Chapter 166: Defiance

Sienna was still in bed when the bedroom door opened. She shifted beneath the covers, not fully awake yet. Viktor walked in. He was already dressed.

Dark trousers. A crisp shirt. His jacket hung over one arm, and his hair was neatly pushed back as though he’d had a full night’s sleep.

Sienna stared at him through sleepy eyes. It didn’t seem fair. She felt like she’d been awake for days. He looked perfectly fine. Viktor paused beside the bed. For a moment, he simply watched her.

Even now, he was still trying to make sense of what he’d discovered the night before. Sienna. His quiet little librarian. The woman he had assumed spent most of her free time reading novels and avoiding trouble.

Invisible Shadow. The name still didn’t sit right in his head. He almost laughed. She had been under his roof, sleeping in his bed, and he hadn’t had the slightest idea. Sienna shifted.

Her eyes slowly opened. She found him standing there. "You." Viktor raised an eyebrow.

"Good morning to you too." A sleepy smile touched her lips. "Good morning." Viktor sat on the edge of the bed. "I need to check a few sites. I’ll be back soon."

Sienna nodded. She wasn’t the type of wife who expected him to sit around the house all day. She understood work. Especially Viktor’s version of it. He stood again.

"And stay off the internet for a few days." Sienna blinked. Then slowly looked up at him. Viktor stared back. She nodded.

"Okay."

"I don’t believe you." Sienna’s lips pressed together. "I said okay."

"Stay home." Another nod.

"Recover. No university today."

"Fine."

"And Aria is on the phone." Sienna sat upright.

"What?" Viktor held the phone toward her. Her eyes widened. "Why didn’t you say that first?" She snatched the phone from his hand. Viktor smiled. "I was getting there."

"You take too long."

"Goodbye, Sienna."

"Bye." He bent down, pressed a kiss against her forehead, then moved toward the door. "Don’t wander around." Sienna waved him away.

"Yes, Boss." Viktor stopped. She smiled innocently. His eyes narrowed. "I’m serious."

"So am I." He shook his head and left. Sienna waited until the door closed. Then immediately lifted the phone. "Aria!"

A laugh came from the other end. "Sienna."

"Oh, my God. How are you?"

"I miss you, girl." Sienna sank back against the pillows. "I miss you too. I’m still mad that you left without saying goodbye."

"I know. I’m sorry." Sienna’s expression softened. "How’s your father?" There was a small pause.

"He’s fine."

"You sure?"

"Yeah." Aria sounded like she was trying to convince herself as much as Sienna. "He’s already back to work." Sienna smiled faintly. "Already?"

"Mm-hmm." Aria let out a small breath. "He was on his laptop all night. I guess that means he’s fine now." Sienna relaxed slightly. "I’m glad."

She pulled the blanket higher over her legs. "So when are you coming back?" Aria was quiet. "We have a lot to talk about."

"I know."

"And I mean a lot." A small laugh escaped Aria. "For now, I’m not even supposed to be using my phone." Sienna frowned.

"What?"

"My parents said it’s for... security reasons."

"Security reasons?"

"I don’t know." But Sienna could hear it. Something in Aria’s voice. She was choosing her words too carefully. Then Sienna heard a woman’s voice in the background. Aria’s mother.

The words weren’t clear, but the presence was enough. Sienna sat a little straighter. "You’re with your mom?" "Yeah."

Another pause. Then Aria spoke quickly. "I’ll find a way to see you, okay?"

"Aria..."

"I’ll be back before you know it." The words sounded cheerful. Too cheerful. Sienna’s fingers tightened around the phone. "Okay."

"Take care, Sienna."

"You too." The call ended. Sienna lowered the phone slowly. The bedroom suddenly felt too quiet. She stared at the screen. Something was wrong. Aria had tried to sound normal. But Sienna knew her.

And that small pause before every answer. The careful way she had said security reasons.Her mother standing close enough that she couldn’t speak freely.

Sienna’s eyes narrowed. She looked toward the closed bedroom door. Then back at the phone. Something was happening. And whatever it was. Aria was worried. But her body had reached its limit.

The little sleep she’d gotten during the night had done nothing to erase the exhaustion sitting deep in her bones. Her eyes burned. Her head felt heavy against the pillows. She placed the phone beside her. I’ll figure it out later.

Sienna pulled the blanket over herself and turned onto her side. Within minutes, she was asleep again.

By the time Viktor left the mansion, Marcel had already been moved. His wrists were bound in front of him as he sat in the back of a dark vehicle. Bruises covered his face. One eye was swollen, and there was dried blood near the corner of his mouth.

He looked terrible. Viktor sat across from him. Marcel shifted against the seat. "I’m sorry." Viktor didn’t respond. Marcel swallowed.

"Viktor... where are you taking me?" Still nothing. Viktor only smiled. That smile did absolutely nothing to calm him. The drive went on.

And on. Eventually, Marcel stopped asking questions. The city disappeared behind them. The roads changed. Buildings became fewer. The landscape outside the window grew unfamiliar.

Then the vehicle finally slowed. Marcel looked out. His stomach dropped. A large building stood ahead of them, surrounded by high fencing and armed guards. There was no sign. Nothing to explain what happened inside.

The gates opened. The vehicle drove through.

Inside the building, several young women sat at long tables. The room was brightly lit. Too brightly. Their hands moved quickly as they packaged small, unidentified substances into larger boxes.

No one spoke. Some kept their heads down. Others watched the guards carefully before returning to their work. There was fear in the room.

Quiet. Carefully controlled. At one of the tables sat Aliya. She was still wearing the same clothes she had been taken in.

Her designer outfit was torn in several places now. Her hair was a mess, and a bruise darkened the side of her face. Her lower lip was swollen. But Aliya still had that same look in her eyes. Defiance.