Page 44 of His Grip

He turned away, picking up the call. Sergei spoke immediately, the urgency seeping through. "We’ve got a situation. Alexei’s men are moving on the docks."

"Hold them off. I’m on my way."

He ended the call, already calculating his next moves. When he turned back to Sofia, she was watching him intently.

"Stay here," Viktor ordered.

Sofia’s expression darkened. "I can help?—"

"This isn’t up for debate," he cut her off sharply. "You’ve done enough for now."

Sofia looked like she wanted to argue, but she held her tongue. Viktor didn’t wait for her response, striding out of the room.

The docks were a war zone by the time Viktor arrived. Gunfire echoed in the distance, and there was the acrid smell of smoke. His men were holding their ground, but the assault was relentless.

Viktor moved with precision, barking orders and taking out targets with lethal efficiency. His mind was sharp, focused—but Sofia lingered at the edge of his thoughts. Her defiance, her boldness—it all made him question why he hadn’t kept her at arm’s length.

By the time the skirmish ended, Viktor’s men had driven Alexei’s forces back, but it was clear this was only the beginning.Alexei was testing his limits, and Viktor knew he couldn’t afford to let his guard down.

As Viktor surveyed the damage, Sergei approached him, his expression grim. "We’ve secured the area, but we lost two men."

Viktor nodded, his face impassive. "Double the patrols. I want every inch of our territory locked down."

"And Alexei?" Sergei asked.

"He’ll make his next move soon enough," Viktor said. "When he does, we’ll be ready."

But as Viktor turned to leave, his thoughts returned to Sofia. He had underestimated her once, and it was a mistake he couldn’t afford to repeat.

When Viktor returned to the penthouse, the atmosphere was charged. He found Sofia waiting for him in the living room, her expression unreadable.

"You didn’t stay put," Viktor said, his tone sharp.

Sofia rose to her feet, meeting him head-on. "You didn’t give me much of a choice."

Viktor’s patience was wearing thin, but he couldn’t deny the fire in her eyes stirred something deep within him. "You do not seem to understand what you’re up against.”

"I think you’re used to people following your orders without question," Sofia retorted. "But I’m not one of your men."

Viktor closed the distance between them in two strides. "No, you’re not. But you’re in my world now, and you’ll play by my rules—or you won’t play at all."

"Your world doesn’t scare me, Viktor. You might think you’re invincible, but even you can’t dominate everything."

Her words hit a nerve, but Viktor refused to let it show. Instead, he leaned in closer. "And you think you’re untouchable?" he said in a low rasp. "You’re playing a dangerous game, Sofia."

She lifted her chin, defiance blazing in her expression. "Then maybe it’s time someone showed you how to lose."

The audacity of her response made something snap in Viktor. Before he could stop himself, his hand shot out, circling her wrist and pulling her closer. The moment their bodies collided, the argument morphed into something far more primal.

Her breath hitched, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she stared up at him, her lips parted, daring him to close the gap.

And then he did.

The kiss was nothing like their previous encounters. It wasn’t calculated or measured—it was raw, feverish, and desperate. Viktor’s mouth claimed hers with a hunger that matched the fire in her defiance. His fingers slid to the back of her neck, tangling in her hair as he angled her head to deepen the kiss.

Sofia responded with equal fervor, her hands clutching the front of his shirt as if to anchor herself. She bit his lower lip, eliciting a low growl from him, and he pressed her back against the wall, his body trapping hers.

"You think this solves anything?" she murmured against his lips, teasing him.

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