LOGINViktor’s POVLayla didn’t say a word the entire drive, she just sat there, staring ahead like the world had gone quiet for her alone.I reached out and held her hand, she let me with no resistance.Just just sat there… emptyAnd that somehow scared me more than anything else.—The place Marcus led us to was exactly what I expected…but worse.There were Run-down buildings and racked pavement.Kids sat on the curb with eyes too old for their age.Men leaned against doorways, watching everything without saying anything.A shout broke out somewhere down the street…someone was running, another was chasing.Petty theft.It was normal here.I stepped out of the car first, then reached for Layla.She didn’t look at me when she took my hand.I positioned myself slightly in front of her as we walked.Marcus led the way.The man we were here to see was waiting just outside one of the buildings.He looked up when we approached and the moment his eyes landed on me, something shifted.His posture
Third Person POVHe got her inside her room without letting go, slowly and carefullyAs if she will shatter if he moved too fast.She didn’t speak again.She just stayed close.When he sat down, she leaned into him.Her head was resting against his shoulder.His hand hovered for a moment before settling lightly against her arm uncertain but present.And for the first time in a long time, Viktor didn’t know what to do. He just sat there, still, watching the woman he wanted… grieve for another man.And something twisted inside him, something sharp and uncomfortable.Jealous.He didn’t like it… he didn't even fully understand it.But it was just there because she wasn’t crying for him..wasn’t breaking for him, not like breaking for him was a good thingAnd he had no right to feel that way.His jaw tightened slightly.Because the truth was, he didn’t believe Caleb was dead.Not without solid proof.But he said nothing.Because this wasn’t the moment for logic.Or doubt.Or anything tha
Third Person POVThe ride back to the hotel was quiet.Both of them sat in the backseat, facing forward and lost in their own thoughts.Everything that had happened still lingered between them.Layla glanced out the window, watching the city blur past.Her mind wasn’t still.Not even close.But she didn’t have the energy to sort through any of it yet.By the time they got back to the hotel, Viktor had already shifted.The silence didn’t follow him inside, action did.He moved like a man with a plan already forming in his head.“Get me the woman who delivered the package,” he said to one of the staff the second they stepped off the elevator.“Yes, sir.”Layla watched him.The way everything around him started moving.Orders were given in low voices and Within minutes, a female staff member was brought in nervous.Viktor stood in front of her, calm but unreadable.“Start from the beginning,” he said.His tone wasn’t loud but it also didn’t need to be.The woman swallowed and began talkin
Third Person POV“I just didn’t want to say anything at first,” she added. “I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.” Elena said.Layla stared at her, her mind was already racing.“Where?” she asked. “How do you know me?”Elena didn’t answer immediately, for a moment, she just looked at Layla, lke she was weighing how much to say… or how much to hide.Then she exhaled softly.“We met before,” she said. “A long time ago.”Layla frowned slightly, her brows pulled together as she searched her memory.“When?”Elena hesitated.“It was years back,” she continued. “My sister… She got into trouble. Legal trouble.”Layla stayed quiet, listening.“She was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Elena added. “There was a case, messy and complicated. She was going to take the fall for something she didn’t do.”Layla’s expression shifted slightly.That sounded familiar, not exact but close.Elena watched her carefully.“You stepped in,” she said. “You didn’t even know us. But you still helped. You
Third Person POVViktor took a slow and measured step closer to her.“I know you didn’t mean that,” he said quietly.Layla didn’t respond.Her arms stayed folded, her posture was guarded, but her eyes flickered…just for a second.Viktor caught it.“You meant the opposite,” he added. “And after what happened … I’d be stupid to take your words at face value.”A sudden rush of heat climbed up Layla’s neck, spreading fast across her cheeks.She cleared her throat, sharp and awkward.“Excuse me?”But the damage was already done…Her face was warm alreadyViktor’s expression shifted almost immediately. The hard edge softened, his gaze dropped slightly to her face.“Why is your cheek red?” he asked,his voice was quieter now… almost curious.Layla froze then instinct kicked in.Her hand flew up, pressing against her cheek like she could hide it then she stood abruptly, avoiding his eyes.“I need a minute.”Before he could say anything else, she turned and walked away in speed straight into t
Layla’s POV“Layla.”I ignored him.“There has to be a way to stop it!”“Layla.”“I’m not dying like this!” I snapped, my voice broke as I ran my hands over every inch of the device. “I’m not…”“Layla.”His voice was sharper now.I froze.Then slowly, I looked up at him.“Use the passage,” he said.For a second, I didn’t understand.“What?”“There’s a hidden passage,” he repeated. “It leads to the parking lot.”My stomach twisted.“You need to go.”The words didn’t register.“…What?”“Get out,” he said firmly. “Get as many people out of the building as you can.”I stared at him.“What about you?”His gaze flickered back to the bomb.“I’ll keep trying.”“And if you can’t?” My voice came out quieter than I meant it to.He didn’t look at me when he answered.“Then that’s how it ends.”Something in my chest cracked.“No.”My head shook before I could stop it.“No, that’s not…no.”“Layla!”“No!” I stepped back, my eyes burning. “I’m not leaving you here!”The timer kept counting down, each
Layla's POV Suddenly, my phone buzzed. Then I jerked up to total darkness.The only light in the room was from my phone screen with Naomi's name on display.My heart raced.I realised I was on the sofa again. So it was a dream...My fingers hovered above the screen then my phone rang again.I g
Layla's POV For a moment, I couldn’t move. The man had come close enough to me that I could see the lines in his face. Deep, sunshaped creases that told stories of decades spent under the sun. His eyes looked lightly gray with striking kindness yet there was something heavy about it that I couldn'
Layla’s POVI noticed Enzo caught a glimpse of the curiosity rubbed all over my face so I snapped out immediately."I don't wanna use the car. Since it's not been in use for years it might give some hard starts... don't you think?"He nodded slightly.If these people were mysterious then I needed a
Layla’s POV"Oh my God, I love her already." Naomi said, clapping her hands together and grinning in a dramatic way.My brows furrowed. Monica's words were too personal. From the way she spoke Viktor’s name like she had known him all her life, or like there was history buried between them. Down to







