbed down from the vehicle, took off the scarf covering my face, and plucked off my dark shades. The idea was to conceal my identity as subtly as possible.
My eyes caught sight of the fresh flowers lining the cobblestone pathways leading to the entrance. Their sweet fragrance drifted into my nostrils, prompting a small smile on my lips.
About ten trained guards in black suits stepped out of the house and began walking over to us.
I stepped back, alarmed.
“Relax, ma’am,” Ilya said to me. “They’re with us.”
That’s when I slowly lowered my guard.
“Good day, Mrs. Tarasov,” one of the new guys greeted me with a polite nod. “Welcome to the safe house.” He halted in front of me. “My name is Dimitri, and I’m in charge of the men assigned to keep you safe.”
“I thoughthewas in charge.” I glanced at Ilya.
“Of bringing you here in one piece, yes.”
Ilya chipped in, “We’re in good hands, trust me, ma’am. These guys are the best. That’s why the boss sent us here.”
A female guard standing next to Dimitri leaned in and whispered something in his ear.
He straightened and cleared his throat. “With all due respect, ma’am, my colleague would like to know if you’re the one they call the Giant Slayer.”
I yanked my brows, flattered. “Wow, word travels fast.”
The lady beamed at me but said nothing. She was the only female amongst these buff men, and that meant she was just as good as the rest of them.
I was impressed.
“You must be tired. Let’s get you settled in.” Dimitri signaled his men to help gather our things. “Come, let me show you inside.”
I learned from the men that this building was bomb-proof. The doors and windows were forged from reinforced steel, thick enough to withstand any blast.
The walls were layered with composite plating and concrete, designed to absorb shock, rather than crack under it. There were silent alarms hidden around the structure, dismantling the idea of stealth and a quiet invasion.