Memories of Bali

That night, the villa felt quieter than usual. Alexei was in his study, speaking on the phone with the door closed. Meanwhile, Hana chose to sit on the terrace, enjoying the evening breeze while trying to calm her mind. The mysterious message she had received a few nights ago still lingered in her thoughts, but she tried to brush off the anxiety.

In the distance, the sound of a motorcycle echoed along the narrow road leading to the villa. Hana dismissed it as typical traffic. However, moments later, she felt as though someone was watching her.

She turned toward the dark garden surrounding the villa. At first, she thought it was just her imagination, but the sensation grew stronger. She stood up, rubbing her arms as a chill crept over her, then went back inside.

Inside, she found Alexei stepping out of his study, his face serious, though he quickly smiled upon seeing her.

"Are you alright?" Alexei asked gently, his voice filled with concern.

Hana hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Just… feeling uneasy. Like someone's watching."

Alexei's expression changed, his demeanor turning alert. "I'll check it out."

He retrieved a small pistol from his study drawer and walked outside. Hana followed him hesitantly, sensing something was amiss.

The night wind blew through the leaves, and Alexei scanned the surroundings with sharp, focused eyes. "If there's someone here, I'll find them," he said quietly.

But before Alexei could take another step, the sound of shattering glass erupted from inside the house.

***

Hana barely had time to scream before someone grabbed her from behind. A gloved hand clamped over her mouth as her body was dragged toward a black car parked on the road near the villa. She kicked and struggled, but the man's grip was unyielding.

"Stay quiet if you don't want to get hurt," a cold voice whispered in her ear, carrying a distinct Russian accent.

Hana knew fighting back would only make things worse, so she focused on memorizing every detail the man's face, the car, the direction they were heading.

Alexei rushed back into the house just as Hana's figure disappeared through the open front door. "Hana!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the still night.

Outside, Alexei could only see the fading tire tracks on the road. Fury burned in his eyes. He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed someone.

"They've taken her," he said, his voice low and seething with anger. "Find out who dared to do this."

***

Hana sat in a hard wooden chair, her hands tied behind her back. The room she was in was cold and damp, like an old, abandoned warehouse. In front of her stood a tall man in a disheveled dark suit. His face was marked with small scars, and his gaze was filled with malice.

"So, you're Alexei's woman," the man said, his voice heavy with sarcasm.

"Who are you?" Hana asked, her voice trembling but steady.

The man let out a low chuckle, a sound that sent chills down her spine. "My name's Ivan. I'm sure Alexei has mentioned me."

Hana remembered a conversation she had with Alexei a few nights ago. That name had come up Ivan, a former business partner of Alexei's turned bitter rival.

"Why are you doing this?" Hana asked, trying to make sense of the situation.

Ivan stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "Because Alexei needs to be reminded that his actions have consequences. He's taken too much from me, and now it's my turn to take something from him."

Hana held her breath as Ivan pulled a small knife from his jacket pocket, twirling it casually in his hand. "You're just bait, of course," he said. "But don't worry, I won't hurt you… as long as Alexei agrees to my terms."

"What are your terms?" Hana asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Ivan gave a cold smile. "Full control of his operations in Asia. If he doesn't agree… well, let's just say you'll become a casualty of his arrogance."

***

Back at the villa, Alexei was leading a group of men under his command. They scoured the island, gathering intel from every contact Alexei had.

"It has to be Ivan," one of the men, Mikhail, said. "He's the only one bold enough to attack you directly."

Alexei stopped in his tracks, his face as hard as stone. "If he touches Hana, I'll make sure he doesn't live to regret it," he said coldly.

His phone rang, and Alexei answered swiftly. "Tell me you have good news."

On the other end, an informant replied, "We've found their location. An old warehouse on the outskirts of town. But you need to move quickly there are a lot of men there."

Alexei nodded, though the informant couldn't see him. "I'll handle this myself."

Mikhail looked at him with concern. "Alexei, you can't go alone. It's a trap."

"Of course it's a trap," Alexei said coolly. "But Hana's there, and I won't leave her behind."

Without waiting for a response, Alexei grabbed his weapon and headed for the car. The sun was setting, and a long night awaited him.

***

In the warehouse, Hana heard footsteps approaching. Ivan entered the room, holding his phone. "Looks like Alexei knows where we are," he said, sounding satisfied.

Hana glared at him. "He won't let you win."

Ivan chuckled. "He doesn't have a choice, Miss. If he wants to see you alive, he'll surrender."

But deep down, Hana knew Alexei wouldn't give up without a fight. The real question was, what would he sacrifice to save her?