Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
Viktor
F or the first time, Viktor didn’t have to look over his shoulder for the next enemy. He didn’t need to strategize about burning the city down to prove a point. Instead, he made coffee, took a sip, and set the mug down on the island.
He walked to the window of the penthouse and gazed out at the city below. His reflection stared back at him, and he reached up to press his palm against the glass. It felt freeing to be here like this, without a single fear knotting his stomach. Viktor knew he had Sofia to thank for that.
“A penny for your thoughts?”
He chuckled, turning slowly to see her standing in the middle of the living room, wearing a floral dress that ended dramatically just past her knees. “You look… ravishing, Sofia.”
She twirled around, giggling, then bowed slightly. “But you’re not going to use compliments to hide the truth. What are you thinking about?”
She had that power—the ability to bring him to his knees with just her words. She was doing it again, this time with more clothes and a wilder, brighter smile.
He sighed deeply, turning back to the window. “I was thinking about this… us… everything. It doesn’t get easier, trust me.”
“I know.” She came up behind him, wrapping her arms around him. "Do you think we can change it all, Viktor?"
Viktor turned to her, studying how her features had softened over the past months. The sharp edges of her resistance had worn down, replaced by something more powerful—something like loyalty, or perhaps love. He wasn’t sure which, but he felt it, and that was enough.
"We will," he said simply, his voice low and filled with the conviction he had come to know since Alexei’s downfall and death. "The Bratva will be ours now. We’ll rebuild it the way it should’ve always been—strong, but with honor. No more lies. No more betrayal."
Her eyes softened, a fleeting moment of tenderness crossing her face. He reached for her then, pulling her into his arms. She didn’t hesitate. She never hesitated anymore.
"Viktor," she murmured into his chest, hushedly but full of something deeper—something more than the battle they’d fought together. "What do we do now? Now that it’s all over?"
He leaned back, his hands framing her face, his thumb brushing over her lips. "Now, we live. We rebuild. We take charge of what’s ours." He paused, locking eyes with her. "Together."
Sofia gave him a small smile, her hands resting on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart under her palm. It was the heart of a man who had fought his demons and emerged victorious, but more importantly, it was the heart of the man who had made her his equal in this world. He had trusted her in ways he never had before.
Her fingers traced the hard lines of his jaw. "What if it’s not enough? What if the past never really lets us go?"
Viktor’s hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her closer. "Then we let it go. Together."
He kissed her then—softly at first, as if testing the waters of the future they were now free to build. But the kiss quickly deepened, fueled by the relief and the raw emotion of their shared victory. The kiss was their promise, not just to each other but to the world they would now shape.
When they finally pulled away, Sofia’s breath came in quick bursts, matching his own.
"I want this, Viktor," she whispered, her tone thick with emotion. "I want this more than anything."
He nodded, his forehead resting against hers. "You already have it, Sofia. You’ve had it all along."
Sofia
Sofia stood on the balcony with Viktor, her fingers intertwined with his as they looked out over the city. For the first time in so long, she could see the future clearly—it was a path, a new beginning they could carve out for themselves.
She leaned into Viktor’s side, feeling his warmth seep into her, grounding her. He had changed—no longer the cold, calculating man who’d led them through every battle with ruthless precision. The man beside her now was softer, in a way. Stronger, too. But there was still that fire in his eyes, the one that burned for her, for the world they could build together.
"Do you ever think about what comes next?" she whispered.
Viktor’s arm pulled her closer. "Every day," he answered, his tone low, full of certainty. "But now, I think about it with you by my side."
She closed her eyes, pressing her cheek against his chest. He had promised her everything, and she believed him. For the first time, she didn’t feel the weight of her past or the shadows of the decisions that had haunted her for so long. With Viktor, there was nothing to fear.
Her heart raced as his fingers traced the line of her jaw, tilting her chin up so that he could kiss her again. This kiss was slow and deliberate, no rush, just the quiet assurance of a future that was theirs.
When they finally pulled apart, Sofia smiled, her lips still tingling from his touch. "Together," she whispered.
"Always," Viktor promised.
They stood there for a long moment, hand in hand, looking out over the city that had witnessed their rise and fall. But tonight, it was a witness to their victory. To their love.