LOGINViktor pov.
A week had passed since Isabella stormed into my villa, her arrival shattering the fragile peace I’d carved out with Anya.I didn’t have the luxury of dwelling on it, though her meddling still grated on my nerves. Time was never on my side.The room was dimly lit, save for the glow of the single pendant lamp above the long oak table. Maps, blueprints, and a meticulous list of names lay scattered across its surface, alongside a tray of untouched vodka glaViktor pov.The safehouse buzzed with quiet tension, a mix of focus and anticipation hanging thick in the air. Everyone had their tasks, but the weight of tomorrow’s heist lingered in every glance and movement.There was no room for mistakes.Yuvi sat hunched over his workstation, his face bathed in the glow of multiple screens. The quiet hum of machinery filled the room as he ran diagnostics on our surveillance tech.“Comms are stable,” he muttered, not looking up. “No interference. Backup feed is online.”I stood behind him, arms crossed. “And redundancy checks?”Yuvi turned, his face tight with concentration. “Triple-checked. If this fails, it’s because Moscow decided to invent a new frequency overnight.”“Good. I’m not interested in excuses tomorrow, Yuvi. Only results.”He nodded, turning back to the screens.Across the room, Nikolai was fumbling with a small transmitter, his brow furrowed in conce
Viktor pov.The night air was crisp, biting at my skin as we moved through the dimly lit streets of the target city.The warehouse loomed ahead, quiet but not lifeless. Its cracked facade and rusted gates were a thin veil for what we knew lay inside.This wasn’t just any job—it was the one that could either make us untouchable or bury us for good.I adjusted my coat. There was no room for mistakes, no space for distractions. Still, my thoughts strayed for a moment to Anya.I pictured her back at the mansion, her soft smile, the way her fingers always lingered on the locket I’d given her.My kukolka—my doll. She’d want to hear from me, but this wasn’t the time. One call could unravel everything.We reached the alley behind the warehouse. The smell of damp concrete and motor oil filled the air. I motioned for the team to gather.“Yuvi, Nikolai, Pavel” I said, keeping my voice low but firm. “You’ll handle the perim
Viktor pov.The train’s brakes hissed as we pulled into the station, the clatter of wheels fading into the early morning quiet.A heavy gray sky hung low, the kind that promised rain but couldn’t deliver. Perfect weather for slipping into a city unnoticed. I adjusted the strap of my duffel bag, scanning the station.“Koyla,” I said, “Stay close.”“Yes, Uncle,” he replied, a little too eagerly.His enthusiasm hadn’t dimmed since we left Moscow. I stole a glance at him, his eyes darting around like a kid in a candy shop.It wasn’t the city that excited him—it was the mission, the promise of action. For all his boyish energy, he’d proven he could keep his head when it mattered. That didn’t mean I’d stop watching him.“Yuvi, you good?” I asked without turning.“Always,” Yuvi answered, his voice flat as he hefted his gear.Lev caught up, falling into step beside me with his usual swagger. “Safehouse’s fiftee
Anya pov.The morning felt heavier than usual. I stood at the edge of the courtyard, watching as Viktor’s men loaded weapons and supplies into sleek black cars.Each metallic clang and muffled word added weight to the knot forming in my stomach. The mansion’s once imposing walls now felt suffocating, closing in on the tiny space I dared to occupy.Viktor stood near the cars, his powerful presence commanding respect, even without words. His sharp orders carried authority, every word clipped, purposeful.He was born to lead men into battle, but today, it felt different. It wasn’t just a mission—it was a gamble with fate.“Ty v poryadke, Anya?” Viktor’s voice from earlier echoed in my mind. Are you okay, Anya? He had asked me that when he handed me a small locket this morning.It was his. He’d pressed it into my palm as if he were willing me to hold onto it tightly, to not let go.Now, standing there, my fingers brushed the
Viktor pov.The air in the planning room was heavy with smoke and tension. My men sat around the table and they looked attentive as they pored over the map stretched across its surface.Lev jabbed a finger at a marked route, his deep voice cutting through the silence.“This is the cleanest path. No surveillance, no patrols.”Yuvi leaned back, skeptical. “And what if the intel is wrong? We’ve seen Boris’s men pivot before. We take this route, and we might walk straight into an ambush.”Before I could interject, a knock sounded on the door. The guard outside opened it slightly, muttering something I couldn’t make out, and then stepped aside.Anya entered, carrying a tray with glasses of tea.The room went still.Lev’s jaw tightened, and Yuvi shot me a questioning look, his brow furrowing. Women weren’t allowed here. Not in this room. Not in this conversation.“Boss,” Yuvi began, his tone low but edged wit
Viktor pov.A week had passed since Isabella stormed into my villa, her arrival shattering the fragile peace I’d carved out with Anya.I didn’t have the luxury of dwelling on it, though her meddling still grated on my nerves. Time was never on my side.The room was dimly lit, save for the glow of the single pendant lamp above the long oak table. Maps, blueprints, and a meticulous list of names lay scattered across its surface, alongside a tray of untouched vodka glasses.I stood at the head of the table, arms crossed, staring down at the plans we had spent the last two weeks perfecting.The heist was risky, even for us, but the prize was worth it—a shipment of untraceable diamonds worth more than most of Boris’s empire.Lev was the first to break the silence, his fingers drumming on the edge of the table. “We’ve gone over this twice already, Boss. Are we moving forward, or are we hesitating again?”“Watch your tongue,” I
VIKTOR POV.The scent of burning tobacco filled the air as I exhaled slowly, watching the smoke curl toward the ceiling like a ghost of the past.The crystal glass in my other hand was half-filled with whiskey, the golden liquid catching the dim glow of the office lamp.
ANYA POV.The silence was suffocating. Every ticking second in this gilded cage gnawed at my patience, my sanity. I didn’t want to explore like Nikolai suggested—I wanted out. I paced the room, restless, frustrated. If I sat still for another moment, I’d lose my mind. Steeling myself, I yanked o
ANYA POV.I woke up to silence. My body ached. My throat was dry. For a brief, stupid moment, I thought maybe it had been a nightmare. Then I saw him. Viktor. Sitting in the chair across the room. Waiting. He wasn’t on his phone. He wasn't looking at the time. He wasn't doing anything exce
ANYA POV.The darkness was thick, suffocating and inescapable. My head lolled to the side, the world around me shifting, warping. My limbs were heavy, as if I were sinking into the ground, trapped in a body that refused to listen. What’s happening? Where am I?A sharp, pungent scent filled my n







