Chapter 138: Where’s Viktor?

The first thing Sienna noticed was the silence. No arguing guards outside the door. No footsteps. No deep, rough voice teasing her until she rolled her eyes. Just silence.

She frowned and reached across the bed. Cold sheets.

She blinked at the ceiling, then slowly turned her head toward the window. Sunlight poured through the curtains in bright golden strips, warming the wooden floor.

Her eyes widened. "Oh no..." She shot upright, then immediately winced. A dull ache settled low in her body. Not painful. Just enough to remind her. Heat rushed into her cheeks.

Her hands tightened around the blanket as memories slipped into her mind one after another. Viktor kneeling between her legs. His patient voice. His mouth brushing against her skin.

His fingers tangled with hers when everything became too much. "Look at me." She buried her burning face in her hands.

"Oh, God..." A laugh escaped before she could stop it. She had just wanted to watch over an injured mafia boss.

Instead... She had slept until nearly noon while he disappeared somewhere without waking her. A smile spread across her face before she even realized it. It refused to leave.

She hugged a pillow against her chest, biting her lip to stop another ridiculous grin. She remembered begging. Actually begging. She squeezed her eyes shut.

"I can’t..."

"Viktor..."

"Please..." The words echoed so clearly she wanted to disappear beneath the blankets. She had never imagined a person could feel like that. He hadn’t rushed her. He hadn’t mocked her.

Every time she became overwhelmed, he had stopped. Every time she trembled, he had waited. He had looked at her as though nothing in the world mattered except whether she was comfortable.

Her smile softened. Maybe that was the part she couldn’t stop thinking about. Not what he did. How gentle he’d been. Her fingertips brushed unconsciously over her lips. What would it feel like...

She caught herself. "No." She laughed quietly. "I’m not thinking about that."

Except she was. Completely. The thought of finally giving herself to him sent tiny butterflies racing through her stomach. She covered her face again.

"I’m hopeless." After another minute of hiding beneath the blankets, she finally forced herself out of bed. The moment both feet touched the floor, she paused. Another small reminder.

She shifted her weight carefully. "...Definitely magical." The admission escaped in a whisper. She wasn’t ashamed of it.

If anything... She felt lighter. Happier. Like something inside her had quietly bloomed overnight.

She quickly showered, changed into fresh clothes, and tied her hair into a loose ponytail before opening the bedroom door.

Two men dressed in black suits straightened immediately. Marcus stood nearby, his hands folded behind his back. The instant he saw her, he inclined his head respectfully.

"Good morning, Mrs. Kessler." Sienna smiled automatically.

"Morning." Her eyes swept past them. The hallway was empty. The smile faded just a little.

"Where’s Viktor?" She tried to sound casual. She failed. Marcus noticed.

"The boss had to take care of something." She frowned.

"He left?"

"Yes."

"He... left?" Marcus nodded once. "He specifically ordered that no one disturb your rest." Sienna blinked.

"He said that?"

"Yes."

"And nobody was allowed to wake me?"

"Those were his exact instructions." A tiny smile escaped before she could stop it.

Idiot. Sweet idiot. Then another thought struck her. The smile vanished. "Wait."

She stepped closer.

"What about his wound?" Marcus remained calm. "The doctor cleared him to move carefully."

"He was shot."

"He’ll manage." Her brows pulled together. "Then why didn’t you go with him?" Marcus didn’t answer immediately.

She folded her arms. "You never leave his side." Another brief silence. "He believed I would be more useful remaining here."

"Why?" His expression gave nothing away. "The mansion required additional security." Sienna studied him. Marcus wasn’t lying.

But he definitely wasn’t telling her everything. A knot slowly formed in her stomach. "What happened?"

"Nothing you should concern yourself with." She sighed.

"Marcus."

"I’m serious."

"I know."

"So tell me."

"I’m afraid I can’t." She opened her mouth to argue. A bright voice echoed from the far end of the hallway before she could.

"Sienna!" She turned. Aria came jogging toward them, one hand holding onto the staircase railing for balance.

The bruises on her face had faded to pale yellow, and although one arm was still wrapped in a sling, the sparkle in her eyes had completely returned.

"You finally woke up!" Aria laughed. Sienna blinked. "What time is it?"

"Almost eleven thirty." Her jaw dropped. "I slept that long?" Aria threw her head back laughing. "You slept through breakfast." Sienna groaned, covering her face.

"I was supposed to be taking care of Viktor."

"Looks to me like he was taking care of you." Marcus coughed into his fist. One of the guards suddenly found the opposite wall fascinating. Sienna froze. Then her entire face turned scarlet.

"Aria!"

"What?"

"You should see your face!" Aria giggled, nearly doubling over before wincing and grabbing her ribs. "Ow... okay... maybe I shouldn’t laugh that hard." Sienna hurried toward her.

"See? You’re still recovering."

"I know." Aria linked their arms anyway. "But you’re glowing."

"I am not."

"You absolutely are."

"I’m just well rested."

"Mmm." Aria gave her a long, exaggerated look. "So... should I thank my uncle?" Sienna nearly choked.

"Aria!" Her friend’s laughter echoed through the hallway, light enough to make even the stone walls feel warmer. Yet beneath the laughter, Sienna’s gaze drifted back toward the mansion entrance.

Toward the empty driveway. Toward the place Viktor had already disappeared from hours ago. Her smile slowly faded. He had left wounded. Without Marcus. Without telling her where he was going.

And the pleasant warmth inside her chest was replaced by a quiet, persistent worry.

Sienna and Aria settled at the kitchen island with steaming mugs of coffee between them. Someone had already laid out breakfast, fresh bread, fruit, eggs, and pastries, but neither of them reached for the food immediately.

Aria rested her chin in her palm, studying Sienna far too closely. "What?" A grin slowly spread across Aria’s face.

"You want to tell me how your night went?" Sienna nearly dropped her coffee. "My face gives it away, doesn’t it?"