Page 32 of His Grip

She met his eyes, the intensity of his stare making her heart pound. “I promise,” she said softly.

For a moment, it felt like the rest of the world had faded away, leaving only the two of them. The memory of his touch, his kiss, lingered on her skin, but they both ignored it, burying the emotions beneath the urgency of the mission.

“Let’s go,” Viktor said, his tone all business again as he withdrew.

Sofia followed him out, her resolve hardening with each step. She didn’t know what lay ahead, but she knew one thing for certain—she wouldn’t let fear hold her back.

CHAPTER 12

Viktor

When it came to war, Viktor was clearheaded. As he led the attack on Alexei’s warehouse, he knew he had to keep that focus sharp. Sofia stayed close to him, thank God. She was the most stubborn woman he’d ever met, but at this moment, it seemed she understood the stakes and was sticking by his side. Still, he couldn’t shake the nagging thought that he might be putting her in danger—danger that could ultimately overshadow her.

Heck, he was enabling her.

It didn’t matter that this was an operation to rescue her brother. She was someone who wasn’t accustomed to this life, and despite Sergei and Andrei’s warnings, he had let her come with him. He couldn’t tell if that was the wrong decision, but he hoped it wasn’t.

There was no way he could protect two people at once, and he still instilled fear in his enemies.

The night was dark, the kind that made it difficult to see even a few feet ahead. But he had planned for operations like this. Hewas skilled in navigating situations as twisted as this, and he had trained the men around him to be just as capable. They could do this.

Earlier, in the car, he had handed her a gun, practically tossing it into her lap when she insisted she wouldn’t stay put. “I’m going to protect you at all costs, Sofia, but you might have to protect yourself too.”

She took the gun with shaky hands, raising it cautiously, her fingers keeping clear of the trigger. “I can handle myself out there, Viktor. You should know that by now.”

“Have you handled a gun before?” This was a question he should have asked back at the house, but he’d been too preoccupied with the dynamics of their operation, too immersed in the war they were about to fight. Still, he figured he could get the answers now.

She shot him a coy look. “My father taught me how to use a gun, Viktor?—”

He groaned and shook his head. “This isn’t just bullets against metal. As I recall, during our first meeting, you looked at me like I was some kind of monster for cutting into that man’s flesh.”

“You think I don’t know that?” There was incredulity in her tone, anger flaring in her eyes as she twisted the gun in her grip.

“I don’t think you do, Sofia. It’s not too late to back out of this, you know?”

“Save it.”

They were here now. She still held the gun, even as she crouched low behind him. Maybe he didn’t need to worry so much after all.

The warehouse loomed ahead, its metal frame casting long shadows on the ground. Viktor motioned for his team to take their positions, his eyes scanning the perimeter. But his thoughts lingered on Sofia. He couldn’t shake the feeling thatsomething was off. Something didn’t feel right, and it gnawed at him.

Sofia, as always, stayed close, her expression unreadable. She was more than just a mafia princess; she had proven time and again that she wasn’t someone to be underestimated. But tonight, Viktor didn’t want her involved. Not with Ivan’s life hanging in the balance, not with the uncertainty surrounding Alexei’s moves.

"Sofia," Viktor spoke low, his words meant only for her, "stay behind me. This is dangerous."

Her eyes, sharp and steady, locked with his. "I’m not sitting this one out," she said, her tone firm, unwavering.

Viktor narrowed his eyes, but he didn’t argue. He knew that look. Sofia had made up her mind. He cursed under his breath.

"Don’t make me regret this," he muttered, more to himself than to her.

The plan was simple: storm the warehouse, get Ivan, and get out. No distractions. No complications.

They made their move swiftly, slipping into the building through the back entrance. Viktor’s mind worked on autopilot, his body reacting to every shift in sound, every slight movement in the shadows. He’d been doing this for years—he knew how to kill, how to survive. But tonight, as they navigated the maze of crates and corridors, his attention kept returning to Sofia. She was too close. Too involved. It was distracting, and yet, he couldn’t bring himself to tell her to leave.

A sudden noise ahead broke his concentration. The team froze, instinctively slipping into position. Viktor’s pulse quickened, but he didn’t hesitate. They were getting close.

"Sergei," he whispered into his earpiece. "Get to the left side. I want eyes on the door."

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