I’m not out of this yet.
Not by a long shot.
I lie there for a moment after Viktor leaves the room, my body still buzzing from the intensity of what just happened.
The sheets are tangled around my legs, and the creamy warmth on my stomach is a reminder that this wasn't a dream. My heart is still pounding, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and something that feels dangerously like an overwhelming desire for more.
“Phew, that was… wild,” I say to myself, doing my best to focus just a little.
I wipe myself clean with a tissue from the nightstand, then pull the pajamas back into place, the silk now feeling even more sensual against my skin.
Whatwasthat?
A mistake?
A turning point?
I don't know, but I can't stay up here forever. Hunger gnaws at me, and curiosity about what Viktor is doing downstairs pulls me out of bed. He might be dangerous, but right now I’m feeling like my curiosity to find out more, or simply to be around him, is increasing by the second.
I slip on a pair of socks from the dresser and pad quietly to the door. The house is silent except for the faint murmur of voices drifting up from below…
Men's voices, low and serious.
Viktor and... someone else? I’m guessing the driver, but I’m not certain.
I creep down the stairs, keeping to the edges where the wood doesn't creak as much, my hand trailing the banister for balance. As I reach the bottom, the voices become clearer, coming from the living room.
Peeking around the corner, I see Viktor standing by the fireplace, arms crossed, facing Alexander, the driver who sped us away from the gallery chaos. He's leaning against the wall, looking tense, his eyes flicking toward the windows as if expecting trouble.
They're in deep discussion, words clipped and urgent, though I can't make out everything. Something about "perimeter" and "contacts." Alexander's face is hard, suspicious, and when his gaze shifts toward the stairs—toward me—he spots me immediately.
Oh crap.
Alexander’s eyes narrow, sizing me up like I'm an intruder or a threat. It makes my skin crawl, that cold appraisal, and I feel uncomfortably exposed in the oversized pajamas.
Viktor must sense my presence, or maybe the shift in the air, because he turns, his expression softening just a touch when he sees me.
"Eddie," Viktor says, voice steady. He glances at Alexander, then back to me. Perhaps he picks up on my discomfort, the way I'm hovering like I might bolt. "Come in."
I step fully into the room, hugging my arms around myself. Alexander's suspicion doesn't fade. If anything, it sharpens as he looks between us. Viktor moves smoothly, positioning himself slightly between me and Alexander, a subtle shield.
"Alexander and I were just finishing," he says. Then, without missing a beat, he adds, "Eddie and I are taking a trip off the property now."
Alexander's head snaps up, surprise flashing across his face. "Boss, that's not safe. Not with everything?—"
Viktor cuts him off with a raised hand, calm but authoritative. "No one knows where we are. It's a short outing. Perfectly safe." He pauses, his tone shifting to one of clear command. "You stay here. Watch the house. Make sure there are no unwelcome visitors. Report anything directly to me. You know the drill"
Alexander hesitates, jaw tightening, but he nods.
"Understood." Alexander gives me one last wary look before pushing off the wall and heading toward the back door, presumably to check the perimeter or whatever it is he does.
I watch the exchange, fascinated despite myself.
Viktor handles him masterfully—firm, unyielding, but without raising his voice or showing any crack in his control. It's clear why he's the leader… he exudes authority, the kind that makes people fall in line without question.
Alexander might be suspicious of me, but he respects Viktor absolutely.
Once Alexander is gone, Viktor turns to me fully. "Get dressed. We're leaving in ten."
