Page 65 of Imperfect Desires

“Viktor.” I shake my head. “Please don’t force Lev on me.”

He exhales, his gaze softening. “We’ll talk when I get back.”

He kisses my forehead—something he hasn’t done in weeks. That simple gesture breaks me. Tears spill over my cheeks as I press my face against his chest.

“I’m scared,” I admit.

“I know.” Viktor’s hand smooths down my hair. “But you won’t face this alone.”

I cling to him, trembling.

He lets me cry until the storm passes.

Finally, he pulls back and cups my face once more.

“Go home,” he says gently. “Rest. We’ll talk when I’m back.”

I nod weakly, wiping my face with the back of my hand. He presses a kiss to my temple and then lets me go. I watch him walk away, my heart pounding in my chest. For the first time in weeks, the weight in my chest feels lighter.

And for the first time since Lev left…

I feel like maybe—just maybe- I’m not as alone as I thought.

22

Viktor

The low hum of the private jet fills the cabin as I send a quick message to Scarlett to let her know that we have taken off. Her simple response of ‘okay’ weighs heavily on my chest. She has always expressed her aversion to how I have handled Alina’s situation, and now I see she has been right. A familiar yet hollow noise amplifies my unease. I sit stiffly, staring blankly at the polished surface of the table in front of me, replaying every painful detail from the airport in my mind.

Alina’s pale face, the red-rimmed eyes, the raw vulnerability in her voice as she whispered, "I'm scared." The memory makes my jaw clench tightly, teeth grinding in frustration. I've always prided myself on control, on the unwavering strength that has made our family untouchable. But right now, that control feels tenuous at best.

Across from me, Zasha shifts slightly in his seat, drawing my gaze. His sharp eyes study me quietly, always perceptive, always calm. He's been my voice of reason through countless storms, and right now, I need that clarity more than ever.

"You're quiet," Zasha finally says, his voice low, cautious.

I exhale slowly, leaning back against the leather seat. "Thinking."

He nods once, a subtle gesture filled with understanding. He doesn't press further, giving me the space I need to gather my chaotic thoughts.

The truth is, Alina’s suffering blindsided me. Seeing her hunched over in that airport bathroom, trembling and fragile, struck me harder than any bullet could. For weeks, I'd let anger cloud my judgment, fury at Lev's betrayal overshadowing everything else. But Alina... She was never supposed to get caught in the crossfire.

The guilt coils tighter inside me, relentless, suffocating. My little sister deserves better than the pain I've allowed her to endure. It's clear now—I have to face this head-on. Lev may have crossed a line, but he's also the man my sister loves, the father of her unborn child.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, battling the headache that pulses behind my eyes. "When we get back," I say slowly, forcing myself to speak clearly, "I need to talk to Lev."

Zasha watches me silently for a long moment before nodding in agreement. "It's the right thing to do."

His simple affirmation eases a fraction of the tension in my chest. If Zasha agrees, I'm on the right path. His instincts have always proven flawless.

As we approach our landing zone, my pilot radios the tower to request clearance for landing, but is denied due to visibility issues. At two hundred feet, he still cannot see the runway and is advised to discontinue the approach and instead head to Pulkovo, St. Petersburg.

The jet finally touches down smoothly, jolting me from my thoughts. Outside the window, the familiar skyline is gray and somber, perfectly mirroring my mood. My hand instinctively reaches for my phone and dials Scarlett’s number—her voice, calm and gentle, answers on the third ring.

"Hey," she breathes softly. "Are you okay?"

Just hearing her voice grounds me, providing a brief reprieve from the storm inside. "I’m fine," I lie, swallowing the anxiety in my throat. "How are the kids?"

"Missing you," she replies warmly. "They are right here in bed with me.” “How about you?”

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