Chapter Three – Alyssa
The tension in my apartment wraps around me like a coiled snake, squeezing tighter with every breath. I can’t shake the feeling that something’s changed. Maybe it was Viktor Coleman’s cold warning last night, the way his eyes glinted like a knife in the dark. Or maybe it’s the sense that my world is shifting beneath my feet, slipping away like sand.
I try to ignore it, but the memories come rushing back.
Five years ago, when I first detected Colonvi 54, I was flooded with media attention. It had been a breakthrough, a miracle really—finding something no one else had even suspected. I should’ve felt proud, but all I could feel was the pressure of being in the spotlight. That was when they came to me. The Bratva.
I can still see the day clearly—Rogers Coleman walking into my lab with that heavy air about him, his presence overwhelming. He had a steel-gray gaze that could cut through a person, tall, broad, like a mountain with the kind of power that made you instinctively step back. His dark suit seemed to swallow up the light, and when he moved, it was like the air itself was parting for him. His voice was low and smooth, yet there was something jagged in it, something that hinted at all the things he could do—things I didn’t want to think about.
And then there was Viktor.
At first glance, he didn’t seem like the kind of man who would catch your attention. But the moment he stepped into that lab, something about him clicked. His dark hair, neatly styled, framed a face so strikingly handsome that I caught myself staring a little too long. His jawline was sharp, sculpted like it was made to draw eyes. He wore a tailored suit, dark and crisp, that made him look like he belonged in a place far above where I was.
And when his eyes met mine—those cold, knowing eyes—he studied me in a way that made me feel like I was the only person in the room, and I wasn’t sure if I liked it. There was an intensity to him, something silent, but unmistakably hot. His gaze, steady, almost possessive, didn’t let go. He didn’t have to say a word to make me feel it. I remember the way his lips barely curved, like a challenge, but I didn’t know what he was daring me to do.
His father, Rogers, had offered me a job then—an opportunity I couldn’t refuse, he said. They were impressed by my work on Colonvi and wanted me to join their ranks. The Bratva was into something big, something world-changing, and they needed my expertise. The money, the prestige—it was everything I’d ever dreamed of. But there was a catch. I knew what they really wanted. The whispers around town, the rumors of their Mafia ties, how they silenced anyone who got in their way—it was enough to make my skin crawl. I walked away from that offer without a second thought, despite what it could have meant for my career. I wasn’t going to be a part of that world.
I shake my head now, remembering how lucky I was to be naive back then. What if they weren’t just interested in my skills? What if they needed me to create something much bigger—something like an undetectable toxin meant to kill people and confuse the police in New York City, something to help them get away with whatever they were doing in the shadows? It makes my stomach churn.
I can’t stop thinking about how Victor still looks the same. In the club last night, he was just as stunning as he was five years ago—sharp and powerful, his scent rich with something expensive, like leather and an undertone of deep, dark spices. It clung to him, wrapping around me like it was meant to. I could still feel it, even now, thick in my memory. His presence is magnetic. It pulls at me, against my will, making it hard to think straight.
And the way he studied me again, last night... That look wasn’t just cold calculation this time. There was something more—a flicker of lust, of something far more dangerous. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to feel about it. Part of me wants to push him away. The other part... I can't deny, it wants to see what he does next. But I know better than to get too close to men like him. Because men like Viktor—they don’t let go once they have you in their sights.
And I can't afford to be his next target. Not now. Not ever.
I shiver, pushing the thought away. You have to focus, Alyssa. I’m alone in my cozy living room. The worn leather of the couch creaks as I shift, a dozen files sprawled out in front of me. The glow of my desk lamp bathes the room in a soft, golden light. But even here, safe in my sanctuary, I can’t shake the prickling on my skin, like someone’s eyes are boring into the back of my skull.
Snap out of it, Alyssa. I press my hands against my temples, massaging the tension there. This isn’t my first case that’s drawn attention from dangerous people. Being in forensics, you learn that not every monster hides in shadows—some wear expensive suits. But the way Viktor looked at me, his warning hanging in the air like cigarette smoke… I’ve never felt this exposed.
A knock at the door shatters the silence. I flinch, my pulse spiking. It’s almost midnight. I never get visitors this late. For a split second, I see him—Viktor, standing at my front door with that smirk, eyes gleaming with something darker than malice.
But it’s only Nina.
“Alyssa?” She peers at me, her eyes tired, the lines on her face deepening under the harsh hallway light. “Are you okay?”
I sag against the doorframe, relief flooding my chest. “Yeah… yeah, come in.”
She unwinds her scarf, her breath still fogging in the chill. “I figured you’d be up.” She eyes the mess of files strewn across my coffee table. “I needed to clear my head after today. It was... one of those shifts.” She drops onto the couch with a soft sigh, her weight causing the cushions to sink.
I close the door behind her, locking it with a soft click. “You’ve had long days before, Nina. This one looks like it drained your soul.”
She nods, her gaze flickering over the files again. “This case looks intense,” she murmurs, her voice low. “Should I be worried?”
I can’t meet her eyes. “It’s… complicated.”
“Complicated?” Her brow furrows as she studies me. “Alyssa, I’ve known you for years. What’s going on?”
I exhale sharply, sinking beside her on the couch. “I’ve been digging into these cases, and they’re all connected. I think—”
Nina reaches for my hand before I finish my sentence, squeezing it a little too hard. “You have to stop this. You know what they’re capable of.”
My jaw clenches. “I can’t.”
“Alyssa,” she insists, “you’re going to get yourself killed.”
I pull my hand away, shaking my head. “I have to finish this.”
For a moment, the silence hangs heavy between us, thick with Nina’s worry. I can feel her eyes on me, like she’s waiting for me to reassure her, but I know I can’t. Not this time.
She finally stands, wrapping her scarf around her neck with a sharp motion. Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “Just… promise me you’ll be careful,” she says, her voice cracking slightly.
I nod, but the words don’t leave my mouth. I can’t make a promise I might not keep. I glance at her, but she doesn’t look convinced.
Then, my gaze shifts, and I find myself asking her a question I wasn’t sure I even wanted the answer to. “Why are you so concerned about this?”
Nina freezes, her newly manicured fingers tightening around the scarf. There’s a moment where she doesn’t look at me, but I catch the flicker of something across her face—a hint of guilt or something deeper, something she’s hiding. She frowns, as if she’s caught off guard by my question, and then she quickly shrugs it off. “I just care,” she says, her voice a little too defensive.
I narrow my eyes at her, not buying it for a second. “No, you don’t. You’re acting like you know something about this case.”
Her eyes widen, her lips parting in surprise. For a second, I almost see her hesitate, like she’s about to say something, but she quickly clams up. “What? No. I don’t know anything,” she says, too quickly. She turns away, her voice dropping. “Forget it.”
But I can’t let it go. “Nina, wait—what do you know?” I press, stepping closer, not willing to drop it.
She stiffens, her back to me now, and I can feel her panic rising. “I... I have to go. My father’s calling,” she mutters, way too fast, before she bolts toward the door.
Before I can say another word, she’s gone, leaving only the sound of her hasty footsteps echoing down the hallway. I stand there, watching the door long after she’s disappeared, a knot forming in my stomach. Something’s wrong. And I know, deep down, she’s hiding something from me.
---
The next morning, exhaustion pulls at me like a weight as I walk into the lab.
The hum of machines, the sharp scent of disinfectant—it should feel comforting, but today, it only reminds me of my conversation with Nina. What does she know? My fingers tremble as I handle the samples, my mind lost in a fog of worry. However, the day ends up unproductive. I am still stuck on finding out what the toxin really is.
By the time I leave the lab that evening, the city is wrapped in shadows. The streetlights cast long, jagged shapes across the pavement, and every rustle of leaves makes my heart lurch. My breath forms little puffs in the cold air as I walk faster, the weight of Viktor’s warning pressing in on me.
I’m almost home when I sense it—a presence behind me, just out of sight. My skin prickles, and I quicken my pace, my hand slipping into my coat pocket, searching for anything I can use as a weapon.
I round the corner, my building in sight, when a dark figure steps into my path.
Viktor.
He’s standing there, one hand in his coat pocket, his eyes glinting like a predator’s. For a moment, the world narrows down to just the two of us, the city fading away into a blur.
“Alyssa.” His voice is like a blade wrapped in velvet. “I warned you.”
My pulse hammers, but I lift my chin. “I’m not backing down, Viktor.”
A slow smile spreads across his lips, dangerous and mocking. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But guts don’t mean much when you’re dead.”
I take a step closer, refusing to show fear. “If you’re going to stop me, you’ll have to do better than threats.”
He leans in, his breath warm against my ear. “Maybe I will. But for now, consider this your last warning.”
Then, like a shadow melting into the night, he’s gone, leaving me standing in the cold with my heart pounding and my resolve burning hotter than ever.