Page 25 of Veil of Shadows

“Viktor!” she gasps, relief washing over her face as she drops the knife to the counter.

“What happened?” I demand, my heart pounding as I approach her. “Are you okay?”

“I heard the noise and…” she trails off, eyes darting to the open door. “I thought you were in trouble.”

“I’m fine,” I reassure her, stepping closer and placing my hands on her shoulders. “But you need to stay here, no matter what.”

“I’m not going to let you face this alone,” she says, defiance sparking in her eyes. “Whatever’s going on, we can handle it together.”

The strength in her words ignites something fierce within me, and I know then that I can’t face this fight without her. Together, we are stronger.

“We can’t let fear dictate our actions,” I agree, the weight of the world resting on our shoulders. “But we have to be careful. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Alyssa nods, determination flashing in her eyes. “Then let’s figure this out together.”

The night stretches before us, uncertain and charged with tension, but I know one thing for sure—whatever happens next, we’ll face it side by side.

Together.

Chapter Thirteen – Alyssa

The cluttered office buzzes with the low hum of fluorescent lights, the kind that casts everything in a harsh glare. I sit at my desk, a fortress of case files and evidence surrounding me like walls. My fingers glide over the reports, but my mind keeps drifting back to Viktor—his presence lingering like a shadow, a potent reminder of the last time we met. It’s infuriating how one encounter can unsettle everything I thought I knew about myself.

I take a deep breath, determined to refocus. “You can’t let him get to you,” I mutter under my breath, flipping through the pages with a practiced efficiency. Each case file represents a life impacted, a story waiting to be uncovered, and yet, with every page turned, Viktor’s face flashes behind my eyelids, his voice low and commanding.

The thought frustrates me further, my resolve hardening. I refuse to be sidetracked by a man who embodies danger. “You need to focus,” I remind myself again, my voice steady. “This investigation is your priority.”

I push away the thoughts of Viktor and zero in on the evidence in front of me. There’s a new case regarding the neurotoxin, a complex web of connections that could lead to something significant. The lab is buzzing with activity, but I’m determined to make sense of the chaos around me. Each piece of evidence could be the key, and I won't let my personal feelings cloud my judgment.

As I sift through the reports, I notice my hands trembling slightly. I shake them out, willing the anxiety away. “Focus,” I whisper. I look down at a photo pinned to the wall—a victim's face, eyes wide in fear. I remind myself of why I do this work. It’s not for accolades or recognition; it’s for justice, for those who can no longer fight for themselves.

But as I dive deeper into the files, my thoughts inevitably turn back to Viktor. His intense gaze, the way he seemed to see straight through me, it all makes me question my resolve. Why does he provoke such a strong reaction? I’m both repelled and drawn to him, and that duality eats away at my concentration.

I shake my head, trying to dismiss the lingering feelings. I can’t afford this distraction. “I need to keep my head clear,” I remind myself, my fingers now digging into the edges of the desk as if grounding myself.

Determined, I delve into the newest evidence on the neurotoxin. Each detail I uncover feels like a step closer to untangling the truth. I jot down notes, piecing together connections, and for a fleeting moment, I feel that familiar rush of adrenaline, that thrill of discovery.

But the moment is short-lived. The sound of my phone buzzing shatters my concentration, and I glance at the screen, my heart skipping a beat when I see it’s a message from Viktor. A mix of dread and excitement courses through me. I hesitantly swipe to open the message, my breath catching in my throat.

Viktor:We need to talk. Tonight.

My stomach drops. Part of me wants to ignore him, to bury myself in my work and pretend that the tension between usdoesn’t exist. But I know that isn’t realistic. I can’t just pretend the connection we share hasn’t happened.

As the minutes tick by, my heart races, and I find myself glancing at the clock. 7:30 PM. The day has dragged on, but now it feels like the air in the office is thick with anticipation. What does he want? Does he plan to threaten me again, to intimidate me into stepping back from the investigation? Or is there something more to this?

I remind myself that he’s a threat, a figure cloaked in shadows, and yet I can’t shake the pull I feel toward him. A knock on the door makes me jump, and I look up, startled. The door creaks open, and there stands my colleague, Jamie, with an amused smile.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he jokes, leaning against the doorframe.

“Just deep in thought,” I reply, attempting to sound casual as I tuck my phone away.

“Thought about that hot guy you keep running into?” Jamie teases, raising an eyebrow.

“Hardly,” I scoff, but I feel my cheeks heat. “What do you want?”

“I was going to ask if you wanted to grab dinner. You look like you could use a break,” he says, stepping further into the room. “But if you’re busy…”

I hesitate, the thought of a distraction tempting, but I shake my head. “No, I can’t. I need to finish this.”

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