Memories of Bali

The sun had barely risen when Alexei's phone buzzed on the bedside table. Hana stirred beside him, her body instinctively tensing at the sound. Alexei reached for the phone, his movements sharp and deliberate, his expression hardening as he read the message.

"What is it?" Hana asked groggily, her voice laced with concern.

Alexei slipped out of bed, his back to her. "Nothing you need to worry about. Go back to sleep."

But Hana couldn't shake the unease settling over her. She watched as Alexei disappeared into the next room, closing the door behind him.

***

In the study, Alexei paced back and forth, the phone pressed tightly against his ear.

«Ты уверен, что это правда?» ("Are you sure this is true?")

«Абсолютно. У Ивана есть шпион в вашей организации.» ("Absolutely. Ivan has a mole in your organization.")

Alexei's grip on the phone tightened. «Кто это?» ("Who is it?")

«Я еще не уверен, но я скоро узнаю.» ("I'm not sure yet, but I will find out soon.")

Alexei ended the call, his mind racing. A traitor among his men was a dangerous threat one that could unravel everything he had worked to build and put Hana in even greater danger.

***

By midday, Alexei had summoned Mikhail to the villa. The two of them sat in the living room, the tension between them palpable.

"We have a mole," Alexei said bluntly, his voice cold and unyielding.

Mikhail's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly masked his surprise. "Do you know who it is?"

"Not yet, but I'll find out," Alexei said. "And when I do, I'll make an example of them."

Mikhail nodded, his expression grim. "What about Ivan? He's not going to wait for you to clean house."

"I know," Alexei replied, his tone clipped. "That's why we strike first. Take out his key men and force him into hiding."

"And Hana?"

Alexei's jaw tightened. "She stays here. Under no circumstances is she to leave the villa."

***

Hana, meanwhile, felt like a prisoner in her own home. Alexei's protectiveness had crossed into suffocating control. He rarely let her out of his sight, and when he did, one of his men shadowed her every move.

That afternoon, she wandered into the garden, desperate for a moment of peace. The air was heavy with the scent of jasmine, but even the beauty of the flowers couldn't distract her from the growing tension inside her.

As she sat on a bench, her thoughts racing, a shadow fell over her. She looked up to see Mikhail standing nearby, his expression unreadable.

"Alexei asked me to keep an eye on you," he said, his voice gruff.

"I don't need a babysitter," Hana replied, her frustration bubbling to the surface.

Mikhail shrugged. "It's not about what you need. It's about keeping you safe."

Hana sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I'm tired of this, Mikhail. I'm tired of the secrets, the danger, the constant fear."

Mikhail hesitated before speaking. "Alexei's doing what he thinks is best. But you're right this life isn't easy. It's not meant to be."

Before Hana could respond, the sound of a car approaching the villa drew their attention. She turned to see Alexei stepping out, his expression as dark as the storm clouds gathering overhead.

***

That evening, Alexei cornered Hana in the living room, his intensity almost overwhelming.

"We need to talk," he said, his voice low and urgent.

"What now?" Hana asked, crossing her arms.

"There's a traitor among my men," Alexei said bluntly. "Someone who's been feeding information to Ivan."

Hana's heart skipped a beat. "How do you know?"

"I have my sources," Alexei replied. "But until I figure out who it is, I need you to be careful. Don't trust anyone except me."

"Alexei, this is insane," Hana said, shaking her head. "You can't live your life suspecting everyone around you."

"It's not paranoia if it's true," Alexei snapped, his tone sharp.

Hana flinched at his words, but she refused to back down. "And what happens if you find this person? Are you going to kill them?"

Alexei's silence was all the answer she needed.

"This isn't a life, Alexei," Hana said softly. "It's a prison for both of us."

Alexei stepped closer, his hands gripping her arms tightly. "You don't understand, Hana. This is the only way I know how to survive. And I won't lose you because of someone else's betrayal."

Hana searched his eyes, hoping to find a glimmer of the man she had fallen in love with. But all she saw was a darkness that threatened to consume them both.

***

As the night wore on, Alexei's paranoia deepened. He paced the villa, checking the locks on the doors and windows, his gun never far from reach. Hana watched him from the shadows, her heart breaking for the man who seemed to be unraveling before her eyes.

She wanted to help him, to pull him out of the darkness. But she didn't know how.

All she could do was wait and hope that the storm would pass before it destroyed them both.