For a second, the room feels unbearably still. Like the world is holding its breath with me. I lower the phone into my lap, fingers curling tight around it, trying to steady myself.
Behind me, Sebastian exhales softly—not relief, not doubt. Resolve.
His hand comes down on my shoulder, firm, grounding. He squeezes once.
“It’s okay,” he says quietly. “This ends when Viktor is out of the picture. After that, everything will be alright.”
I nod, even though my chest still feels too tight.
“I need to go sort a few things out with Dimitri and Lev,” he adds.
My eyes widen before I can stop myself. I turn in the chair and cling to him, fingers curling into his shirt. “Sebastian—what if he responds? What if he calls?”
He cups my face, steady, certain. “You call me immediately. The second you hear from him.” His thumb brushes my cheek. “I’ll be close. I’ll come back the moment you need me.”
I nod again, sharper this time. I need him to see that I understand.
He kisses me then—deep, lingering, full of promise and warning all at once—before forcing himself to pull away. He doesn’t look back when he walks out, and somehow that hurts more than if he had.
I sag against the chair, releasing a long breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
Now all I can do…is wait.
***
I don’t wait long.
My phone lights up, vibration skittering across the desk. My heart leaps straight into my throat. Viktor. It has to be Viktor. I grab it too fast, fingers clumsy—
Vivian.
I freeze.
This is the worst possible timing. I stare at her name, thumb hovering over the screen. I don’t want to pull her into this mess. Into my fear. Into Sebastian’s war. But another thought creeps in, cold and sharp.
Sebastian said he’s going to see Dimitri.
Vivian is Dimitri’s wife.
Maybe she already knows. Maybe they all do. Maybe Sebastian has told them of my involvement, my betrayal. I won’teven blame him. My chest tightens as shame coils low in my stomach. I picture her disappointment. The polite distance. The quiet judgment.
She’s my friend, and I know she would frown at betrayal and disloyalty. No matter what.
I brace myself.
I answer the call.
“Sienna,” Vivian says warmly, like nothing in the world is wrong. “Hi.”
Her calm throws me off balance. I swallow. “Hi.”
“I was just thinking about you,” she continues easily. “I miss our chats. And our dinners. It feels like it’s been forever.”
I blink, my pulse still hammering. No accusation. No edge. Just…her.
Her calm disarms me completely.
I laugh, a soft, almost disbelieving sound. “You know we literally went shopping yesterday.”
