Page 55 of Veil of Shadows

The connection between us solidifies, the fear of the Bratva dissipating as we take a moment to regroup. We’ve faced a significant battle, and I know this is only the beginning of our fight for freedom.

“Viktor, what do we do now?” I ask, my heart racing as I look into his eyes.

“We prepare for what’s next. We’re not out of danger yet, and we have to move quickly,” he replies, determination etched into his features.

Together, we gather our things, steeling ourselves for whatever lies ahead. As we pack, I can feel Viktor’s presence beside me, a steady reminder that we’re in this together.

“Whatever happens, we stick together,” I say firmly, meeting his gaze.

“Always,” he promises, his voice filled with conviction.

The tension in the air shifts, replaced by a sense of purpose as we step out of the cabin, ready to face the unknown.

Chapter Twenty-Six – Alyssa

The forest was holding its breath.

The cabin stood alone, hidden in a sea of towering pines, their shadows stretching like long fingers in the moonlight. Viktor’s pulse drummed in his ears as he pressed his back against the rough wooden wall by the door, the cool grip of his pistol steadying him. He scanned the darkness outside through the broken window, searching for any flicker of movement.

Alyssa hovered close, her breaths shallow but controlled. She tightened her grip on her gun, her knuckles white. “Are you sure they’re coming?” she whispered, her voice barely a thread in the still night.

A soft crunch of leaves. The faintest rustle.

“They’re here,” Viktor replied, his voice a low growl.

He felt the air change, thickening like the moment before a storm. He exchanged a quick look with Alyssa, her eyes wide but determined. She was scared, he knew that, but fear hadn't made her freeze. It had sharpened her focus.

“Stick to the plan,” he murmured, eyes never leaving the tree line. “Stay close, and whatever happens, don’t stop.”

Alyssa gave a firm nod. “I’ve got your back,” she said. But Viktor could see the flicker of doubt in her gaze—the silent question if either of them would walk away from this.

Another snap of a branch. This time, closer.

Viktor’s jaw clenched. He could smell the cold earth and the pine needles underfoot, hear the distant hoot of an owl. But all he was really listening for were the soft, lethal footsteps of the Bratva closing in.

Then—BOOM. The door exploded inward, splinters flying like shrapnel. A brute of a man, masked and armed, stormed through. Viktor didn’t hesitate. He lunged forward, the force of his tackle slamming the enforcer into the ground with a sickening thud. Pain shot up Viktor’s side, but he ignored it. He had no time for pain.

“Down!” he barked to Alyssa.

Alyssa dropped into a crouch, her aim steady, eyes laser-focused. She squeezed the trigger. The deafening crack of her shot filled the cabin, and the thug trying to sneak up on them fell back, clutching his chest.

Viktor twisted, barely dodging a wild swing from the enforcer beneath him. He drove his elbow down hard into the man’s face, feeling the crunch of bone. The enforcer’s groan was drowned out by another gunshot from Alyssa, her aim relentless. She was a storm in motion, every shot precise, each one hitting its mark.

“Behind you!” Alyssa’s urgent shout cut through the chaos.

Viktor spun, just in time to catch a glimpse of another figure lunging from the shadows. Without thinking, he swung his fist, his knuckles connecting with the man’s jaw. The impact sent the attacker stumbling into the wall, but Viktor was already moving, grabbing the man by the collar and slamming him headfirst into the wooden beams.

They were outnumbered, but he didn’t care. Each movement was fluid, driven by instinct. He had Alyssa beside him, and that was all that mattered. The cabin became a whirlwind of flashing muzzles, grunts of pain, and the acrid stench of gunpowder.

Alyssa’s voice came again, urgent and fierce. “Stay with me, Viktor!”

He turned to see her standing her ground, taking down yet another enforcer. Blood streaked her cheek, but her eyes were blazing. There was a fierceness in her now, something raw that hadn’t been there before. Pride swelled in Viktor’s chest. They were fighting like a single unit, driven by something deeper than survival.

Then the air shifted. A shadow darker than the rest appeared in the doorway.

Lev.

His presence sucked the air from the room. Viktor’s heart stuttered as he locked eyes with his old friend—no, his enemy now. The man who had once been like a brother. Now, Lev’s cold eyes held nothing but betrayal and bitterness.

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