Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
Viktor
W hen it came to war, Viktor was clearheaded. As he led the attack on Alexei’s warehouse, he knew he had to keep that focus sharp. Sofia stayed close to him, thank God. She was the most stubborn woman he’d ever met, but at this moment, it seemed she understood the stakes and was sticking by his side. Still, he couldn’t shake the nagging thought that he might be putting her in danger—danger that could ultimately overshadow her.
Heck, he was enabling her.
It didn’t matter that this was an operation to rescue her brother. She was someone who wasn’t accustomed to this life, and despite Sergei and Andrei’s warnings, he had let her come with him. He couldn’t tell if that was the wrong decision, but he hoped it wasn’t.
There was no way he could protect two people at once, and he still instilled fear in his enemies.
The night was dark, the kind that made it difficult to see even a few feet ahead. But he had planned for operations like this. He was skilled in navigating situations as twisted as this, and he had trained the men around him to be just as capable. They could do this.
Earlier, in the car, he had handed her a gun, practically tossing it into her lap when she insisted she wouldn’t stay put. “I’m going to protect you at all costs, Sofia, but you might have to protect yourself too.”
She took the gun with shaky hands, raising it cautiously, her fingers keeping clear of the trigger. “I can handle myself out there, Viktor. You should know that by now.”
“Have you handled a gun before?” This was a question he should have asked back at the house, but he’d been too preoccupied with the dynamics of their operation, too immersed in the war they were about to fight. Still, he figured he could get the answers now.
She shot him a coy look. “My father taught me how to use a gun, Viktor?—”
He groaned and shook his head. “This isn’t just bullets against metal. As I recall, during our first meeting, you looked at me like I was some kind of monster for cutting into that man’s flesh.”
“You think I don’t know that?” There was incredulity in her tone, anger flaring in her eyes as she twisted the gun in her grip.
“I don’t think you do, Sofia. It’s not too late to back out of this, you know?”
“Save it.”
They were here now. She still held the gun, even as she crouched low behind him. Maybe he didn’t need to worry so much after all.
The warehouse loomed ahead, its metal frame casting long shadows on the ground. Viktor motioned for his team to take their positions, his eyes scanning the perimeter. But his thoughts lingered on Sofia. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Something didn’t feel right, and it gnawed at him.
Sofia, as always, stayed close, her expression unreadable. She was more than just a mafia princess; she had proven time and again that she wasn’t someone to be underestimated. But tonight, Viktor didn’t want her involved. Not with Ivan’s life hanging in the balance, not with the uncertainty surrounding Alexei’s moves.
"Sofia," Viktor spoke low, his words meant only for her, "stay behind me. This is dangerous."
Her eyes, sharp and steady, locked with his. "I’m not sitting this one out," she said, her tone firm, unwavering.
Viktor narrowed his eyes, but he didn’t argue. He knew that look. Sofia had made up her mind. He cursed under his breath.
"Don’t make me regret this," he muttered, more to himself than to her.
The plan was simple: storm the warehouse, get Ivan, and get out. No distractions. No complications.
They made their move swiftly, slipping into the building through the back entrance. Viktor’s mind worked on autopilot, his body reacting to every shift in sound, every slight movement in the shadows. He’d been doing this for years—he knew how to kill, how to survive. But tonight, as they navigated the maze of crates and corridors, his attention kept returning to Sofia. She was too close. Too involved. It was distracting, and yet, he couldn’t bring himself to tell her to leave.
A sudden noise ahead broke his concentration. The team froze, instinctively slipping into position. Viktor’s pulse quickened, but he didn’t hesitate. They were getting close.
"Sergei," he whispered into his earpiece. "Get to the left side. I want eyes on the door."
"Understood," Sergei crackled back, steady as always.
Viktor turned to Sofia, the faintest trace of concern creeping into his usually stoic expression. "Stay low. Stay quiet."
But Sofia didn’t answer. Instead, she moved forward, staying just a step behind him. She wasn’t going to listen to him. Viktor knew it, but for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to stop her.
The warehouse was quiet, the only sound the soft rustling of their clothes and the distant hum of machinery. They approached the central room, where they expected Alexei to be holed up with Ivan. Viktor signaled for the team to take their places around the entrance, ready for the attack.
He paused, hand resting on the door handle. The nervousness inside him grew. He’d never been this close to failure, not with so much on the line. Not with Sofia in danger.
"Ready," Sergei came through again.
Viktor nodded, and without a word, he kicked the door open.
Chaos erupted instantly. Gunfire echoed through the room, and his team reacted with the precision of professionals. Sofia was beside him, her gun raised, though she wasn’t shooting—at least not yet. She moved with agility, ducking when necessary and firing into the fray to push back their attackers. Viktor could see there was no stopping this woman, and he admired her even more for it.
In the midst of the chaos, Viktor’s attention briefly wavered. That was all it took for him to notice something he hadn’t anticipated. Across the room, near the back, Andrei was whispering to Alexei. It was subtle, but Viktor caught the exchange. His mind raced, the implications already forming, but there was no time to act on them now.
Sofia darted forward, taking advantage of the confusion. Viktor’s heart skipped a beat as she moved past him, heading straight for Ivan, who was bound and unconscious on the floor. She wasn’t supposed to be in the line of fire. She wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near this. But there she was, fighting her way through the chaos to save her brother.
"Get down!" Viktor shouted, reaching for her, but it was too late.
A gunshot rang out, and Sofia staggered, her arm jerking back as the bullet grazed her. Viktor’s world shifted into slow motion. For a moment, he couldn’t move. His mind was paralyzed with the image of her, the blood staining her sleeve. He surged forward, pushing past his team, his own body acting on instinct.
"Sofia!" he roared, his tone raw, filled with panic.
She dropped to her knees, her face pale, but her eyes still sharp, still defiant. She reached out to Ivan, her hand trembling as she touched him. Viktor could hardly focus on anything else as he rushed to her side.
"Don’t touch him," he barked, pulling her away from Ivan, his hands shaking as he checked the wound.
"Sofia…”
She met his eyes with that same stubborn glint in hers. "I’m fine," she said, though her pale face betrayed her. "We need to finish this."
But Viktor wasn’t listening. His hand hovered over her arm, the blood still fresh on her skin, and something inside him cracked. The cold, calculated man he had been moments ago was gone. All that remained was the need to protect her.
"Get the medkit," he ordered one of his men, his laden thick with emotion. "Now."
He was losing focus. He couldn’t afford to let his feelings get in the way. But Sofia tore through his walls, left him raw and exposed. The medkit was passed to him quickly, and Viktor’s hands worked with urgency as he bandaged Sofia’s arm. His movements were sharp, quick, but there was a certain tenderness in them, a tenderness he didn’t allow himself to acknowledge.
Her blood stained his fingers as he applied pressure to the wound, his brow furrowing in frustration. He wanted to yell at her, to make her understand how reckless she was being, but all that came out was a low growl of frustration. She had disobeyed his orders, put herself in harm’s way, and now she was injured because of it.
But still, there was a part of him—something primal—that was grateful she was still here, that she wasn’t lost to him. He didn’t want to think about what would have happened if the bullet had struck deeper.
Sofia winced as he tightened the bandage, and for a moment, Viktor hesitated. His hands hovered over her skin, feeling the warmth of her body, the delicate tremor of pain. His eyes softened, but only for a second before the cold, detached mask of Viktor Ivanov slid back into place.
"Are you done?" she asked, still defiant despite the blood staining her arm.
"Don’t talk," Viktor snapped, his tone harsh, though his hold on her was gentle now. "You’re lucky you didn’t bleed out."
Her lips quirked up in a smirk, though the pain still lingered in her features. "I’m fine, Viktor. You should focus on the mission."
But he wasn’t listening. His mind was elsewhere, still processing the fact that Sofia had thrown herself into danger for Ivan. For someone she barely knew, someone who had been nothing but a weight around their necks. And yet, she had rushed in, risking everything.
He stood, pulling her to her feet with surprising tenderness for a man who rarely showed such care. His eyes scanned the room, the fight still ongoing. The team was making headway, but it wasn’t over yet.
"Stay with Sergei," Viktor ordered, his tone low, even though his mind was anything but. "I can’t afford for you to get in the way again."
Sofia’s jaw clenched in defiance, but she didn’t argue. She knew better than to push him further when he was like this. His words might have been harsh, but there was an underlying protectiveness in them that she knew too well. She nodded, and though Viktor could see the reluctance in her posture, she moved to Sergei’s side without a word.
Viktor watched her for a moment longer, his heart still racing from the near-miss. His team was in position, closing in on Alexei, but Viktor’s mind remained on Sofia. He couldn’t shake the thought of her in danger. It wasn’t like him to feel this way, but it was undeniable. The woman he’d married, the woman who was supposed to be nothing more than a tool to help him solidify his position in the Bratva, was warming her way into his heart.
And that scared him more than anything.
He shoved the thought aside. Now wasn’t the time to think about his feelings. They still had a job to do.
Viktor moved quickly, coordinating with Sergei to clear the remaining guards, each move precise and deadly. The warehouse had become a battlefield, and they were outnumbered. But Viktor wasn’t worried. He never was. His team had been trained for this, and every step they took was executed with military precision.
The sound of gunfire rang out again as Viktor and Sergei advanced, taking out the last of Alexei’s men. In the chaos, Viktor spotted Alexei himself—cornered, his back against the wall, eyes wild with panic. It was over. But Viktor wasn’t ready to let him off so easily.
He made his way toward Alexei, stepping over the bodies of fallen men, his heart still pounding in his chest, but now, it was all business.
"You thought you could get away with this?" Viktor’s sounded calm, but there was an edge to it—something dark, something unforgiving.
Alexei swallowed hard, his eyes darting to the exits. He was trapped. Viktor was closing in, and there was nowhere to run.
"Viktor, we can still work this out," Alexei pleaded, shaking with fear. "I didn’t?—"
"Save it." Viktor cut him off, his gun raised and aimed directly at Alexei. "You’ve made your move, and now you’ll pay the price."
But before Viktor could pull the trigger, Sofia’s words rang out from behind him.
"Viktor, wait."
His body tensed at the sound, and for a moment, his mind was pulled away from the confrontation. He turned, looking at her as she approached, Sergei close behind her. The blood on her arm was already drying, but the concern in her eyes was evident.
"You’re going to kill him?" she asked. "Just like that?"
Viktor’s eyes narrowed. "He’s a threat, Sofia. You saw what he was planning."
"I don’t care," she snapped. "Killing him won’t change anything. We need information, not a body."
Viktor’s jaw clenched. She wasn’t wrong. But in that moment, he didn’t care. His instinct was to end it quickly, to put an end to Alexei’s treachery.
But Sofia wasn’t backing down.
"You owe me that," she added.
Viktor’s pulse thudded in his temples. Sofia was standing there, still defiant, still challenging him even after everything. He could feel the raw energy between them, the pull that had been there since their first encounter.
Reluctantly, Viktor lowered his gun, the stiffness in his muscles slowly easing. "Fine," he muttered. "But if this comes back to bite us, I’ll hold you responsible."
Sofia didn’t flinch, her eyes locked on his, daring him to do something about it. "Fair enough."
Viktor stood there, his gun still lowered but ready to strike if Alexei made a wrong move. The room was thick with anticipation, the atmosphere charged with the aftermath of the battle and the weight of their decisions. Sofia was right. Killing Alexei wouldn’t answer all their questions. It wouldn’t give them the answers they needed about Andrei or the true scope of the betrayal lurking within their ranks.
Alexei was shaking now, his usual bravado crumbled under the weight of Viktor’s glare. But Viktor wasn’t in the mood for mercy. His instincts told him that Alexei was more dangerous alive, his mind working overtime to piece together the motives behind the man’s actions.
"You’ve been planning this for a long time, haven’t you?" Viktor’s pitch was low, each word deliberate. "You thought you could undermine me, take my empire. Did you really think you’d get away with it?"
Alexei stammered, his hands up in surrender, but Viktor wasn’t fooled. He could feel the lies hanging in between them. And as much as Viktor wanted to end this quickly, his thoughts kept circling back to Sofia. She had disobeyed him—put herself in danger for Ivan. The bullet wound on her arm was a reminder of how far she was willing to go. How far she was pushing him.
And that, more than anything, was what kept Viktor from pulling the trigger. Sofia’s defiance, her strength, and the way she had stood up to him—even after everything that had happened between them—had begun to worm its way under his skin.
But now wasn’t the time to deal with that. He needed to focus. On the mission. On the enemy.
He took a step toward Alexei, his eyes narrowing. "Tell me who else is involved. Is it Andrei?"
The name hung between them like a threat. Alexei’s eyes widened for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "Andrei... is loyal. He’s not part of this."
Viktor didn’t believe him, but he didn’t push. Not yet. He needed more than Alexei’s word. He needed proof.
Sofia approached cautiously, still keeping her distance, her eyes never leaving Viktor. She could see the storm brewing inside him, the way his jaw clenched with frustration. She understood it better than anyone else, even if she couldn’t see the full picture.
"Viktor, we need him alive. We need to know the extent of the ploy, know how to deal with the rippling effects of whom else has fallen into his spell.”
Viktor glanced at her, then back at Alexei, and finally nodded. "Fine. But if this goes south, you’re on your own."
Sofia’s lips curved slightly, but she didn’t respond. She didn’t need to. Viktor could see the trust in her eyes, and it unnerved him more than it should.
"Take him to the car," Viktor ordered Sergei, a command that brooked no argument. "We’ll deal with him later."
Sergei moved immediately, securing Alexei’s arms with cuffs, and dragging him toward the exit. The rest of the team began to clean up the scene, ensuring there were no loose ends. But Viktor’s mind was still on Sofia. The way she had stood her ground, even when she had no reason to. She was a woman of conviction, and it unsettled him.
He made his way to her, his footsteps steady, but his mind was clouded. She was still injured, her arm wrapped in a makeshift bandage, but she looked unfazed, more concerned about the mission than herself.
"You disobeyed me," Viktor muttered. "You could have died."
Sofia met his eyes, her expression unreadable. "I didn’t. You can thank me later."
A strange mixture of frustration and admiration washed over Viktor. He should have been angry, should have put her in her place. But instead, he found himself... impressed. She was fearless, reckless, and yet, there was something undeniable about her. Something that called to him in a way that made him question everything he thought he knew.
"You’re lucky I don’t punish you for that," Viktor muttered under his breath, stepping closer. The words were more for himself than for her. His feelings were getting harder to suppress, and he hated it.
Sofia’s eyes softened for a moment. "You wouldn’t do that. Not really."
Her words hung between them, charged with unspoken meaning. Viktor’s chest constricted at the implication, and for a fleeting second, he wondered if she knew how much power she had over him.
But before he could dwell on it, the sound of footsteps approaching broke the moment. Sergei returned, his face grim.
"Viktor," Sergei said, his tone low. "We’ve got a problem."
Viktor turned, his hand instinctively reaching for the gun holstered at his side. "What is it?"
"Alexei wasn’t lying," Sergei said, glancing over at Sofia. "But he wasn’t telling the whole truth either. There’s someone else. Someone high up in the organization. And they’re already moving against us."
Viktor’s heart skipped a beat. He’d known it. There was always a bigger game at play, always someone pulling the strings. And now they had to find out who it was before it was too late.
"Who?" Viktor demanded.
Sergei shook his head. "We don’t know yet. But we’ll find out. We’re not done yet."
Viktor’s jaw clenched. The night was far from over. And this fight—this war—was just beginning.