Viktor(75)

“Watch us,” I growl. “C’mon Alisha.”

But then he says something that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “They’re already at his house.”

I glance over my shoulder. “What did you say?”

The awful smile on his face twists my stomach into knots. “You didn’t even know, did you?” He laughs out loud. “Fuck, Vladim is smart. He fucking has you … He fucking has you.”

“Get to the fucking point or I swear to God, I’ll shoot your balls off!” I yell, pointing my gun at him again.

He shakes his head. “Viktor … Remember him? Either you stay … or he dies.”





Chapter 25





Viktor





“Why didn’t you go with her?” Winston asks, but I turn my head away from him.

“Leave me alone,” I say softly.

“You know she’s in way over her head.”

“Just leave me,” I growl.

“No, you’re making a mistake,” he says. “You should go after her.”

“I can’t!” I look at him over my shoulder. “I can’t because I promised her I wouldn’t.”

“Why? You know she’s in danger,” he pleads.

“Because it’s what she wanted. She needed to do this alone.”

“That makes no sense.”

“It does …” I mumble.

It takes him a while, but then he says, “Oh … because she wants you to be safe. And you wouldn’t be if you came along.”

“I agreed … so I could give her what she wanted.”

“But you let her go. You may never see her again.”

“So be it.” I turn away again, sighing as I sit in my lounge chair and stare into the void of the crackling fire in front of me. “At least, I know what it feels like to be happy now.”

“Nonsense.”

“Dammit, Stan!” I grip the armrests tight. “Can’t you see this is the most difficult fucking thing I’ve ever done? For the first time in my entire life, I didn’t choose me, I chose her. I chose her happiness over mine. For once, I wasn’t selfish, and I did it for her.” I groan as tears well up in my eyes.

“I see.”

I know he knows what it could mean. That I might not see her again. That she could die.

But at least I know she wouldn’t hate me anymore … and that she saw her sister at least one final time. Because I took that from her, and now, I gave it back.

“Please … just leave me alone.”

“Right, but if she’s there, you know Vladim will eventually come here too. It’ll never be enough for him.”

“I know,” I say. “I don’t care.”

He sighs out loud. “Do you really—”

“Leave!” I yell. “Just get out.” With a grimace, I look up at him and see the genuine sorrow on his face. He has to know I’m only saying this so he won’t get caught in the crossfire. He just has to.

“You’re my friend, Stan, the only one I’ve got.”

He nods, stepping back. “I understand, Viktor. So are you … so are you.”

I smile at him, but it’s a wistful, painful smile. And as he walks away, my chest fucking hurts because my body wants to howl.

Before he closes the door, he says, “Don’t die.”

I nod, and then he’s gone.

Just like that, I’m truly alone.

But at least I know he’ll be safe … Far, far away from me.

Minutes, hours pass. I don’t know how much time, but I don’t care.

I’ve lost the will to give a damn.

If I don’t have her, can’t have her, then I don’t see the point anymore.

It’s for the best anyway. I knew it was hopeless the moment I realized I was in love with her. She’s beautiful, a free spirit—a girl with feistiness and a will to survive against all odds. And I’m the monster that caused her misery. She could never love someone like me.

After a while, I hear banging on the door.

I don’t get up.

Not even when they burst through my door.

“Viktor!” Vladim yells. “I’ve got you now. Show yourself.”

I don’t respond. I don’t care if he’s here. If he’s going to kill me.

“C’mon then, show me what kind of man you are,” Vladim spits, walking into my room.

I hear more footsteps than his, and they keep getting closer.

“Go get him,” I hear Vladim murmur.

Not long after, a man stands in front of me, his gun aimed at my head. His eyes briefly search my eyes, a horrified look on his face as he sees the scars that mark me. Does he realize it could happen to him at any moment? Does he know he’s in danger just by being close to Vladim?