Page 23 of Veil of Shadows

“I can’t be a liability,” she says softly, her voice trembling. “I can’t let you get hurt because of me.”

“Then don’t think of yourself as a liability,” I urge, desperate to bridge the gap between us. “Think of us as something more—something worth the risk.”

“But how?” she whispers, her voice breaking. “How do we navigate this? We’re on opposite sides.”

“Maybe we can change that,” I suggest, my mind racing with possibilities. “We don’t have to be enemies, Alyssa. We can find a way to be together.”

The idea feels both reckless and exhilarating, and I can see the flicker of hope in her eyes, battling against the shadows of doubt.

“What do you mean?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m willing to walk away from the Bratva if it means keeping you safe,” I confess, my heart pounding in my chest. “I can’t let them use you against me. You mean too much to me.”

The shock on her face is palpable, and I can see her grappling with the weight of my words. “Viktor, you can’t just walk away. That’s not how it works in your world.”

“I’m tired of living in a world that doesn’t allow for this,” I say, my voice filled with urgency. “I don’t want to be that man anymore. Not when I could have something real with you.”

Her eyes widen, and I see the fear, the confusion, and the thrill all at once. “You’re serious?”

“More than I’ve ever been,” I reply earnestly, stepping closer once more. “But it won’t be easy. We’ll have to fight for it. Together.”

Alyssa bites her lip, her brow furrowing as she processes my words. I can see the weight of her thoughts pulling at her, the conflict between her duty and her desires mirrored in her gaze.

“I don’t want you to throw your life away for me,” she finally says, her voice trembling. “What if this doesn’t work? What if the Bratva doesn’t just let you walk away?”

“Then I’ll face whatever comes next,” I declare, taking her hands in mine. “But I need you to trust me, Alyssa. Trust that I’m doing this for us.”

The silence stretches, thick with tension and unspoken fears. I can see her heart battling with her mind, torn between her commitment to her investigation and the undeniable connection we share.

“I want to believe you,” she whispers, tears glistening in her eyes. “But I’m scared, Viktor.”

“Me too,” I admit, my own vulnerability surfacing. “But we can’t let fear control us. We have to make a choice.”

As I hold her gaze, I can feel the intensity of the moment building, drawing us closer together. The air is chargedwith something potent, something raw, and I know that we’re standing on the precipice of something transformative.

“I choose you,” I say softly, and the words hang between us like a promise. “Whatever happens next, I’m choosing you.”

Alyssa searches my eyes, her expression shifting from doubt to determination. I can see the walls she’s built around herself starting to crack, and I reach out, brushing my thumb across her cheek.

“I choose you too,” she finally whispers, her voice breaking with emotion.

With that, I close the distance between us, capturing her lips in a heated kiss once more. The world around us fades, and all that matters is the fire igniting between us, the promise of something more.

The kiss deepens, and this time, there’s no hesitation. It’s filled with longing, passion, and the knowledge that we’re stepping into the unknown together.

Alyssa pulls me closer, her hands gripping my shirt, and I feel the heat radiating off her body. The urgency of our connection drives us forward, and I lose myself in the sensation of her against me, the way she fits perfectly in my arms.

But just as I’m about to deepen the kiss further, a loud noise outside startles us both. We pull apart, breathless and wide-eyed, the intensity of the moment replaced by a flicker of anxiety.

“What was that?” Alyssa asks, her eyes darting to the window.

I move to her side, my instincts kicking in as I scan the area outside. Shadows flicker in the distance, and I can feel the adrenaline surge within me.

“Stay here,” I command, my tone leaving no room for argument. “I need to check it out.”

“Viktor, wait!” she protests, but I can’t risk her safety.

I step back, glancing at her one last time, seeing the concern etched on her face. “Lock the door. Don’t open it for anyone but me.”

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