Page 24 of Temptation and Tyranny

I checked my watch: 9:38 p.m. Viktor was late, and in our line of work, tardiness often spelled trouble.

The concrete floor echoed my footsteps as I paced the length of the warehouse. Each step sent a small jolt up my leg, a reminder that I wasn’t invincible. My leg felt the best it had since Topher had taken me—but it wasn’t fully back to normal. Part of me wonderedif Allegra discharged me to get rid of me. I could read the temptation in her features as she considered my invitation. But she resisted, so I played it off cool.

It was the first time I had ever been turned down by a woman.

It was surprising, to say the least.

But to be honest, it was probably a good thing. She wasn’t a whore, and she seemed too sweet and pure for a one-night stand…and that was all I had to offer. I wasn’t even sure why I asked her out—she wasn’t my type. I didn’t have dates or girlfriends. I had prostitutes and hookers.

The familiar weight of my gun pressed against my lower back, the cold metal a small reminder of the growing tension. My phone buzzed in my pocket, the vibration feeling unnaturally loud in the silence. I pulled it out, hoping to see Viktor’s name. Instead, it was a message from Colton.

Everything okay? You’ve been radio silent for hours.

I typed out a quick response, the glow of the screen casting eerie shadows against my hands.

All good. Just waiting on Viktor. I’ll call when it’s done.

As I hit send, the screech of tires outside made me tense. The sound cut through the night like a knife, setting my nerves on edge. I walked to the large front door, watching as a sleek black Audi R8 pulled up, its engine purring before falling silent. The sudden quiet was almost deafening. Viktor Petrov stepped out, his long coat billowing in the night breeze. The soft whisper of expensive fabric couldn’t mask the menace in his approach. Two burly men flanked him, their heavy footsteps and the subtle creak of leatherbetraying the presence of concealed weapons.

“Cooper Moreau,” Viktor called out, his thick Russian accent filling the space between us. The words seemed to hang in the air, laden with unspoken danger. “I hope I haven’t kept you waiting too long.”

I forced a smile, stepping forward to shake his hand. The scent of his expensive cologne mixed with the underlying odor of cigar smoke made my stomach churn. “Not at all, Viktor. I appreciate you making the time.”

Viktor’s grip was firm, bordering on painful. His eyes, cold and calculating, searched mine for any sign of weakness. “Time is money, as they say. And speaking of money, I hope you’ve brought what we discussed.”

I gestured behind me, welcoming him into the warehouse. As soon as the doors were closed, I reached into my jacket to pull out a USB drive. The small device felt disproportionately heavy in my hand, weighted with the dangerous information it contained. “All the specs are here. Shipping routes, security details, everything you need to deliver.”

Viktor took the drive, turning it over in his hands. The soft click of the plastic seemed unnaturally loud in the tense atmosphere. “Excellent.”

“And the weapons?” I asked.

“Already en route to the agreed location,” he responded. “Just as we planned. From there, I’ll have them delivered directly to your clients.” A smile spread across Viktor’s face, but it didn’t reach his eyes. The expression was more predatory than pleasure. “You’ve already started to make a name for yourself, Cooper. I must admit, when I heard Steele had stepped back from the business, I had my doubts about you. But it seemsyou’re every bit as capable as your former partner.”

I felt a flicker of pride at his words, quickly followed by a wave of unease. Praise from a man like Viktor Petrov was a double-edged sword.

“I appreciate that, Viktor—”

Viktor held up a hand, cutting me off. The sudden movement made me flinch involuntarily. “We need to discuss payment. There’s been a slight...complication.”

My heart sank, a cold dread settling in the pit of my stomach. “Complication?”

“I’m afraid I’ll need to change our fee structure.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I growled, my hand instinctively moving closer to my concealed weapon. The cold metal against my skin was reassuring, even as I hoped I wouldn’t need to use it. “That wasn’t part of our deal, Viktor.”

Viktor’s smile turned cold, his eyes hardening like pools of ice. “Plans change, my friend. You see, your little operation hasn’t gone as unnoticed as you might have hoped. There are...interested parties who have taken note of your activities.”

I felt a chill run down my spine, goosebumps rising on my arms despite the warm night. “Cut the bullshit—what the fu—”

“Laurent Rousseau,” Viktor said, watching my reaction closely. The name hung in the air between us, heavy with implied threat. “He’s been asking questions about you, Cooper. Very specific questions about your recent business ventures. I’m going to need ten percent more than we discussed.”

“You double-crossing asshole—”

“Now, let’s not say anything we regret. You stillhave people in your life you care about, Cooper. A fragile father…your twin brother…and if rumors are to be true, you’ve even been seen with a very attractive woman.”

My head pounded as I ground my teeth in anger. I wasn’t surprised that he knew about Colton and my father; we shared a name, it was a simple fact. But the knowledge that he had connected me to Allegra…it sent a chill down my spine, and I realized the threat to her was just as intense a fear as the threat to my dad and brother. Before I could respond with the slew of profanity ready to release off my tongue, Viktor held up his hand.

“One more thing, Cooper. I have a...personal request.”

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