Chapter 147: How touching

Dr. Duncan poured a cup, his hand shaking slightly as he handed it to her. "Thank you." Sienna accepted it. The moment the cup came near her lips, something caught her attention. The scent. Her nose wrinkled slightly.

There was something beneath the tea. Something faint. Medicinal. Chemical. Her mind immediately began sorting through possibilities. She knew enough about medicine to recognize that certain smells could come from harmless things.

She looked at Dr. Duncan. He was smiling. The same professor who had spent hours helping her understand difficult material. The same man who had encouraged her when she’d doubted herself. He had no reason to hurt her. Sienna took a small sip.

Nothing happened. She set the cup down. "Very good." Dr. Duncan smiled. "I’m glad you like it." "I’ll see you around."

"Of course." Sienna stood. "I’ll be attending your class soon."

"I look forward to it." She smiled and walked out. The door closed behind her. For several seconds, she simply walked. Nothing felt wrong. Her breathing was normal. Her head was clear. She adjusted her bag and headed toward the main courtyard.

Then she stopped. Across the courtyard stood two familiar figures. Aliya. And Marcel. Sienna’s entire body went still. Marcel was saying something to Aliya, but she couldn’t hear him from this distance. Aliya suddenly turned.

Their eyes met. Sienna’s heart slammed against her ribs. Why were they here? She didn’t think. She started walking toward them. Then faster.

"Hey!" Aliya turned away. Marcel looked over his shoulder. Sienna broke into a run. The two figures disappeared around the corner.

"Wait!" She chased after them. Behind her, two men dressed casually among the students immediately noticed the change in her pace. Viktor’s men. They exchanged a quick glance before following. Sienna rounded the corner. .

Her chest rose and fell rapidly. She looked down the corridor. "I knew it was you two." Sienna finally caught up with them or perhaps they had simply allowed her to. Aliya stopped first.

Slowly, she reached up and pulled off the hood covering her head. "Yes." Her eyes settled on Sienna. "It’s me." Sienna’s guards closed the distance behind her, spreading out without making a scene.

Aliya glanced at them and laughed under her breath. "You really think you’ve gotten rid of me that Viktor is yours?" Sienna said nothing. "You think Fabio is dead, so everything is over?"

Aliya shook her head. "You’re wrong." She stepped closer. "Very wrong." Sienna folded her arms. "Then tell me what you came here for." Aliya’s smile sharpened.

"To see you, tell you I’m still standing and I’m not going anywhere, oh and let you on a little secret."

"How generous." "Don’t mock me."

"I wasn’t." Aliya’s eyes narrowed. "Do you even know who Viktor really is?" Sienna’s expression didn’t change.

"Well you tell me, who is my husband?"

"Viktor is part of a clan with rules older than either of us." Aliya leaned closer. "And his marriage isn’t entirely his decision." Something flickered across Sienna’s face. Aliya noticed.

"Go ask him." She smiled. "His late father arranged a marriage pact with the daughter of another kingpin." Sienna stared at her.

"Is that so?"

"Yes,our world would never accept you," Aliya shrugged. "Ask Viktor." The words settled uncomfortably between them. Sienna refused to let her see the doubt beginning to form.

"And that’s supposed to scare me?"

"No." Aliya’s smile disappeared. "I’m telling you because you should know what you’re walking into." She took a breath. "And I’m going to prove something else."

"What?"

"That you were responsible for my family losing all that money." Sienna’s eyebrows rose.

"Me?"

"When I prove it..." Aliya’s gaze hardened. "I’m coming for you.I know it, I can feel it in my bones that you made all those stocks collapse."

Marcel finally stepped forward. "Aliya." She ignored him. Sienna looked between them. "Are you two finished?" Marcel’s expression remained calm.

"Sienna, listen to me." She almost laughed. "Why should I?"

"Because this time, she’s telling you the truth about one thing." Sienna’s smile disappeared. Marcel’s voice softened. "There is a war coming." He glanced toward the guards before looking back at her.

"And it’s bigger than Fabio," Sienna said nothing. "You and Viktor can’t win every war." "I don’t remember asking you."

"I know, I care about you. This is not the life you want, and I know Viktor forced you into this, and I can offer you a way out a decent way out." His tone remained gentle, almost caring.

That was what made it worse. "You need to understand something. Viktor isn’t invincible. He’s just a man." Marcel paused.

"And whatever is coming..." His eyes darkened. "Even he will break at some point." Sienna stared at him.

"You sound very concerned about me, Marcel."

"That is because I am." She gave him a skeptical look. "How touching."

"I’m serious." Sienna stepped closer. "But here’s the thing." Her eyes moved between Marcel and Aliya. "You both keep telling me how dangerous my life is." She smiled without warmth.

"And yet somehow, you’re the ones standing here trying to frighten me, oh, and the very same who try to have me killed ."

Neither answered. Sienna turned toward the guards. One of them stepped forward. "Are you okay, Mrs. Kessler?" Sienna nodded.

"I’m fine." She looked back at Aliya. "Thanks for coming all the way here to warn me." Her smile sharpened. "But Viktor and I can take care of ourselves." She picked up her bag.

"So I’d suggest you worry about your own sorry asses instead." She turned and walked away. "Sienna." She didn’t stop. The guards followed closely behind her.

Aliya watched until Sienna disappeared around the corner. Then the smile slowly returned to her face. Marcel looked at her. "What?" Aliya’s eyes gleamed.

"You’ll see." She reached for another cigarette. "This is only the beginning."

—-

Sienna climbed into the car and shut the door. For several minutes, the drive home was uneventful. The university disappeared behind her, replaced by long stretches of highway and afternoon traffic.

Her hands rested loosely on the steering wheel. Aliya’s words kept replaying in her head.

A marriage pact. Viktor’s father’s promise. A war. Sienna shook her head. "She’s trying to get inside my head."

She pressed the accelerator. The car surged forward. A few minutes later, something changed. She frowned. The road seemed to blur at the edges. Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel.

"What the..."