Chapter 2: The Border

The black SUV rolled steadily through the empty highway, its headlights slicing through the darkness.

Evelyn sat in the back seat between two of Viktor Volkov's soldiers, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Neither man had spoken a single word since they had left the summit hours earlier.

She stared out the window, watching the city lights disappear behind them. Concrete buildings gave way to deserted roads, then endless forests. The farther they drove, the heavier the silence became.

Something was wrong, very wrong which made her uneasy.. but she shifted in her seat and glanced at the driver.

"Where are we going?" she asked quietly.

No one answered her.

She looked at the man beside her; "Did Viktor send you somewhere before returning home?"

The soldier kept his eyes forward, His expression remained blank, Evelyn frowned. In the six years she had spent as Viktor's wife, his men had never ignored her. They might not have respected her, but they had always answered simple questions.

Tonight, it was as though she did not exist but she tried again.

"Is Viktor meeting us somewhere?" She asked, raising her voice slightly

But the men continued to ignore her, the silence pressed against her chest like a heavy stone then she lowered her gaze. At the summit, everyone looked at her strangely.

Some had avoided her eyes, others had looked almost... sympathetic. At the time, she had assumed she was imagining it but now, she wasn't so sure.

She replayed the meeting in her mind, Viktor had barely spoken to her. He hadn't looked at her once after they left the conference hall. She had spent years convincing herself that his coldness was simply his nature but now, it feels different.. deliberate and calculated.

Outside, the road narrowed into a rough gravel path. Branches scraped against the sides of the vehicle. As the driver finally slowed before bringing the SUV to a stop; the engine died.

One of the soldiers opened his door.

"Out."

It was the first word anyone had spoken in hours.

Evelyn blinked. "What?"

"I said get out!” He barked,

She looked through the windshield. There was nothing, no buildings, no safe house, only dense forest stretching in every direction.

"This isn't home." Evelyn said with her chest tight.

No one responded. Her heartbeat quickened, she stepped out slowly… as the cold night air bit through her thin coat.

The second soldier climbed out carrying a flashlight, and without warning, he tossed a small backpack onto the ground beside her. It landed with a dull thud.

Evelyn stared at it; still confused as to what was going on.

"What is this?" She asked, but still no answer. The driver restarted the engine. Evelyn’s confusion twisted into fear.

"Wait." She said,

The SUV remained where it was, she looked from one soldier to another.

"Where is Viktor?" This time, the silence made her lost it…

Then her voice grew louder.."What is going on?"

The man nearest to her finally spoke without meeting her eyes. "Walk east."

She frowned, "What?"

"Keep walking." He said.

Her stomach tightened. "Why! or have you lost your mind?" No reply, Instead, all three men returned to the vehicle. The door slammed shut, as panic surged through her; She hurried toward the SUV.

"You can't leave me here!" Evelyn screamed as she hit the door of the car heavily while the tires spun over loose gravel.

"Egor!"

She recognized the driver, "You've known me for years!"

The vehicle accelerated…"Please!" Evelyn said with tears in her eyes, but it never slowed down…

Within seconds, the tail lights disappeared into the darkness. Heavy silence swallowed the forest, as Evelyn stood frozen, her whole world crashing in split seconds.. The only sounds she heard were the wind rustling through the trees and her own uneven breathing.

For several long moments, she simply stared at the empty road ... .Waiting, surely they would return. This had to be some mistake. Even if Viktor doesn’t want her anymore, he cannot allow her to die here, just like that.

Minutes passed, and no headlights appeared. No engines, no footsteps, just nothing. Her gaze slowly dropped to the backpack lying at her feet.

She knelt and unzipped it. Inside, there were two bottles of water, a flashlight, a loaf of bread, a small first-aid kit and a folded map. She unfolded it with trembling hands. One glance was enough, Her blood turned to ice. A thick red line divided the map.

One side bore the insignia of the Volkov Cartel. The other belonged to Mikhailov Bratva; She looked up. .. Ahead of her, barely visible beneath the moonlight, stood a weathered border marker. She was standing only a few hundred meters from Mikhailov territory.

The realization struck like a bullet..This wasn't exile, It was an execution. Viktor hadn't ordered her killed himself, He had delivered her to his greatest enemy. Her knees weakened, so she stumbled backward before catching herself against a tree.

Why?

The question echoed endlessly inside her mind. Had she failed him? Had she unknowingly crossed him? Has someone accused her of betrayal? She searched her memories desperately…Every conversation, every meeting, every decision, nothing.. She had obeyed Viktor for three years.

She had defended him. Covered for him, stood beside him through wars, negotiations, and bloodshed. She had sacrificed friendships, family, her own dreams.

If he no longer wanted her… Why not simply divorce her? Why this? Why send her here? Her eyes burned, but no tears came.

Not yet, Crying would not keep her alive, she forced herself to inhale slowly. Panic would only make her careless so she looked at the map again.

If Viktor expected the Mikhailovs to kill her, then staying exactly where she'd been abandoned was the worst possible choice.

She needed information. She needed time. Most of all, she needed to know why. She slung the backpack over her shoulder and began walking cautiously through the forest.

Every snapped twig sounded like a gunshot. Every gust of wind made her heart race. The deeper she walked, the darker the forest became. The moon disappeared behind thick clouds. Her flashlight remained off, using it would only reveal her position.

She counted her steps. She Listened, she watched, then Crunch. A branch snapped behind her. She froze. Another sound came from her left, then another from the right. Someone was moving. Not one person, several, Professional.

They weren't trying to hide anymore. A sharp voice broke the silence.

"Don't move!"

Powerful flashlights flooded the trees. Evelyn instinctively raised her hands. Dark figures emerged from every direction. Rifles aimed directly at her chest. And wothintseconds, she was surrounded.

A tall soldier stepped forward. His face was hidden beneath tactical gear.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Evelyn Volkov."

The reaction was immediate, Several rifles tightened their aim. One man cursed under his breath…

"Volkov?"

Another spat onto the ground.."This is a trick." He said,

"I came alone," Evelyn said carefully.."I wasn't sent to attack anyone."

"Liar." One of the men barked,

"I wasn't." Evelyn repeated.

The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances; one circled behind her and searched the backpack. "No weapons, no explosives." Another frowned, "That's exactly what makes this suspicious."

The leader studied her closely. "Why are you here?" He asked, Evelyn hesitated because she barely understood why herself. "My husband abandoned me."

Several men laughed coldly, One shook his head.. "Convenient story."

"It's the truth." Evelyn said;

"The Volkovs don't abandon their family."

She swallowed.."They did tonight."

The soldiers remained unconvinced, one of them stepped closer, resting his finger against the trigger.

"She's bait." Another nodded immediately, "They leave her here, we capture her, then they attack while we're distracted."

"We should kill her now." He said sharply; Several voices agreed, "It ends the risk."

Evelyn kept her hands raised. "I don't expect you to believe me."

The men ignored her, arguments erupted among them..

"She's lying." The First soldier said, "No, she's terrified." Another said,

"That could be an act, and we can't take chances ..Orders are orders. And what are orders?" He Barked,

"Eliminate any Volkov crossing the border!" The soldiers chorused.

Then the first soldier lifted his rifle another inch. "I'll do it." He said..

Before anyone else could respond, headlights appeared through the trees. Every soldier immediately stepped aside. A convoy of armored vehicles emerged from the darkness.

The engines fell silent. One vehicle door opened, and a tall man stepped out. He wore a dark overcoat over simple black clothing, no unnecessary jewelry, no display of wealth, only quiet authority.

The soldiers straightened instantly…

"Boss."

Aleksandr Mikhailov didn't answer, his sharp gray eyes settled on Evelyn. He walked toward her without haste, the forest became unnaturally quiet, he stopped only a few feet away.

Neither of them spoke, His expression revealed nothing. He examined her carefully; Her torn clothes, the dirt on her shoes, the untouched fear in her eyes, The backpack still hanging from one shoulder. He noticed everything…

Evelyn met his gaze despite the fear coursing through her, She had heard stories about Aleksandr Mikhailov. Some called him patient, some said he’s calculated and a man who never acted without reason.

If the stories were true, pleading would accomplish nothing. Finally, one of the soldiers broke the silence.

"Boss, she's Viktor Volkov's wife."

"I know who she is," Aleksandr replied calmly.

Another soldier stepped forward. "It's a trap,” "Maybe."

"We should execute her before they use her against us."

Aleksandr didn't look away from Evelyn. "If Viktor wanted her dead," he said evenly, "he could have killed her himself."

The men exchanged uncertain glances. Aleksandr continued, "If he wanted to negotiate, he would have sent envoys, not his wife."

His eyes narrowed slightly.."So why is she here?"

No one answered, Because no one knew, not even Evelyn. Aleksandr finally looked at his men.

"Search the area."

"We already did." One of the officers replied,

"Search again." "Yes, Boss."

Within seconds, soldiers disappeared into the surrounding forest. Aleksandr spoke without emotion. "Bind her hands."

Two men immediately obeyed, securing Evelyn's wrists behind her back. She didn't resist. One soldier looked toward Aleksandr. "What now?"

Aleksandr's answer came without hesitation. "Take her to the fortress."

The soldier frowned.

"Alive?"

Aleksandr's gaze remained fixed on Evelyn. "Yes."

He paused for a brief moment. "She’s better alive for now "

His voice turned cold enough to silence every man present. " I want answers and I want them quick ."

No one questioned the order again, Evelyn was escorted toward one of the armored vehicles, surrounded on every side by armed soldiers. She wasn't being rescued, neither was she welcomed.

She was a prisoner entering enemy territory, and whether she lived or died would depend on the truth that not even she understood.