Chapter 238: Vacation

The car moved quietly through the dark streets, the city lights slipping across the tinted windows in long, golden streaks. Inside, everything felt strangely peaceful.

For the first time that evening, Sienna wasn’t thinking about the council. She simply leaned against Viktor. Her head rested comfortably against his shoulder, and Viktor’s arm was wrapped around her, his fingers moving lazily over her arm.

For a few minutes, neither of them spoke. The quiet was enough. Sienna glanced down at their joined hands and smiled faintly.

"You know..." he murmured.

"Hmm?"

"Maybe we should take a short trip." Viktor looked down at her.

"A trip?" Sienna asked

"Just you and me." Sienna lifted her head slightly, her eyes bright with mischief. "Somewhere nobody knows us. Somewhere you don’t have to worry about council members, family members, business associates, or people trying to put a bullet in your head."

Sienna chuckled. Viktor narrowed his eyes at her. "I’m serious." She settled back against him.

"You put me on the lioness seat, and suddenly your entire family, your extended family, and half your business associates want my head." She paused dramatically. "And this is only your legal business."

Viktor’s smile widened. Sienna looked up at him. "I bet they’ll have my head before you even get the chance to officially call me the Queen of the Underworld." She said it jokingly, but Viktor knew there was some truth hiding beneath the laughter.

He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "I have, in fact, made plans for that." Sienna blinked.

"For what?"

"Make me your mafia queen." Her expression softened.

"You are already my mafia queen." His thumb brushed gently over her cheek. "You’ve been through enough so i will just put that on hold for now." She smiled.

"I need to settle a few things first." Viktor laughed quietly. "Before I call that meeting, I need to make sure everything around you is secure. Once I announce you as my queen, there won’t be any going back."

Sienna studied his face. There was no teasing in his voice now. He meant every word.

"And you really think I can handle the council?" she asked.

"I don’t think." His eyes settled firmly on hers. "I know." Sienna’s lips curved. "They already hate me."

"They may try to challenge me." Viktor’s expression hardened slightly. "Then they’ll learn what happens when they challenge my wife." Sienna laughed under her breath. "You make everything sound so easy."

"It isn’t easy." His hand tightened gently around hers. "But you don’t have to face them alone. And if anyone gives you a hard time..." He paused. Sienna raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"I’ll have their heads." She burst out laughing. "Viktor!"

"What?"

"You can’t just keep threatening to kill everyone who annoys me."

"I can."

"You shouldn’t."

"I disagree." She shook her head, still smiling. The phone in Viktor’s pocket vibrated again. He ignored it. A few seconds later, it vibrated again. Then again. Sienna felt the movement against his side.

"Your phone has been ringing for a while."

"I know."

"You’re not going to answer?"

"No." She looked up at him. "Who is it?" Viktor’s jaw tightened for half a second. "Someone I don’t want to speak to tonight." Sienna studied him but didn’t push. Instead, she shifted closer.

"I can handle them," she said softly. "The council, I mean." Viktor looked at her.

"I’ve gotten used to online classes anyway. I can work with the company and take my classes in between." Her fingers played with the edge of his jacket. "I really want to finish medical school."

There was something different in her voice when she said it. A quiet determination. Viktor saw it immediately. He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. "Anything my baby wants." Sienna smiled. She rested her head against his chest. She smiled again and settled against him.

For a little while, the world outside disappeared. Then the car slowed. The familiar gates of the Kessler mansion came into view. The guards immediately stepped forward as the gates opened, and the car rolled onto the long driveway.

Sienna looked through the window. The mansion was brightly lit, its tall windows glowing against the darkness. A few guards stood around the entrance, their attention moving across the grounds.

The car came to a stop. Viktor stepped out first, before turning and offered his hand. Sienna placed hers in his. He helped her down carefully. The cool night air brushed against her face.

She adjusted her gown and looked toward the entrance. Then she noticed one of the guards. "Wait." The guard stopped. Sienna’s eyes moved across the driveway.

"Is Aria back?" The guard shook his head. "No, ma’am." Something in Sienna’s expression changed. "She isn’t?"

"No, ma’am." Sienna looked toward Viktor. "I really hope she’s okay." Viktor squeezed her hand. "Don’t worry." She looked at him.

"She’s with Manuel. He’s responsible. He’ll make sure she’s safe." Sienna nodded, though the worry hadn’t completely left her eyes.

"I know." Viktor stepped closer and intertwined their fingers. "Come on."

They walked toward the mansion together. Their footsteps echoed softly against the stone pathway. Sienna glanced once more toward the dark road behind them.

"So, about the vacation..." Viktor stopped just inside the entrance and turned suddenly, catching Sienna by the waist. She let out a small laugh as he spun her around to face him.

"I miss you," he said, looking at her with that familiar intensity that always made it difficult for her to pretend she wasn’t affected by him. Sienna raised an eyebrow.

"You miss me?"

"Yes."

"You were with me all night."

"That doesn’t change anything." She tried to hold back her smile. "Viktor, I don’t think we need a vacation. At least not now." The sweetness in her voice made it sound as though she had completely forgotten how thoroughly he had kept her awake the night before.

She had barely gotten any rest. By the time he had started suggesting they continue their evening for yet another round, she had practically begged him to let her sleep.

And somehow, despite the exhaustion, she had enjoyed every bit of their closeness. Perhaps that was why she had walked into the council meeting with far more confidence than usual.

Viktor’s eyes narrowed playfully. "Not enough?" Sienna immediately knew that look.