Page 65 of Broken Embers

Ergorov’s face turns purple with rage.

“Where did you get this?” he roars. “Take the three of them—kill everyone else!”

He spins, ready to leave.

But the whup-whup-whup of helicopter blades slices through the air.

Three military choppers descend, troops pouring out.

“What the hell is going on?” Yelena hisses.

Timofey steps out of the house, flanked by armed guards.

And beside him? A man I’ve only seen in photos. Boris Petrovna. Head of the Ministry of National Security.

Chairman of the RMSAD board.

Ergorov turns ghost-pale.

“I would not do that,” Boris says, cold and loud. “Not unless you want to be executed for treason.”

The RMSAD agents hesitate.

Boris points. “Arrest them. General Ergorov. Dr. Yelena Novikov. And anyone loyal to their regime.”

Chaos erupts as soldiers flood the courtyard.

“You can’t do this!” Yelena shrieks.

“Oh, I can,” Boris says. “All RMSAD operations are hereby suspended pending full investigation. General Timofey Morozov will lead the oversight team. Dr. Carla Craft will be his second.”

Timofey’s jaw tightens. He nods.

“This isn’t over!” Yelena screams as she’s dragged away. “You’ll regret this! All of you!”

I watch as she’s shoved into a transport van, Ergorov beside her, red-faced and snarling.

And just like that—it’s over.

Almost.

19

OLEKSI

Hours after the last troop transport lifted off the palace grounds, peace settles over the estate like snowfall. The golden light of early evening spills through the tall windows, casting soft shadows across the rug in the sitting room.

Elena sits between Sabrina’s legs, babbling happily as she gnaws on a silicone giraffe. Her laughter bubbles up like champagne—light, unburdened. It’s the sound of safety. A sound I didn’t think we’d ever hear again.

Sabrina meets my eyes and smiles.

I lean down to kiss Elena’s forehead and murmur, “You’re too young to understand, princess, but the war we fought today... it was for you.”

There’s a knock on the door.

Syd steps in. “Package just arrived. Marked for you.”

I take it, thank her, and close the door.

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