Page 50 of His Grip

She nodded. “I had to do it. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t do anything to protect your family, Viktor, because—damn it—I know you would.”

He stood and began to pace, the anger radiating from him with each step. It was clear he was furious with her and was doing nothing to quell it, letting it grow.

“You went to Alexei to make a deal, Sofia, knowing damn well he’s my rival and sworn enemy.”

“This isn’t about your rivalry, Viktor.”

“No,” he snarled, his voice thick with anger. “It’s personal. You’re my wife, Sofia, yet you don’t believe we’re family? You asked me if I wouldn’t do the same for family, but… tell me, isn’t that what I’ve been doing for Ivan… for you? Knowing that Alexei is out to take me down, you went to him to broker a deal?”

Sofia felt heat rush to her face, a mix of shame and frustration. She stood her ground, refusing to back down. “I did what I had to do.” The weight of her confession made her tremble. “I won’t let you or anyone else use my brother as a pawn. He’s my responsibility, Viktor.”

Viktor’s eyes burned with intensity, the fire in them reflecting the fury he was struggling to contain.

“You think you can protect him like this?” he spat, barely hiding his contempt. “You think giving yourself to Alexei will save him? You’re nothing more than a pawn in his game, just like you’re a pawn in mine.”

The sting of his words hit Sofia like a slap, but she didn’t flinch. She wouldn’t let him see how much they hurt her.

“I’m not your pawn,” she snapped, her eyes flashing with anger. “I’m not anyone’s pawn. I did what I had to do to keep Ivan safe. And you don’t get to order me around.”

Viktor stood before her, his fists clenched at his sides, his entire body coiled like a spring. She could see the conflict in his eyes—the mixture of anger, frustration, and something darker that she couldn’t name.

“You should have come to me,” Viktor said in a dangerously low tone. “I would have protected you, Sofia. I would have found another way.”

Sofia shook her head. “You’re not listening, Viktor. Alexei’s plan doesn’t just affect you or me. It’s bigger than that. Ivan’s life is on the line. You can’t just sweep it all aside because of your pride.”

“Pride?” Viktor’s words were laced with disbelief. “I don’t give a damn about my pride. I care about you. But you’ve gone behind my back and made a deal with the devil. You think I’ll just stand here and let you throw yourself into that mess?”

Her heart pounded in her ears. She could feel her anger rising again, but she held it back, forcing herself to stay calm.

“I did this for Ivan,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “He’s my family, Viktor. You might be the only thing standing between him and Alexei’s plan, but I will do whatever it takes to make sure he stays safe. I’m not asking for your permission.”

Viktor’s eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. “You should have asked me.”

Sofia took a deep breath, refusing to back down. “I didn’t need your permission.”

There was a long pause before Viktor finally moved. He grabbed her by the wrist with a force that made her gasp. Before she could react, he spun her around, pushing her roughly against the wall. His breath was hot against her neck as he leaned in, his lips brushing against her skin.

“You think you’re the boss here?” he murmured. “You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into, Sofia.”

Her body trembled as his words sent a shockwave through her. She hated that he was right—that she had no idea what she had started. But it was too late to turn back now. And despite the fear gnawing at her insides, she couldn’t deny the pull between them, the fire that sparked to life whenever he touched her.

The weight of Viktor’s body pressed against hers, the heat of his anger radiating through the thin fabric of her blouse. Sofia felt the tension coil between them, the words that had passed between them now forgotten in the overwhelming need that surged like a tide. His breath was heavy against her neck.

He was furious. And yet, there was something else in his eyes—something darker, more primal.

“You think you can just walk into his world and offer yourself to him?” Viktor growled, his mouth brushing against her ear. “That you can risk your life for your brother and not face the consequences?”

Sofia’s chest thumped, but she refused to give in to the fear gnawing at her. “I had no choice, Viktor,” she whispered, trembling with the weight of her own resolve. “I had to do it.”

The anger in his eyes flared hotter, but so did something else. The raw desire he had tried to keep buried beneath his icy exterior was impossible to ignore. His lips found hers in a kiss that was anything but tender—ferocious, demanding, as though he couldn’t contain the desire ripping through him any longer. She responded in kind, her hands flying to his chest as her body melted into his, forgetting everything except the fire igniting between them.

His hands were everywhere—on her shoulders, down her arms, around her waist. He pulled her closer, pressing her harder against the wall. Sofia gasped as his lips moved to herneck, nipping at her skin with a hunger that sent a tremor of need through her body.

“You belong to me, Sofia,” Viktor murmured. “You should have never walked into his den. Now look what you’ve done.”

His words, laced with fury, only seemed to fuel the fire between them. Sofia arched into him, her breath hitching as his hands explored her body with an urgency that mirrored her own. He was angry, yes. But the intensity of the kiss, the way his body responded to hers, was undeniable.

“I’m not yours,” Sofia managed to say, even as she lost herself in the kiss. “Not like this.”

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