Page 35 of His Grip

Viktor didn’t believe him, but he didn’t push. Not yet. He needed more than Alexei’s word. He needed proof.

Sofia approached cautiously, still keeping her distance, her eyes never leaving Viktor. She could see the storm brewing inside him, the way his jaw clenched with frustration. She understood it better than anyone else, even if she couldn’t see the full picture.

"Viktor, we need him alive. We need to know the extent of the ploy, know how to deal with the rippling effects of whom else has fallen into his spell.”

Viktor glanced at her, then back at Alexei, and finally nodded. "Fine. But if this goes south, you’re on your own."

Sofia’s lips curved slightly, but she didn’t respond. She didn’t need to. Viktor could see the trust in her eyes, and it unnerved him more than it should.

"Take him to the car," Viktor ordered Sergei, a command that brooked no argument. "We’ll deal with him later."

Sergei moved immediately, securing Alexei’s arms with cuffs, and dragging him toward the exit. The rest of the team began to clean up the scene, ensuring there were no loose ends. But Viktor’s mind was still on Sofia. The way she had stood her ground, even when she had no reason to. She was a woman of conviction, and it unsettled him.

He made his way to her, his footsteps steady, but his mind was clouded. She was still injured, her arm wrapped ina makeshift bandage, but she looked unfazed, more concerned about the mission than herself.

"You disobeyed me," Viktor muttered. "You could have died."

Sofia met his eyes, her expression unreadable. "I didn’t. You can thank me later."

A strange mixture of frustration and admiration washed over Viktor. He should have been angry, should have put her in her place. But instead, he found himself... impressed. She was fearless, reckless, and yet, there was something undeniable about her. Something that called to him in a way that made him question everything he thought he knew.

"You’re lucky I don’t punish you for that," Viktor muttered under his breath, stepping closer. The words were more for himself than for her. His feelings were getting harder to suppress, and he hated it.

Sofia’s eyes softened for a moment. "You wouldn’t do that. Not really."

Her words hung between them, charged with unspoken meaning. Viktor’s chest constricted at the implication, and for a fleeting second, he wondered if she knew how much power she had over him.

But before he could dwell on it, the sound of footsteps approaching broke the moment. Sergei returned, his face grim.

"Viktor," Sergei said, his tone low. "We’ve got a problem."

Viktor turned, his hand instinctively reaching for the gun holstered at his side. "What is it?"

"Alexei wasn’t lying," Sergei said, glancing over at Sofia. "But he wasn’t telling the whole truth either. There’s someone else. Someone high up in the organization. And they’re already moving against us."

Viktor’s heart skipped a beat. He’d known it. There was always a bigger game at play, always someone pulling thestrings. And now they had to find out who it was before it was too late.

"Who?" Viktor demanded.

Sergei shook his head. "We don’t know yet. But we’ll find out. We’re not done yet."

Viktor’s jaw clenched. The night was far from over. And this fight—this war—was just beginning.

CHAPTER 13

Sofia

The elevator ride to the penthouse felt longer than it should have. Sofia barely processed what had happened—the chaos of the mission, the wounds, and the adrenaline still buzzed through her veins. All she could focus on was Viktor. He was right next to her, and though he hadn't said a word since they left the warehouse, she could feel his thoughts swirling behind the seeming calm.

They moved into the penthouse, and the familiar luxury of the space did little to calm the sizzling between them. Sofia winced slightly as she moved, the bullet graze on her arm still stinging, but she pushed it aside. She wasn’t going to let it show. Not in front of him.

Viktor didn’t speak, his eyes never leaving her as she made her way to the couch. It was a wordless command, but she understood. She sank onto the soft leather, not making eye contact but feeling the weight of his attention on her.

He followed her, not wasting time. There was something about the way he moved tonight, a focus that unsettled her,and she couldn’t quite figure it out. It wasn’t like him to show concern—at least, not the way he was now.

"Sit," Viktor said, his tone firm but with an undertone of something softer she couldn’t place.

She obeyed without protest, trying not to touch her arm. It throbbed, a dull reminder of the mission they had just completed. Viktor’s expression softened when he saw the wound. He didn’t say anything, but his movements spoke volumes.

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