Chapter Six – Viktor
The penthouse is quiet, the early morning light casting a cold blue glow over the sleek furniture. The city sprawls out below, a glittering sea of glass and steel. But the view doesn’t calm the storm inside me.
I stand by the window, fingers tapping absently against the glass. Alyssa’s face is stuck in my head—her stubborn eyes, that sharp, unyielding glare. She’s relentless. She’s a problem. And she’s getting too close.
A faint creak behind me. I don’t turn, but I know who it is.
“Viktor,” Lev’s voice is a low rumble, steady, unflinching. He’s always like that—watchful, calm, a shadow that never leaves my side.
“Is this a social visit?” I keep my eyes on the city.
He steps closer, his reflection hovering in the glass, arms crossed over his chest. “You’re distracted.”
I let out a slow breath. “Just thinking.”
“About her.” He doesn’t ask; he knows.
A corner of my mouth twitches. “Is this an interrogation, Lev?”
“Cut the crap,” he snaps, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “You’re letting her get under your skin. And it’s starting to show.”
I turn, finally facing him. He looks the same as always—sharp suit, stern eyes, the kind of man you don’t mess with. But there’s something new today. Frustration, maybe. Or doubt.
“She’s digging into things she shouldn’t,” he presses. “If you don’t handle it, someone else will. Sergei’s already talking.”
“Let him talk.” My voice comes out harsher than I intend, but Lev doesn’t flinch.
“You think he’s bluffing?” He leans in, eyes cold. “The old guard won’t sit by while you play cat-and-mouse with this woman. They want her gone.”
Silence stretches between us. My jaw clenches. Alyssa should have been dealt with weeks ago. But every time I try to cut her loose, I find a reason to pull back.
“You’re softening,” Lev says quietly, like he’s stating a fact. “Sentimentality, Viktor. It’s a weakness.”
I bark out a laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “Sentimental? I’m not the one who’s losing his edge.”
Lev’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t back down. “Make your move, or they’ll make it for you.”
For a moment, I want to tell him everything, to admit that there’s something about Alyssa I can’t shake. But that would mean showing weakness. And weakness gets people killed.
“I’ll take care of it,” I say, turning back to the window.
Lev’s reflection lingers in the glass, his eyes searching mine. “Make sure you do.” And with that, he’s gone, leaving behind the faint scent of cologne and the echo of his warning.
---
Hours later, the sun is high, but my mind is still stuck on Alyssa. I bury myself in work—reports, files, surveillance footage. It’s pointless. My phone buzzes, pulling me from my thoughts. Her name flashes on the screen.
I answer, trying to keep my voice steady. “Alyssa.”
“Meet me,” she says, skipping the pleasantries. There’s a tightness to her voice, like she’s barely holding it together. “Café on Lincoln. Thirty minutes.”
Before I can argue, the line goes dead.
---
The café is nearly empty when I arrive. The smell of coffee hangs in the air, but all I notice is her. Alyssa’s seated in the corner, her posture tense, fingers tapping restlessly on the table.
She looks up as I approach. Her eyes are tired, but that fire is still there, smoldering. It’s almost...admirable.
I sit across from her, leaning back, trying to seem casual. “You’ve been busy,” I say.
She doesn’t waste time. “I want the truth, Viktor. About the files. The sabotage. All of it.”
I raise an eyebrow, feigning confusion. “And why would you think I know anything about that?”
“Don’t,” she snaps, leaning forward. “Don’t play dumb with me. I know it was you in my lab. I know someone’s been screwing with my work.”
I lean in, lowering my voice. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Alyssa. You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”
“Maybe not,” she fires back, eyes flashing. “But I’m not walking away. Not until I get what I came for.”
Her defiance hits like a punch. I want to grab her, shake some sense into her—or maybe kiss her just to shut her up. I can’t decide which.
“You’re going to get yourself killed,” I say, almost a whisper.
“Maybe.” She shrugs, her voice softening. “But at least I’ll die doing the right thing.”
Her words land harder than I expect. For a moment, all I see is my mother, standing up to my father’s empire, refusing to back down. The memory leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
“Why do you care so much?” I demand. “You could just walk away.”
She looks down, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. “Because if I don’t do this, who will? People deserve justice.”
There’s something raw in her voice that pulls at a part of me I thought was long dead. For a moment, I almost want to help her. But then Lev’s warning echoes in my mind.
“You’re out of your league,” I say. “If you keep pushing, they’ll come for you.”
“I’ll take my chances.” She lifts her chin, eyes steady. “I don’t need your protection, Viktor.”
Her words sting, sharper than I’d like to admit. I lean back, letting out a slow breath. “Fine. But if you’re dead set on this, at least watch your back.”
She gives me a half-smile, almost...grateful. “Thanks for the concern,” she says softly, “but I don’t need a guardian angel.”
We sit in silence, the air between us thick with unspoken words. For the first time in years, I feel something crack inside me, something I thought I’d buried.
But Alyssa doesn’t wait for me to figure it out. She stands, tossing a few bills on the table. “I’ll find my own answers,” she says, turning on her heel and walking out.
I watch her go, that same feeling of inevitability gnawing at my gut. She’s a threat, yes—but she’s also the closest thing I’ve felt to alive in years.
And that terrifies me more than anything else.