Page 16 of Veil of Shadows

The kiss deepens, his lips rougher now, urgent. I’m pulled in, his hands sliding over me with a hunger that makes my pulse spike. Every touch, every movement sends a jolt of electricity through me, leaving me dizzy. I know this is reckless. I know I should pull away, but the heat between us is too much, too consuming. My breath hitches, and for a moment, I lose myself in the chaos of it all.

When he pulls back, it’s like coming up for air. His forehead rests against mine, our breaths coming in sharp, uneven gasps. The world feels distant, muffled, as if it's just the two of us here, the rest of the universe fading into nothingness. His fingers trace the curve of my arm, a slow, deliberate movement that sends a shiver down my spine. His eyes lock onto mine, and the intensity there nearly steals my breath.

“This isn’t over, Alyssa,” his voice is thick, rough, like he’s struggling to hold himself back. “Whatever this is… it’s just the beginning.”

I don’t answer. I can’t. His words hang in the air, heavy, knowing. And deep down, somewhere inside, I feel it. He’s right.

Chapter Ten – Viktor

The Bratva headquarters looms like a fortress, its sharp edges slicing into the night. Inside, it's cold, quiet. The walls have no warmth, no softness—just stone, steel, and the men who belong here. My office? A mirror of the building—bare. Desks. Chairs. Cabinets locked tight. Nothing personal. Nothing vulnerable.

I sit at the head of the long table, eyes trained on Lev as he talks through the usual reports—security, threats, things I need to know, things I can calculate. I should be focused, but my mind keeps drifting.

He’s talking about Alyssa. Each word feels like a jab, sharp and deliberate. “If she keeps digging,” Lev says, his voice low, dangerous, “she’ll find something we don’t want her to. She’s already too close.”

A pulse of unease twists in my stomach. I nod, letting the mask slip over my face. Calm. Detached. The usual Viktor. But Lev’s suspicion lingers, heavy in the air, suffocating.

He stops, his eyes scanning the room before they settle on me. The weight of his gaze presses down like an anchor. “This woman,” he continues, his voice turning colder, “she’s a loose end. And loose ends get cut.”

I lean back in my chair, matching his stare with a calm I don’t feel. “I told you, Lev. It’s under control.”

But the pause between us stretches. Lev’s gaze doesn’t waver. He studies me like he’s searching for cracks.

“If it’s too close for you,” he says, almost a whisper, “there are others who can take care of it.”

The words hit harder than they should. My jaw tightens, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of reacting. “I said, I’ve got it covered.”

Lev nods slowly, but there's no trust in it. “Good. Because sentimentality doesn’t belong in this world.” He says it like a warning. “We all know what happens when men start thinking with their hearts instead of their heads.”

I clench my fists beneath the table, my pulse hammering in my ears. I know exactly what happens—men disappear. They lose everything. I force the words down, the urge to argue swallowed whole.

But Alyssa’s face flashes in my mind—the heat of her eyes, the fire in her voice. It’s all too much. No one has ever made me question myself. Not like this. And that’s a problem.

The rest of the men filter out, mumbling their goodnights, leaving Lev and me alone. He doesn’t waste time, his voice dropping to a level that feels like a direct threat.

“Viktor,” he says, careful, measured, “I’ve spent too many years building this empire. I’m not going to let a single woman jeopardize it.” His eyes lock onto mine. “Alyssa is already too much of a distraction. And if you can’t see that...”

I feel the tension in my chest tighten, but I keep my face impassive. “I understand the risks, Lev. You don’t need to remind me.”

Lev’s eyes narrow. I can almost hear the gears turning in his head. “You’ve been with me too long. I know you, Viktor. Better than anyone. But lately... I’m not so sure.”

His words hit harder than I expect. I don’t say anything, don’t let my thoughts betray me. But he’s right. I’ve been distracted. By her. By something I can’t control. And Lev sees it.

“Don’t forget who you are,” Lev warns, his voice barely above a growl. “You’ve always been the one who keeps things in line. The one who never wavers. If you start slipping now...” His gaze sharpens, warning me of something I already know. “I’ll handle it. But not the way you want.”

I don’t blink. My hands are steady as I place them on the table. “I’ll take care of it.” I force the words out, but they taste like ash in my mouth.

Lev’s lips curl slightly, a trace of satisfaction. But his eyes stay calculating, waiting for me to prove it. “Make sure you do, Viktor. Because if you don’t... I’ll take care of her myself.”

The room feels smaller now. The walls close in. I know what that means. If Alyssa becomes too much of a problem, Lev will make her disappear. And the thought shouldn’t rattle me, shouldn’t make my stomach twist in knots. But it does.

It shouldn’t matter. But it does. And that’s a problem.

“Maybe I don’t want to,” she breathes, and in that moment, I lose myself. I crush my lips against hers, and she responds with a fierce passion that ignites the very core of me.

The kiss deepens, our breaths mingling, the world around us fading into nothing. I push her against the wall, our bodies colliding with a force that sets my blood on fire. Her hands findtheir way to my hair, gripping tightly as I explore the curve of her waist, every inch of her body awakening a desire I’ve fought to suppress.

But it’s not enough. I need more. I break the kiss, looking into her eyes, searching for the resolve I once held. “You’re playing with fire, Alyssa,” I warn, my voice hoarse.

---