Page 112 of Victor's Lethal Desire
I lean forward. "What did he say? Did he read the files?"
"Yes," she says, her voice low. "He believes it all. He says the rogue faction Dimitri created will be dealt with, but..."
"But?"
She swallows hard, her gaze meeting mine. "He said to set up a meeting with your family. In person."
Her voice drops. "He's coming to Romania."
EPILOGUE
Victor
It's been two weeks since Dimitri was killed and we came here.
And still, every time I look at her, it feels like the first time I saw her descending those stairs in that red dress, a punch to the gut that leaves me breathless.
She stands beside me now in a long black maxi dress, her blonde hair flowing loose over her shoulders, catching the afternoon light streaming through the tall windows of Lucian's office. I force myself to focus on the meeting ahead instead of the memory of her naked on top of me three hours ago.
When we arrived in Brasov, Lucian was pissed. Not at the fact that I'd killed Dimitri. He understood revenge, understood the need to eliminate threats to the family. No, what set him off was that I'd gone alone. That I'd let my focus on vengeance blind me to proper protocol, to using the full network at our disposal. That the confusion between Ivan and Dimitri couldhave been avoided entirely if I'd just talked to him first, gotten his support, and coordinated properly instead of charging in like some reckless amateur.
His exact words were, "You're better than this, Victor. Smarter than this. Act like it."
I'd taken the lecture because he was right. I had been sloppy, emotional, and driven by the need to protect what was mine rather than thinking strategically.
But given what we found on Dimitri's laptop, what we saw in those files, the trafficking houses, the Siberian Ice distribution, the millions stolen from Ivan's operations, it's clear Dimitri would have needed to be dealt with regardless. The method might have been different, cleaner, more coordinated. But the result would have been the same.
Nevertheless, it's all behind us now. Lucian made me agree to no more personal vendettas, to stick to my lane: politics and diplomacy. It's the clean work that doesn't involve breaking into villas and shooting people in the head.
Of course I agreed. It's what I want now anyway. I've had my revenge. I've brought Adrian some peace, given him the closure I thought he deserved after what they did to Elena.
And also because of her.
The woman standing next to me, whose presence has somehow become the center of my entire goddamn universe.
It also helps that everyone took to Danika well. I mean, how could they not?
Adrian liked her from the very first moment, partly to annoy me because she bested me repeatedly and he finds that hilarious, and partly because she helped end Dimitri's life.
Elena and she have become close. Last night, the two of them went to dinner in the square with Jordan, who's in town now with Matei. Three women, three different versions of danger, all laughing over wine while a security detail hovered nearby so my brothers and I could prepare for today.
And even though Ivan Volkov and his two sons are arriving any minute, even though this meeting could determine whether we end this or escalate it into something far worse, all I can do is think about the woman beside me.
The way her skin smells. The way she tilted her head back against my chest this morning in the shower.
The weeks we've spent here since arriving in Brasov have been nothing short of extraordinary.
For three days, we stayed in bed. We both blamed it on her bruised rib, which our doctor gave her medication for, but really, it was because we didn't have to run anymore. Didn't have to outsmart each other, fight each other, betray each other. We could just be together. No games. No guns. Just skin and heat and the kind of connection I've never allowed myself before.
Elena told me I'd be crazy to fuck this up. I agree. In truth, I knew it the first time I realized she was my equal, not just in skill, but in everything. The way she thinks. The way she moves.
And while there's still so much for us to learn about one another, I'm excited for that journey. To be amazed by her every day. To be hers and have her be mine.
"Why are you staring at me?" Danika asks, turning her head slightly, those blue eyes warmer now when they land on me.
I can't help but smile.
"What? Do I look okay?" she adds, a hint of genuine nervousness breaking through her usual composure.
