Chapter 3 Fire & Ashes

• SERAFINA’S POV
• I watched as Adriko pulled the phone from his ear, his brows furrowing as he clenched his jaw.
• “Sergei,” he barked, his voice low and lethal. “Get the car; we leave now. We’re taking Route B with no stops. Let there be full surveillance on the perimeter.”
• Sergei didn’t hesitate. “Yes, boss.”
• Adriko ushered me towards the car, his eyes scanning everything. I could feel the pressure of his hand, guiding me with an urgency that made my pulse spike.
• We climbed into the back of the car. The doors slammed shut. Sergei got in front while another car with guards flanked behind us.
• We pulled out of the venue in silence, but Adriko didn’t relax. He kept checking his phone, then glancing at the rearview mirror, then… something.
• He frowned.
• “What is it?” I asked softly. The tension in him was unmistakable.
• He didn’t answer at first. Just stared down at the dashboard. Then looked at Sergei:
• “Pull over.”
• “Boss?” Sergei glanced back, a look of confusion on his face.
• “Now.”
• The car veered off to the side of the road, slowing to a halt near an alleyway lined with construction fencing.
• Adriko’s head snapped toward me. “Out. Now.”
• “What?”
• “Serafina, get out of the car!” He barked at me as he said something in rapid Russian to Sergei, who unbuckled his seatbelt as well.
• There was no time to argue. He yanked the door open, grabbed my wrist, and dragged me out just as—
• BOOM.
• The blast threw us forward. Heat and fire tore through the air behind us. I screamed as we hit the pavement, Adriko’s body covering mine. Shrapnel sprayed like rain around us.
• The car was gone, engulfed in flames. Metal twisted in the heat. The windows shattered outward, and smoke poured into the night sky.
• A buzzing sound rang in my ear, making it hard to think. The harsh smell of smoke and burning metal filled my nose, choking me.
• I coughed, my chest aching with each breath I took, my eyes watering from the effects of the smoke around me.
• Adriko’s voice floated into my hearing from somewhere around, but it was muffled and distant.
• His grip tightened on my shoulders, shaking me subtly as he examined my face.
• His lips were moving, but the ringing in my ears drowned out the noise.
• “Serafina!!” his voice finally floated in.
• I blinked at him, still too dazed to respond.
• “Are you hurt?” he asked, his ocean-blue eyes scanning my face.
• His fingers brushed against my forehead, and I caught a glimpse of a crimson stain smeared across his fingertips as he pulled away.
• My stomach churned.
• “Is that…blood?” I whispered, my voice coming out weaker than I expected.
• ”It’s a small cut,” he said quickly, his voice firm.
• A sharp pain flared through me as I tried to move.
• “My side,” my throat burned as I spoke, “It hurts.”
• His expression turned to one of concern immediately. “Lay back down; I’ll be back,” he responded tightly.
• He rose to his feet and walked towards Sergei, scanning the area, before speaking. “It was a trap; someone compromised the car. Find out what's going on at the venue!”
• Sergei nodded once and brought out his phone. “Multiple units down—someone’s tracking us. We need a clean vehicle. Now!”
• I tried to stand, but the pain in my ribs flared sharply. “Adriko—”
• He was on my side in an instant, kneeling beside me.
• “Hey,” he whispered, his hand brushing my forehead, steady and surprisingly gentle. “We’re leaving,” he continued, his voice low but firm as if trying not to betray the tension pulling at him. “Can you stand?”
• “I think so,” I lied through gritted teeth, the pain flaring sharply in protest. He pinned me with a stare as if he knew the truth but didn't bother to call me out on it.
• He scooped me up with ease, his stride steady despite the chaos around us. I rested my head against his broad chest, my limbs too heavy to move.
• I sucked in a sharp breath as pain shot through my side with every step he took. “I can walk,” I protested, dazed and shaking.
• “No, you can’t,” he replied with a note of finality.
• Barking out sharp and urgent commands, he carried me to the SUV that had just pulled up.
• The cool leather seat pressed against my back as I snuggled into the warm blanket that was placed over me.
• Adriko got in beside me, leaning out the window as Sergei approached the window. “What's the update on the wedding venue?”
• “There was an explosion there as well; it's not looking good.”
• “Fuck!” Adriko cursed as he slammed his hand against the door.
• I flinched.
• “Lock down the area, evacuate the guests, and alert Dinma to send reinforcements.” He barked out orders.
• “Yes, boss,” Sergei responded.
• “How about Irina?” Adriko asked. I caught the hint of fear in his voice. Fear for his sister.
• “She’s safe. We got her out.”
• Adriko nodded. “Find the source. I want to know who is behind this—every link, every whisper—track it down.” He says sharply.
• Sergei nodded and disappeared into the shadows.
• “Let's go.” Adrik barked as he tapped the driver’s seat. The driver put the car in motion and sped from the mayhem.
• Hot tears clouded my vision, threatening to spill over. Just a week ago, my life was so simple.
• How did I go from singing on stage to now being a target?
• *************************
• My eyes fluttered open as I blinked slowly, my brain disoriented and foggy. Where was I?
• I turned my head slowly and saw Adriko beside me in the backseat of the SUV barking commands into his phone. Blood and smoke still clung to his skin. His shirt was torn, revealing the ink that twisted over his arms.
• What happened? The last thing I remembered was him placing me in the backseat.
• “Take us through the back route; keep the perimeter tight. No mistakes,” he continued speaking.
• He hung up and turned to me.
• “You passed out. We’re going to my penthouse.”
• I tried to sit up, but my body screamed in protest. “I’m fine.”
• “You’re not,” he said sharply. “And you don’t get to argue.”
• “You don’t get to give orders!” I snapped, my voice breaking.
• His expression darkened. “You’re bleeding and concussed. Sit down and stop moving.”
• I looked away from him, my blood boiling. God, this man was infuriating. How did I end up being married to him?
• “Here.”
• I turned to see him extending a bottle of water towards me. I hesitated, my hands still trembling too much to be able to grip it firmly.
• He sighed with a slight shake of his head, unscrewing the cap and holding the bottle to my lips, his fingers brushing against my chin.
• I took a small sip, and the cold liquid immediately soothed my parched throat.
• The car came to a halt in front of a massive building. Adriko unbuckled his belt and came to my side of the car, his movements swift. He pulled open the door and lifted me out.
• I hated how safe I felt. How dare he make me feel this way when my world was in turmoil?
• “Put me down,” I muttered. “I can…”
• “Enough!” he snapped, his tone sharp and final.
• I bristled at his sharp tone. “You seem to be very good at barking out orders. Why don't you command me to breathe while you're at it?”
• His grip tightened on me. “Watch your words, Serafina,” he murmured calmly, “or I might drop you.”
• I fell silent, biting back the retort on the tip of my tongue.
• Inside the reception area, the luxury of the building was even more glaring. Security swept the place before we even got through the elevator. Adriko placed his thumb over a scanner, and we rode to the first floor.
• When the doors swung open, it revealed a penthouse that was breathtaking with its floor-to-ceiling windows spanning the massive living room.
• Walking down a faintly lit hallway towards a door, he pushed it open to reveal a guest room. He strode towards the bed and placed me down gently.
• I glanced around, noting the lavish furnishings and the faint scent of lavender in the air.
• “Stay still,” he ordered, disappearing briefly before returning with a first aid kit and a damp cloth.
• He discarded his jacket, revealing the tattoos that snaked up his arms.
• “This might sting,” he soothed, pulling a chair close, his intense gaze locking on mine.
• “You don't have to fuss over me.” I whispered, looking away to avoid his gaze that suddenly made me uncomfortable.
• “Fuss?” he scoffed. “I’m doing you a favor; people don't get this kind of treatment from me.”
• “Oh, lucky me,” I said dryly.
• He ignored me as he got to work. His jaw flexed as he dabbed blood from my temple with a damp cloth. It stung like hell.
• “Ow!” I winced, jerking away. “God, could you be gentler?”
• “I’m trying not to let you bleed out. Forgive me if it’s not a spa day.”
• “Don’t act like this is about me,” I bit out. “You’re cleaning up your mess. That explosion? That’s your world crashing into mine.”
• He didn’t answer. His fingers kept working, precise and steady.
• “You could’ve told me what I was marrying into,” I spat. “Instead, you throw me in the deep end and act surprised I’m drowning.”
• He looked up slowly, his eyes cold. “You think I wanted this marriage? You think I had a choice?”
• “You had a thousand! You’re Adriko Ivanov—you don’t have to do anything!”
• “Listen to me. You can't tell me what I can or cannot do when your father signs your life away like a contract.” His voice dropped into something lethal. “Don’t forget whose father started this war. It was either I agree to a truce or kill your dear father. Which would you have preferred I pick?”
• That shut me up, and a heavy silence fell between us.
• He cleaned the cut on my forehead, then reached for my waist. I flinched.
• “I need to check your ribs.”
• “I’m fine.”
• “You’re not. The dress is shredded; I need to see the damage. You need to get out of it.”
• “I’m not getting out of it. Thank you very much.”
• His eyes flashed. “If I wanted you naked, I’d already have you. You’re not my type, Serafina.”
• The words stung more than I cared to admit. I swallowed, hard.
• My cheeks burned. “Go to hell,” I spat. I clenched my fists at his mocking tone.
• “Ladies first,” he murmured, his lips curling into a humorless smirk, but as soon as it appeared, it was gone as the ringing of his phone cut through the tense silence. He glanced at the caller ID and slid it back into his pocket.
• He sighed and stepped back. “Nadia, my housekeeper, will be here to help you change. A doctor’s on his way.”
• “Adriko,” I said quietly. “What happens now?”
• He paused at the door.
• “Now?” His voice was cold steel. “Now I find out who tried to kill us. And I make sure they regret failing.”
• The door clicked shut behind him.
• And I lay in the silence, wondering what kind of hell I’d just married into.