Chapter 199: Come with me

Viktor kept his eyes low, playing the part. "I don’t want anyone to see me like this," he said. "The guards, your father, they’ll just start something. I should go."

"No." Aliya shook her head firmly. "What if something happens to you out there? Come inside. I’ll hide you, I promise. My father won’t see you. Neither will Elena or the guards." She held out her hand. "Come with me."

Viktor hesitated, just long enough to look convincing, then nodded. "Okay," he said quietly. "Just for a moment."

He slipped the small cardboard case deeper into his jacket as he stepped out of the car, following her toward the mansion.

Aliya moved quickly, guiding Viktor along the side of the house.

She glanced over her shoulder every few seconds.

A guard stood near the front entrance, his attention fixed on something happening across the courtyard. Aliya waited until he turned away before pulling Viktor past the corner.

They slipped through a side door. She closed it carefully behind them. Only then did she breathe again. Her room was quiet.

Viktor walked toward the bed and sat down slowly on the edge. Aliya followed. She sat beside him, close enough that her shoulder almost touched his.

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. Aliya kept looking at him. She was waiting. Viktor lowered his eyes, appearing thoughtful.

Then he looked at her. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yes," Aliya whispered immediately. She leaned slightly closer. "I want you to dance for me."

Aliya blinked. "Dance?"

"For me." A slow smile spread across her face. She had expected many things from Viktor tonight. That wasn’t one of them.

"Sienna loves dancing," Viktor said quietly. He didn’t explain why he had mentioned her. He didn’t need to. Aliya’s smile widened. She understood exactly what she wanted to understand.

"Of course," she said quickly. She stood.

"Wait here." Aliya disappeared into her closet. Viktor remained sitting on the bed, his expression unreadable. A few minutes later, she returned.

She had changed into a delicate lace slip, clearly chosen to get his attention. She walked toward the mirror, glanced at herself, then turned around slowly. Her eyes went straight to Viktor.

She wanted to see his reaction. But his face remained calm. "She always covers her eyes," he said.

Aliya paused. "Who?"

"Sienna." Something flickered across Aliya’s face. Then she smiled.

"Okay." She walked over to the dresser and picked up a strip of silk. Turning back toward Viktor, she held it up.

"Like this?" He nodded once. Aliya tied the silk gently over her eyes.

The moment the knot was secured, everything around her disappeared. She couldn’t see Viktor anymore. She could only hear the faint sound of her own breathing. She smiled.

"Now what?" Viktor didn’t answer immediately. Aliya waited. Then she heard him stand. Her smile grew. She had no idea that the silence behind her wasn’t desire.

It was calculation.

Aliya heard him move closer. She felt the warmth of his body near her arm, and her heart began pounding harder.

For once, she thought, Viktor was finally looking at her the way she had always wanted. "This will hurt a little," Viktor murmured.

"I don’t mind," she whispered. Her voice trembled with excitement.

Viktor took her arm gently. His movements were calm and precise. Aliya felt his fingers around the crook of her elbow. Then a sharp prick.

She flinched slightly.

"What was that?"

"Stay still." She smiled beneath the blindfold. She couldn’t see what he was doing. She didn’t need to.

She could feel him there, and that was enough for her imagination to take over. Viktor worked quickly.

He collected the blood he needed, sealed the small vial, and slipped it carefully inside his jacket. The entire thing took less than a minute.

Aliya barely understood what had happened. "What are you doing, Viktor?" she asked, still smiling.

"I wanted a drop of your blood." There was a pause. Aliya laughed softly. "My blood?"

"You’ll understand later, it’s part of the fun." His voice was so calm that she didn’t question him. Instead, she smiled again.

Viktor looked toward the window. He had what he came for. "Now lie down on the bed." Aliya obeyed immediately.

She climbed onto the bed and settled against the pillows, still wearing the blindfold. "Like this?"

"Yes." She nodded happily. She was already imagining what would happen next. Maybe he would finally touch her. Maybe he would tell her what she had been waiting to hear.

Maybe tonight would be the night she finally became important to him. But nothing happened. She waited. A few seconds passed. Then more.

"Viktor?" There was no answer. Aliya reached up and touched the silk over her eyes. She was about to remove it when she heard the faint sound of the window opening. She froze.

"Viktor?" Still nothing. She pulled the blindfold away. The room was empty. Aliya stared at the open window.

For several seconds, she simply sat there, confused. She had been so lost in her own fantasy that she hadn’t noticed him leave. Outside, Viktor moved silently through the darkness.

He climbed down from the window and disappeared along the side of the house, avoiding the guards who were still unaware of what had happened. One hand remained inside his jacket.

His fingers touched the small vial tucked safely against his chest. That was all he had needed. Aliya had given him exactly what he came for without realizing it.

"Damn you, Viktor!" Aliya’s scream tore through the room. It was loud enough to carry down the hallway.

Elena and Don Capri came running. The guard stationed outside Aliya’s door straightened immediately when he heard the shouting. He reached for his phone and called the Don.

"Something happened to the young boss," he said quickly.

"What happened?" Don Capri demanded.

"I don’t know yet. I heard her screaming."

"Find out."

"Yes, Don."

The guard lowered the phone and moved toward the door. But just before he entered, he heard Elena’s voice from inside. "What happened?"

The guard stopped. He didn’t open the door. He simply stood there, listening.