Is this destiny?

Aiden moved robotically, as Sarah instructed, and he does not remember how they reached the point when Sarah told him: "Now turn the lever…"

'Click!' 

A faint sound was heard, and Aiden pulled the safe open impatiently. He tried pushing and pulling on the lever many times, but it never budged, until now.

Aiden's vision was blurry as he reached inside the safe and grabbed the envelope. As soon as the envelope left the safe, a clattering sound was heard from behind Aiden and the metallic door flung open.

Kolya, Jasha, and Mila stared at the open door without moving, and Aiden didn't need to turn to know that the breeze he is feeling is the air from the hallway.

Aiden plopped on the ground from a squatting position and realized that his legs are numb.

The other three visibly relaxed and they all took a minute to breathe in silence. Ah, it's wonderful to breathe.

"Let's get out of here…", Aiden's voice got everyone out of their stupor.

"I thought I will die in there.", Kolya said when they exited the room.

"Me too. I spoke like things are fine, but it took all of me to keep it together. I faced dangerous situations more than once, but my life never had a timer. From the moment we were under one minute, the images from my past were passing in front of my eyes…" Jasha patted his chest indicating that his heart was faltering, and he glanced at Aiden. "Thanks, Alex, for not losing your cool. I don't know how you did it, but you saved our asses. I will be happy if there is a chance for us to work together in the future."

"Me too, me too…", Kolya added. "I apologize for being arrogant and I hope we can put that behind us."

"Sure, sure…", Aiden responded vaguely. He didn't hear a word of what the others were saying because he was listening to Sarah's cheers and in his mind, he was already making her cakes. But that will happen for real once they return home. For a treat right away, he will give her a massage. She loves his massages which usually end up with them making love, but that is one more reason to give her a massage.

"OK, OK… I see that you are about to exit, so I'm ending the transmission.", Sarah said excitedly. "Remember that this is not over until you come back to me. Watch your back, from everyone."

"Hmm…", Aiden hummed in confirmation and switched on his earpiece that is used by his team members.

Mila didn't miss that Aiden was smiling absentmindedly, and then he hummed and touched his earpiece. He was definitely talking to Maksim.

'Keeping his cool, my foot!', Mila fumed internally while glaring at Aiden. 'Look at him accepting the praises and pretending that he is the hero. He knew that there is no danger, and he timed it on purpose to the last seconds to make it dramatic. Hmph!'

The four members of the team falcon met their team leader outside, and Aiden flung the envelope at Maksim who caught it elegantly with three fingers.

Maksim had a smug smile on his face, that irritated Aiden, but he didn't want to deal with Maksim more than necessary.

"I assume we are done?", Aiden asked dryly.

Maksim narrowed his eyes. "Are you in a rush?"

"Yes. I am in a rush to be anywhere other than here."

"And I thought that you want to see Olga."

Aiden frowned. Why is this guy mentioning Sarah?

Maksim chuckled. "Are you sure she wants to see you?"

The more Maksim gloated, the more Aiden didn't like it. "What do you mean?"

"I mean… maybe she would rather see someone else."

"Like?", Aiden squeezed through his teeth.

"Well, I don't know… maybe me?"

"She would never want to get close to you!", Aiden said angrily. He was already frustrated with Maksim and this whole mission setup, and Maksim talking about Sarah only added oil to the already raging fire.

"Hmm…", Maksim eyed Aiden. "I see that you are confident. Will you stop her if she wants to see someone else?"

Aiden was losing his patience. Is Maksim insinuating that Sarah will leave Aiden for Maksim? "What the…"

"OK. The two of you can stop the show.", Mila interrupted them with impatience in her voice.

Kolya and Jasha looked at Mila like she went crazy. Why is she interrupting those two who are on the verge of fighting? Is she suicidal?

"What show?", Maksim asked Mila suspiciously. He wants to push Aiden's buttons because he promised his Divna that he will not hurt the pretty boy. However, Aiden came out of that room unscathed and if Maksim hurts him accidentally in self-defense, then it's a fair game, right? However, Mila interrupting like this can't be without a reason.

Mila lifted her chin smugly. "We all know that the two of you are into each other. Stop pretending. I am sick of it. Maksim, you told me to get close to Alex, but it seems that you only wanted to test your boyfriend."

Maksim's eyes nearly bulged out from the shock that Mila's words caused. "Say that again."

Aiden thought that he will pass out from rage. First, Maksim is picking on him, then Maksim has strange insinuations about Sarah, and now Mila said that he is Maksim's boyfriend? This day is going from bad to worse.

Aiden glared at Maksim. "Is that why you called them for a talk before the mission? You told them that you are into me? Did you put me in a spot on purpose with a goal for me to ask for your help? Dude… I suggest you stop those dreams right away because I am not swaying that way."

"Who the fuck is into you!?", Maksim roared at Aiden and then he turned to Mila. "Where the fuck did you get that idea?!"

Mila was not shaken up by this. Her base leader yells a lot, and she is used to it. She looked at Maksim knowingly. "Are you going to deny that you staged all this for your boyfriend to look good? You tricked us all to think that you are bullying him, yet you secretly gave him instructions on how to avoid traps and solve challenges. We all saw him move through the house like he knows the place."

Maksim's hand was balled into a fist, and he was one nerve ending away from punching Mila in the face.

"What?", Maksim growled at Mila.

Kolya and Jasha observed all this in disbelief. They have no idea from where Mila got all this, but somehow… it made sense. How else would Aiden avoid the traps? Instead of exploring the house, he told them to head to the basement… and he is the one who gave them all the useful tips, not to forget cracking the safe open without using any tools or explosives.

Instead of answering Maksim, Mila looked at Aiden. "Are you also going to deny it? Alex, I saw you talking with someone while pretending to struggle opening the safe, and who else could it be if not Maksim?"

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