Chapter 457: Chapter 457 “My Wife Was Looking For Me”

Tatiana moved slowly along the side of another long row of storage crates, her eyes scanning the area while trying her best to look like she actually belonged there.

The warehouse floor was still busy with activity. Workers pushed carts loaded with smaller boxes while forklifts carried large crates toward the loading bays. Engines hummed, metal wheels rolled across the concrete floor, and distant voices echoed across the massive building.

Everything looked normal on the surface.

But Tatiana knew it wasn’t.

Her steps remained steady as she walked beside one of the larger wooden crates stacked against the wall. The scanner hidden inside her bag continued its quiet sweep just like it had been doing for the last twenty minutes.

Nothing.

Still nothing.

Tatiana was starting to wonder if the explosives were even here at all.

Then suddenly the scanner beeped.

A short sharp sound.

Tatiana froze instantly.

Her heart skipped a beat as her foot stopped mid step.

The bag hanging from her shoulder gave another faint beep.

Her eyes slowly moved toward the crate beside her.

The scanner had detected something.

Her breathing slowed slightly as she turned her body just enough to face the large wooden crate beside her. The crate looked completely ordinary. Rough wood panels, metal edges, shipping markings printed across the side.

But the scanner had not made a mistake.

Something was inside.

Tatiana kept her expression calm while she casually adjusted the strap of her bag.

Her eyes quickly moved around the warehouse floor.

She needed to make sure nobody was watching her.

Workers were moving crates a few rows away.

Two forklifts passed each other near the loading dock.

Several of the fake soldiers stood around the building as usual.

Everything looked normal.

Except one thing.

About fifty meters away one of the armed men was staring directly at her.

Tatiana felt it immediately.

Her eyes met his for only a brief second before she looked away again as if nothing had happened.

But she had already noticed him.

The man stood near a stack of metal containers with a rifle hanging across his chest. His posture was relaxed but his eyes were focused entirely on her.

Watching.

Studying.

Tatiana felt a small chill run down her spine.

Had he noticed the scanner?

Had he seen her react to the crate?

Her mind instantly began running through escape possibilities. The nearest exit was behind her about thirty meters away. Another loading door was further down the building.

If things went wrong she would have to move fast.

But before anything else could happen another man suddenly walked up behind the first guard.

They were both wearing the same fake military clothing.

The newcomer lightly slapped the other man on the shoulder.

"Come on," he said.

"What are you looking at?"

The first guard did not move his eyes away from Tatiana.

He simply lifted his hand slightly and pointed toward her in the distance.

"That woman," he said.

"She’s been walking around without direction for a while now."

The second man followed his finger and looked toward Tatiana.

The moment his eyes landed on her he froze for a second.

Red hair.

Sharp face.

And a figure that was impossible to ignore.

Her body moved naturally as she walked, her waist slim while her hips curved smoothly beneath the fabric of her pants.

Her chest was noticeable but it wasn’t what caught his attention.

What really held his gaze was behind her.

The shape.

The size.

And the subtle movement every time she shifted her weight.

His mouth slowly opened.

"Holy fuck."

He rubbed his lips slowly as his eyes gleamed with interest.

The first man turned toward him with an annoyed expression.

His name was Volk.

Volk raised an eyebrow.

"Will you for once focus on what’s important."

The second man barely even heard him.

His eyes remained locked on Tatiana.

The man’s name was Zver.

Zver placed one hand on Volk’s shoulder while still staring toward the red haired woman.

"Boy," he said casually.

"That right there is what’s important."

He let out a low whistle.

"That face."

His eyes moved slowly along her body.

"That slim sexy body."

Then he grinned.

"And that ass."

Volk slapped his hand off his shoulder with clear irritation.

"Fuck off."

But Zver was already rubbing his hands together with excitement.

"I’m trying my luck," he said with a grin.

"Wish me the best."

Volk rolled his eyes.

"Idiot."

Zver had already started walking.

His boots moved casually across the warehouse floor as he headed straight toward Tatiana.

Meanwhile Tatiana noticed him the moment he started approaching.

Her body tensed slightly.

One of the soldiers was walking directly toward her.

Her brain immediately assumed the worst.

They had noticed her.

Her identity had been exposed.

Her eyes quickly scanned the surrounding area again while her mind began mapping out escape routes. If he tried to grab her she could break his arm and run for the loading door. If the others reacted too quickly she might have to fight her way through.

Her fingers slowly tightened around the strap of her bag.

The scanner inside it gave another faint beep.

Zver kept walking closer.

Ten meters.

Five meters.

Tatiana’s muscles were ready to move.

Then he stopped right in front of her.

He leaned slightly closer with a crooked grin on his face.

"Hey there pretty."

Tatiana’s brain paused for a second.

The tension inside her body froze.

She slowly looked up at him.

The man was not reaching for his gun.

His eyes were not suspicious.

Instead they were looking somewhere else entirely.

Specifically around her waist and hips. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

It took only one second for her to understand.

This man had not discovered her identity at all.

From the way he was staring and the greedy gleam in his eyes it was painfully obvious what he wanted.

Zver stepped closer with an easy grin spreading across his face.

"Hey there gorgeous."

Tatiana looked up at him and smiled naturally.

"Hi."

The smile was soft and friendly, the kind that made it look like she was simply being polite.

Inside Zver’s chest something lit up immediately.

She smiled.

That alone was enough to make his confidence shoot through the roof. In his mind that meant one thing. She was interested, or at the very least she wasn’t rejecting him.

And in Zver’s experience that was already a victory.

After all which woman would ignore his charm.

He straightened his shoulders slightly and brushed a hand over his jacket as if presenting himself better.

Meanwhile on the inside Tatiana felt completely different.

She was disgusted.

The smell of alcohol and sweat coming from the man’s breath made her stomach twist. His eyes kept drifting down her body in ways that made her skin crawl.

If she allowed her real reaction to show she would probably punch him straight in the throat.

But instead she forced her smile to stay perfectly in place.

Zver leaned casually against the crate beside her.

"I saw you walking around for a while now," he said.

His tone was smooth as if he was doing her a favor.

"You look like you don’t really know where you’re going."

He gave her a confident grin.

"Anything you need help with?"

Tatiana blinked once.

The question caught her slightly off guard.

For a brief second she didn’t know what to say.

"I I was..."

Her mind scrambled quickly to come up with something believable.

But before she could finish the sentence another voice suddenly spoke behind her.

"She was just looking for me."

Tatiana’s head turned instantly.

Zver also looked up.

Standing a step behind her was Liam.

His posture looked relaxed as if he had simply been walking by and happened to notice them. The sunglasses were still on his face and his hands rested casually near his pockets.

Zver frowned slightly as he looked at him.

His eyebrows lifted with irritation.

"Who the fuck are you?"

He gestured toward Tatiana with his thumb.

"Can’t you see I’m busy talking to this lady here?"

His expression hardened.

"Fuck off."

Liam didn’t react to the insult at all.

Instead he simply stepped forward with the same calm smile on his face.

Before Zver could even say another word Liam slipped his arm smoothly around Tatiana’s waist.

His hand settled comfortably against her side as he pulled her slightly closer to him.

Tatiana felt the movement instantly.

Her body stiffened for a split second before she quickly relaxed into it.

Liam spoke casually as if nothing strange was happening.

"As I was saying," he continued.

"My wife was looking for me."

Zver stared at them both.

For a second his brain struggled to process what he had just heard.

He pointed at them with confusion written all over his face.

"Wife?"

His eyes moved between Liam and Tatiana.

"You two..."

He blinked again.

"Married?"

Tatiana nodded immediately.

Her smile this time came far more naturally.

"Yes."

Her voice sounded warm now.

She leaned slightly closer toward Liam without even thinking about it.

Zver looked like someone had just punched the air out of his lungs.

All the confidence he had earlier seemed to deflate in an instant.

Meanwhile Liam leaned slightly closer toward Tatiana.

His face moved closer to hers and before she could even react he kissed her gently on the cheek.

The gesture looked casual and affectionate.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting my love," Liam said softly.

Tatiana’s eyes widened slightly for a split second from the sudden contact but she quickly hid the reaction behind a calm smile.

Zver stood there completely stunned.

He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Just a moment ago he thought he had a chance with her.

Now she was apparently someone’s wife.

And not only that the guy clearly wasn’t intimidated by him or his gun.

Zver scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Well... shit."

Several meters away Volk was still standing near the crates watching the whole thing.

The moment he saw Liam wrap his arm around Tatiana and call her his wife he almost burst out laughing.

He quickly turned his head slightly so Zver wouldn’t notice him.

But his shoulders were already shaking.

The humiliation his friend just walked into was simply too perfect.

Volk wiped his mouth as he tried to contain the laugh building in his chest.

Serves him right.

Meanwhile his eyes moved briefly toward Tatiana again.

It seemed he might have misjudged her earlier.

She wasn’t wandering around suspiciously after all.

She was probably just looking for her husband in the massive warehouse.

And honestly that made sense.

The place was huge.

If people weren’t careful it would be very easy to get separated inside a building this size.