Page 18

18

Viktor

The whiskey burns as it slides down my throat, but it does nothing to dull the sharp edge of my thoughts.

I sit behind my desk, the room dark except for the dim light bleeding in from the windows. I’ve always liked the view from up here. The height. The distance. It reminds me that I’m above it all. Untouchable. Unshakable.

But not tonight.

Tonight, I’m unraveling from the inside out. My hand tightens around the glass as I reread Lev’s message for the hundredth time.

"I think it’s best for everyone if I disappear."

My jaw locks painfully. Lev never runs. Never. I know him better than anyone. Lev faces problems head-on—he doesn’t back down from them. He doesn’t retreat.

This must be a personal fight.

Alina.

My hand tightens around the glass, the sharp press of the crystal digging into my skin. I close my eyes and replay the signs—the fleeting glances Lev thought no one noticed. The slight shift in his expression when Alina smiled at him. The tension in the room whenever they were too close to each other.

I ignored it.

I fucking ignored it because I trusted Lev. Because I trusted him not to cross that line. And I know the only thing that made him run is because he has crossed it to a point of no return. The betrayal burns beneath my skin like acid.

"Lev knew better."

I rise from my chair and stalk toward the window, my hand dragging through my hair. My reflection stares back at me from the glass—dark eyes, sharp features, the cold cut of my mouth.

Lev has been with me for over two decades. I pulled him out of the gutter. When I met him, he was bleeding in a Colombian basement, a teenager with broken ribs and dead eyes. I dragged him out of that pit, put a gun in his hand, and showed him how to survive.

He’s bled for me and killed for me. I could have forgiven him for almost anything. But not this. He is supposed to be my right hand. My weapon. He’s not supposed to touch my blood. He knows better than anyone that loyalty comes before love. And Lev betrayed me in the worst possible way.

It’s not just about Alina—it’s about what this means for the Bratva. If I let Lev get away with this, it sets a precedent. It tells my men that crossing me has no consequences. That sleeping with my sister is acceptable. And that’s unacceptable. Lev’s betrayal isn’t just personal—it’s political.

The wolves will circle. The Italians. The Irish. The Greeks. They’ll see weakness. They’ll smell blood.

Lev knew this. And he still crossed the line. He put me in this position. And now I have to clean it up. I stare blankly out the window. I should hunt him down. Drag him back here in chains if I have to and make an example of him.

As I consider how best to deal with him, a part of me wonders if Lev thought this was worth dying for. Because that’s precisely what’s going to happen.

The door to my office opens without a knock, and I do not bother to turn around. Only one person would dare to do that.

Scarlett.

She steps inside, the soft sound of her foot against the marble floor barely audible over the tension buzzing in my head. Her hair cascades over her shoulder, her eyes assessing me with quiet intensity.

“You’ve been in here all night,” she says. “It’s almost morning.”

I don’t respond.

Scarlett closes the door behind her and walks toward me, stopping just behind me and wrapping her arms around me from behind.

“I assume you’re brooding over Lev.”

My mouth twists. “He’s not worth my time.”

Scarlett raises an eyebrow. “No? Then why does it look like you’re trying to crush that glass with your bare hand?”

I glance down. My knuckles are white around the whiskey glass, and I force myself to set it down.

Scarlett’s gaze sharpens. “This isn’t just about Lev. This is also about Alina.”

My jaw locks.

“He crossed the line.”

“Did he?” Scarlett steps closer. “Or did his heart push him over it?”

My eyes narrow dangerously. “Careful.”

Scarlett doesn’t flinch.

“Lev loves her, Viktor. And you know it. Heck! Everybody with an eye can see it!”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“It matters.”

“Lev knew the consequences,” I say, my voice sharp. “He knew exactly what it would cost him. He still crossed the line.”

“Because he loves her,” Scarlett repeats.

“That’s not an excuse.”

Scarlett’s eyes darken. “It’s not an excuse—but it’s a reason. Are you really going to punish him for that?”

“Yes,” I say coldly. “Because he shouldn’t have allowed himself to fall for her.”

Scarlett shakes her head slowly. “You mean like you fell for me?”

“That is different.”

“How? You mean I am fair play because I do not come from old Bratva money?”

Scarlett’s words rips something in me, but I’d be damned if I admit it.

“I’m angry because he made me look weak.”

“No.” Scarlett steps closer. “You’re angry because you lost him.”

My chest tightens.

“Lev was supposed to be loyal to me.”

“Lev is loyal to you. His loyalty is what has him fleeing from you and Alina.”

“That’s betrayal.”

“That’s life,” Scarlett snaps.

I glare at her.

Scarlett’s eyes flash dangerously. “You think you can control this. You think you can fix it by killing him. But all you’ll do is break Alina.”

My stomach clenches along with my heart.

Scarlett hesitates for a beat, then strides toward the door. “If you hunt Lev down and kill him,” she says quietly, “you’d better be ready to bury Alina next to him.”

The door shuts behind her with a soft click, and I sink back into the chair, my head tipping against the backrest.

Scarlett’s words echo through my mind as I reach for the glass of whiskey and drain it in one swallow. I have to think of another way to handle this mess. Scarlett is right, killing Lev will only destroy Alina.

The phone rings twice before Thiago’s voice cuts through the line.

"Viktor."

"Thiago."

"It’s been a while."

"Not long enough."

He chuckles, low and sharp. "You don’t usually call unless you need something."

"I have a proposal."

"I’m listening."

"An alliance."

"Through marriage?"

"Yes."

"And who’s the bride or groom?"

"My sister."

There’s a brief silence on the line, just the faint clink of ice against glass on his end.

"Your sister?"

"Yes."

"And who would she be matched with? You know I do not have a son."

"One of your top men."

Thiago hums thoughtfully. "Interesting. And you think she’ll agree to this?"

"It doesn’t matter if she agrees." My voice hardens. "It’s not her choice."

Thiago chuckles again. "And here I thought you were softening from marrying that beautiful wife of yours."

"Have I ever been soft?"

"No," Thiago concedes. "But this… this is cold even for you."

"It’s necessary."

"I’m currently overseas," Thiago says after a moment. "We’ll discuss specifics when I return to New York."

"When?"

"A few weeks."

"That’s too long."

"Patience, Viktor." His voice sharpens slightly. "Rushing these things rarely ends well."

"Just be ready when you return."

"Always."

The line goes dead.

I place the phone down carefully on my desk, my pulse steady despite the heaviness in my chest. This is the right decision. The logical move.

Alina needs protection. A strategic marriage with the cartel will secure our standing on both sides. A marriage alliance with Thiago’s men will give us leverage that no other Bratva family has.

***

Alina steps into my office after I send for her, but I don’t look up from the documents on my desk. "Sit."

She stands in front of the desk instead, arms crossed tightly over her chest.

"What’s going on?"

"Sit," I repeat raising my eyes to meet hers.

Her lips press into a thin line, but she flops into the seat opposite from me. I close the folder and set it aside. My gaze sharpens on her. "I spoke with Thiago, he’s the leader of the Columbian Cartel."

Her brow creases. "About what?"

"About you."

Alina’s eyes narrow. "What the hell for?"

"I’ve arranged a marriage for you."

Her face slackens in disbelief. "What?"

"Thiago’s cartel is the strongest ally we need to secure at this point. The marriage will strengthen both sides."

Alina’s breath catches. "You’re joking."

"I’m not."

"You offered me to the cartel?"

"As I should have long ago.”

Alina’s eyes flash with hurt. "You don’t get to make that decision for me."

"Yes, I do."

"You think you can just—"

"I can, and I have."

Alina’s hands curl into fists at her sides. "And what if I say no?"

"You won’t."

"Viktor—"

"This isn’t about you, Alina." My gaze hardens. "It’s about the Bratva. This marriage strengthens our position. It ensures our survival. And I am sure you have not forgotten what your duties are to your family."

"And what about me?" Her voice trembles. "What about what I want?"

"What you want doesn’t matter. We have all given up things we wanted to see this bratva grow."

Her lips part in stunned disbelief.

"You belong to this family. This is the price."

"You’re selling me off."

"No, you are playing your role."

Alina shakes her head slowly. "I thought you were different."

"Then you thought wrong."

The door opens quietly.

Scarlett steps inside. Her gaze sharpens as she takes in the scene—Alina’s flushed face, the hard set of my jaw.

"What’s going on?"

Alina turns toward me. "Tell her."

Scarlett’s eyes cut toward me. "Viktor?"

"I’ve arranged a marriage for Alina," I say flatly.

Scarlett’s breath catches. "You… what?"

"Thiago’s cartel."

Scarlett’s eyes widen. "Viktor…"

"It’s strategic."

Scarlett steps forward slowly, her hand resting on the edge of the desk. "You’re serious?"

"Yes."

Her lips tremble. "I can’t believe you."

My jaw tightens. "It’s done."

Scarlett’s hand curls over the edge of the desk. "How could you?"

"Because it’s necessary."

Scarlett’s breath shudders. "You’re not doing this for Alina. You’re doing this because of Lev."

My gaze sharpens. "Lev doesn’t matter in my decision-making."

"Doesn’t he?"

"Lev made his choice." My voice lowers dangerously. "He made the choice to betray me."

Scarlett’s eyes darken. "He fell in love with her." She says, pointing to a now sobbing Alina.

"That’s the same thing. Falling in love with my sister is the same thing as betraying me."

"No, it’s not."

"Do you know how many times I have trusted Alina’s security to him?"

"So, you’re punishing him by marrying off Alina?"

"I’m securing her future. Our future."

Scarlett’s face tightens. Her eyes darken with quiet devastation. "You’re going to regret this."

"I don’t care."

Scarlett’s mouth presses into a thin line. "And what if Lev comes back for her?"

"He won’t."

"And if he does?"

My pulse spikes dangerously. "Then he dies."

Alina, who’s been staring at me with tears streaming down her eyes, takes in a breath, shudders fearfully, and says, "Viktor…"

"Lev humiliated me. You and Lev weakened me in front of my men. If I let it stand, others will think they can cross me."

"So what?" Scarlett’s voice hardens. "You’re going to kill him to prove a point?"

"If that’s what it takes to send the message that Viktor Makarov is not a weakling."

Scarlett’s lips press together. "I’m disappointed in you, Viktor." Her voice is soft but devastating. "I expected more from you."

My throat constricts painfully. Scarlett’s words dig beneath my skin like knives, and it cuts deep into my soul.

I harden my expression. "This isn’t personal."

"Keep telling yourself that," Scarlett whispers.

Alina stands up. Her face is cold and detached.

"It is settled then. You can pawn me off, Viktor."

The sorrow in her voice is palpable, but I shake it off and tell myself that once she is married off, she will see that I made the right decision for her.