~In war, the enemy doesn't always attack your empire.
Sometimes… they attack the person you love.
Tonight—
Volkov made his first move against Elara.
---
The city lights flickered across the glass walls of the Valentino penthouse.
It was late.
Too quiet.
Ares stood near the window, watching the skyline with a calm expression.
But inside his mind—
Everything was moving fast.
Volkov had started the war.
And that meant the next move wouldn't be about money.
It would be personal.
Behind him, Elara walked into the room.
"You haven't slept."
Ares didn't turn.
"Neither have you."
She stepped beside him.
The city below looked peaceful.
But both of them knew better.
"Elara," Ares said quietly.
"Yes?"
"You shouldn't leave the estate alone for a while."
She crossed her arms.
"You're worried."
"I'm realistic."
She gave him a faint smile.
"You think Volkov will come for me."
Ares finally looked at her.
"Not think."
"Know."
Before she could reply—
Marcus's voice suddenly came through the intercom.
"Ares."
His tone was urgent.
"Security alert."
Ares walked to the screen immediately.
"What happened?"
Marcus's face appeared on the monitor.
"We just intercepted suspicious movement outside the estate perimeter."
Luca's voice echoed behind him.
"Three vehicles."
"Unregistered."
Elara felt the tension rise instantly.
Ares's expression didn't change.
"Armed?"
Marcus nodded.
"Most likely."
Luca spoke again.
"They're trying to avoid the main cameras."
Ares turned toward Elara.
"Stay here."
She shook her head immediately.
"No."
"Elara—"
"I'm not hiding."
Before he could argue—
A loud sound echoed outside.
BANG.
One of the outer security gates exploded.
Marcus's voice came through the speakers again.
"They're inside the perimeter!"
The war had arrived.
Ares grabbed his jacket calmly.
His eyes were cold now.
Dangerously calm.
"Marcus, lock down the building."
"Already done."
"Luca, track every signal in the area."
"On it."
Elara watched him closely.
"You expected this."
"Yes."
"And?"
He looked at her.
"They won't leave with you."
Another explosion echoed outside.
Security alarms filled the estate.
Marcus spoke quickly.
"Six men confirmed."
"They're heading toward the east entrance."
Ares moved toward the door.
Elara followed.
"Elara, stay—"
"No."
He stopped.
Their eyes met.
"You're stubborn."
"You knew that already."
For a second, he considered arguing.
Then he sighed.
"Fine."
He opened a drawer and handed her something.
A small security weapon.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"You trust me with this?"
"I trust you with my life."
That answer hit deeper than expected.
Another loud crash echoed from the hallway below.
Marcus shouted through the comms.
"They're breaching the second floor!"
Ares's voice turned lethal.
"Let them."
Elara looked at him.
"You're not worried?"
A faint smile appeared.
"Not even slightly."
Footsteps suddenly echoed in the hallway.
Fast.
Heavy.
Someone kicked open the door.
Three armed men rushed inside.
Their leader shouted—
"Take the girl!"
One of them lunged toward Elara.
But before he could reach her—
Ares moved.
Fast.
Precise.
Deadly.
Within seconds the first attacker hit the ground.
Unconscious.
The second tried to aim his weapon—
Ares disarmed him instantly.
The third froze when Elara raised the weapon Ares had given her.
Her voice was steady.
"Wrong house."
Marcus's security team stormed in moments later.
The attackers were restrained.
The room fell silent again.
Ares looked at the captured man.
"Who sent you?"
The man laughed weakly.
"You already know."
Ares's eyes darkened.
"Volkov."
The man smiled.
"He says hello."
Elara stepped forward.
"Did he send you to kidnap me?"
The man's grin widened.
"No."
Her heart skipped.
"Then why are you here?"
His answer was quiet.
Cold.
"Just to see if you're still alive."
Silence crashed through the room.
Ares's expression turned dangerous again.
Because that meant something far worse.
Volkov wasn't trying to capture her.
He was measuring how hard she was to reach.
Testing.
Preparing.
Ares turned toward the window.
His voice calm again.
But darker than ever.
"This was only the beginning."
Elara walked beside him.
"And the next move?"
Ares looked at the city lights.
"Won't be an attempt."
"It will be a trap."
---
~Volkov tested Valentino security tonight.
But the real attack hasn't started yet.
Because the next move—
Won't target the estate.
It will target Elara's past.