Chapter 241: You look drunk

"What is going on?" Aria said, waving a hand vaguely at the room, her voice pitched a little too casually. "Don’t worry, I didn’t drink too much."

Behind her, Manuel stepped quietly through the doorway, his eyes moving over the room, reading it the way he always seemed to, quick and careful.

"Hey, Aria." Sienna set her laptop aside and rose from the chair, crossing the room toward her.

"You look drunk. Are you okay?" She had changed since the council meeting, out of the black gown and into a sharp red suit now, her hair pulled back and pinned neatly, dressed as though she were heading straight into another meeting rather than settling in for the night.

"I’m okay. Chill." Aria waved her off, then tilted her head, studying Sienna’s outfit. "Why are you all dressed up? It’s late."

Sienna bit down on her lip, hesitating, her eyes searching Aria’s face, trying to gauge how she would take what was coming, especially now, still soft and loose from the drink.

"Tell me what’s going on," Aria said, folding her arms.

Sienna took a breath. "Don Konstantin sent an invitation," she said. "For me. He’s inviting us to dinner. We’re leaving for the Middle East tonight."

Aria stood very still, waiting, half expecting the punchline, some small twist that would make it a joke. It did not come.

"You can’t be serious," Aria said, her eyes cutting toward Viktor, who was still on the phone across the room, his back half turned to them.

"Aria, I need you to listen to me." Sienna reached out, but Aria had already taken a step back. "I don’t know what he knows. But I want to face him. I still have so many questions I want to ask him, and this could be my only real chance."

"Sienna, this is crazy." Aria’s voice cracked upward, sharp with disbelief. "You don’t need to ask that man anything. You don’t need anything from him. In fact, you promised me you were going to destroy him, and now, what, you’re accepting a dinner invitation from him?" She stepped further away, shaking her head, her arms wrapping tight around herself.

Sienna took another breath, steadying herself. "It’s not what you think," she said gently. "I’m tired too, Aria. But this isn’t something we can just turn down. If we do, a lot more people could get hurt."

"Let them be hurt, Sienna," Aria snapped, then caught herself, shaking her head at her own words even as they left her mouth.

"You can’t save everyone. What if something happens to you?" Her voice rose, tight with fear now more than anger. "And what about your mother? What does she have to say about this?"

"I’m doing this on my own," Sienna said. "I want you to handle the company while we’re away."

"No. No, don’t ask that of me." Aria’s hands came up, pushing the idea away before it could even land.

"You just made a hell of an appearance at the council an hour ago, standing there as equal head to Viktor, and now you’re just going to leave? Not a chance." She lifted her chin, resolute. "If you insist on going, I’m coming too."

"No, Aria." Sienna’s voice was firm now, steady. "I want you here, and safe. You are the most important person to me, and I want you far away from that man."

Aria turned toward Viktor, desperate, searching his face for some kind of backup. "Uncle." But Viktor said nothing at all, his eyes moving between the two of them, his jaw tight, offering no rescue either way.

"I know this is hard for you," Sienna said, stepping closer. "But Aria, tell me. How long am I supposed to live like this? In fear, in hiding? Tell me what the worst outcome even is. You think I’m going there to kiss his feet?" Her voice sharpened now, edged with something raw.

"Is that what you think of me? A man who sees me as a weapon, who wants to turn me into a weapon for his own power, and you think I’ll bow down to him for money?"

"No, no, that’s not what I mean." Aria’s voice cracked, tears spilling freely now. "I mean, what if something happens to you? That man is evil. You promised me. You promised I would still have you." Her hands trembled at her sides. "You’re all I have. You know that."

"I know," Sienna said softly, closing the last of the distance between them and pulling Aria into her arms.

"And I will never break that promise. You will always have me, and I will always have your back. That’s exactly why I have to do this." She held her tighter for a moment, then pulled back just enough to look at her.

"Besides, Viktor is coming with me. And you have Manuel now too." A small, reassuring smile touched her lips. "We’ll be back as soon as we can."

Aria nodded slowly, wiping at her wet face with the back of her hand, saying nothing more, though the fear had not fully left her eyes.

"Boss, everything is ready," Marcus said, stepping into the room, his phone still in hand.

"Good." Viktor ended his own call and slipped the phone into his pocket. "I was able to get some contacts over there as well. You’ll fly in with the Kessler jet and meet us there."

"Yes, boss," Marcus said, already turning to go.

Sienna crossed the room once more and wrapped Aria in a final, tight hug, holding her close for a long moment. Viktor gathered Sienna’s laptop and bag from the chair, slinging the strap over his shoulder, then turned toward Manuel.

"Take care of my niece," he said, his voice low and serious now, none of the earlier coldness left in it. "Don’t let her out of your sight. And keep an eye on Marcel, and the rest of the council too."

Aria heard every word of it, and something small and unexpected caught in her chest. She had spent years believing Viktor’s care never truly reached past Sienna, that whatever softness lived in him had been carved out and given entirely to one person and no one else.

Hearing him say it out loud now, so plainly, made her wonder, just for a moment, whether she had been wrong about that all along.

"Yes, boss," Manuel said. "Count on me."

"Alright, my love," Viktor said, turning to Sienna, "we need to leave."

Aria still had not let go, her arms tight around Sienna’s shoulders, her face pressed close for one more second before she finally released her.

"I’ll call you," Sienna said, giving her hand a small squeeze.

Viktor took Sienna’s hand in his, and together they walked toward the door, out into the dark waiting car, leaving the mansion and Aria standing quietly behind them.