Page 13 of Veil of Shadows

Lev doesn’t flinch. “Before it costs you everything. You’ve always been careful, Viktor. You don’t let people get in your way. But now… this woman, Alyssa—”

“Careful, Lev,” I warn, my voice low.

Lev doesn’t back down. “It’s my job to keep you grounded. You’ve built a reputation, Viktor. One that demands respect and control. But this... Alyssa? She’s clouding your judgment.”

I laugh, bitter, and turn toward the window. The city lights spread out before me like a hundred tiny stars. “You think I don’t know that?” The words slip out, unbidden, before I can stop them. Lev catches it, and I can feel him zeroing in on the crack in my armor. That’s what frustrates me the most.

“So, it’s true,” Lev says, his voice quieter now. “She’s gotten under your skin.”

I grip my glass, the weight of it sharp in my hand. “She’s… persistent. But she doesn’t understand what she’s stepping into. If she did, she’d be long gone by now.”

Lev doesn’t look convinced. “So, what? You’re trying to protect her?”

The question lands hard, heavier than I want it to. Protect her? Alyssa doesn’t need protection. She wouldn’t want it. She’s made that crystal clear. But seeing her charge ahead, clueless about the danger she’s in… it gnaws at me.

“I’m not protecting her,” I say, voice rough. “I’m dealing with a problem.”

Lev eyes me, like he’s waiting for more. “Is that what this is? A problem?”

I slam my glass down on the bar, the sound sharp and final. “Enough, Lev. Alyssa isn’t your concern. And she sure as hell isn’t mine. She’s… just a complication.”

But even as I say it, I know it’s a lie. A sharp, cutting lie.

Lev doesn’t back off. “Complication or not, if she’s involved with you, she’s in danger. It’s only a matter of time before others start looking into her.”

I clench my fist around the glass, my knuckles going white. I don’t need Lev to remind me. Alyssa has no clue what she’s walking into. But it doesn’t matter how many times I try to push her out of my thoughts. She keeps finding her way back in, like she owns a part of my mind I never meant to give away.

“I know the risks,” I snap, the words colder than I intend. “I know what this demands.”

Lev steps closer, his gaze never leaving mine. “Then show it,” he says, almost challenging me. “Control her, or cut her loose. You’ve got everything to lose here, Viktor. Don’t let this turn into a mistake.”

I meet his gaze, steady. My heart’s beating faster, but I won’t let him see it. “I know exactly what’s at stake, Lev. Don’t question me.”

Lev holds my gaze for a long moment, weighing something. Then, with a quiet sigh, he nods. “I’m just worried, Viktor. This isn’t you. You can’t afford distractions.”

I exhale, slow and controlled. Lev’s not wrong. This thing with Alyssa—it’s not just about her stubbornness. It’s the way she stands her ground, refusing to be scared. I used to respect that in people. But that was a long time ago, before everything got so complicated.

“Nothing’s slipping,” I say, voice hard. “You have my word.”

Lev watches me one last time, his concern buried under layers of professionalism. Then, he turns and walks toward the elevator. Just before he steps inside, he pauses and glances back over his shoulder.

“Just remember,” he says, his voice softer now. “The Bratva doesn’t forgive weaknesses. Especially not from its leaders.”

The doors close behind him, leaving the silence to settle back over the room. But Lev’s words echo in my mind, rattling around like an unwanted ghost. I know the rules of this life. I’ve played by them long enough to understand how merciless it can be. And yet, the thought of letting Alyssa go, of watching herwalk away from this world I’ve built—maybe that’s the biggest risk of all.

I pour another drink, letting the burn slide down my throat. Outside, the city twinkles in the distance, cold and distant. But I can’t look at it without seeing the shadows of my past, memories I locked away long ago. And in those shadows, I can see her.

The silence in the penthouse feels thicker tonight, pressing against me, tightening around my chest. The city’s hum is a distant whisper outside the windows, but inside, it’s just me. And her. Always her.

I turn the glass in my hand, watching the dark liquid swirl, a ghost of warmth in my fingertips. But it doesn’t ease the ache crawling up my throat. Alyssa’s face keeps coming back—her sharp gaze, the fire in her eyes when she looked at me like I was nothing more than a passing obstacle. How could anyone be that fearless?

I grip the glass harder, knuckles white, and slam it down on the counter. The sharp clink of it against marble stings, cutting through the quiet, but it doesn’t cut through the thoughts. **Damn it**, she’s all I can think about. That kiss, the way she challenged me—like she wanted me to break. And maybe, **maybe**, I did.

I breathe out slowly, dragging myself away from the bar, the weight of my own thoughts pulling me down. My mother’s voice drifts in like a forgotten echo, heavy with the warning I always brushed off. *Don’t let your heart lead you, Viktor. They’ll eat you alive.*

Her face flashes, her eyes wide with a quiet fear, always watching, always waiting. I’ve spent years building walls high enough to keep everything out—emotions, weaknesses, regrets. She told me love was the quickest way to ruin. And I was fool enough to think she was wrong.

But Alyssa... she makes it impossible to forget. **Damn her**, she doesn’t bend. She doesn’t break. She faces this world of mine head-on, without hesitation. She doesn’t know the danger she’s in, but she doesn’t care. That recklessness, that spark—it gets under my skin.

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