Chapter 3

**Aria's Pov**

The bar fell into a tense, suffocating silence as our attention got drawn to the man pointing a gun at Nikolai.

Sergei, Viktor’s right-hand man, stood firm, his pistol raised, the barrel aimed directly at the man across from me. 

The sharp click of safeties being disengaged echoed across the room as others soon followed his lead. 

Around the bar, men reached for their weapons, some drawing knives, others revealing handguns from beneath their clothes.

I felt my breath hang in my throat as I took in the sight of what was starting to look like a face off between multiple mafia cartels.

The man in front of me, Nikolai, remained still, his icy blue eyes flicking between Viktor and Sergei, his smirk quickly fading into something unreadable.

Slowly, he lifted his hands into the air but it wasn’t in surrender—it was a calculated move, his fingers twitching slightly as if preparing for something.

"Viktor," he called, his voice calm despite the chaos unfolding. "Is this really necessary?"

Viktor's glare shifted quickly , turning to Sergei. "There was no need for that."

Sergei's gun didn't waver still pointed at Nikolai as the barrel rested on the side of his head. "He was getting too close to her."

Nikolai shook his head slightly, letting out a quiet chuckle. "If I wanted her, I'd have taken her already." His eyes flickered toward me for half a second before returning to Viktor. "You don't want to make this another battle zone, trust me."

The tension was unbearable as I felt the eyes of everyone prying at us, ready to take the next move. I could feel my heart squeeze as I notice a few people drawing back on their triggers slightly.

"Lower your weapon, Sergei," Viktor ordered, his voice a quiet command.

Sergei hesitated but obeyed, lowering the gun, though his eyes remained locked on Nikolai like a wolf watching its prey. A few others around the bar followed suit, weapons slowly being holstered.

I sighed heavily, feeling the tension ease out slowly. For a moment, it seemed like the worst had passed.

Then, a gunshot rang out, the signs deafening and everything descended into chaos.

Screams erupted as people ducked for cover. Glass shattered as bullets tore through bottles, sending liquor spilling onto the floor. 

Tables overturned, chairs scraped against wood, and the deafening sound of gunfire filled my ears.

Viktor moved in a flash before I could process what was happening. He grabbed my wrist, yanking me down to the ground as another bullet whizzed past where my head was just moments before.

"Stay down!" He ordered as he pulled out his own gun from his back and started shooting back.

But staying down wasn't an option.

Sergei had already fired back, his gun barking loudly as he took out one of the men who had drawn first. 

Nikolai had disappeared from his seat in the midst of the gunfire, using the overturned table as cover while returning fire with deadly precision. In a few seconds, four of our men dropped dead to the ground by him, his gun oozing smoke from the mouth.

"Damn it...!" Viktor pulled me up, his grip bruising as he dragged me toward the exit.

"We're leaving. Now."

"Viktor—!"

I barely had time to protest before he lifted his gun again and shot a man in the shoulder, clearing a path.

My legs moved on instinct, my heart hammering in my chest as Viktor shielded me, pushing through the chaos. 

Sergei covered our retreat as he followed, his expression cold and calculating. More men went down, but Viktor didn't flinch, didn't slow down in the slightest.

As the sound of gunshots continued, increasing loudly with each click and pull, a bullet grazed my arm, the sting sharp. I gasped, but Viktor barely reacted.

"Move, Aria!" He shouted, his leg crashing against the door before we finally burst out of the bar and into the night, the cold air hitting my skin like a slap. 

Viktor didn't stop still, dragging me toward the black car parked a few feet away. Sergei fired one last shot before following, rushing into the driver's seat the moment we reached the vehicle.

The doors slammed shut. The tires screeched as we sped away from the chaos.

I barely had time to catch my breath. My hands were shaking, my ears ringing loudly as adrenaline still pumping through my veins. I turned to Viktor, but his expression was unreadable, his eyes thick with focus as he looked back to check if we were being followed.

"What the hell was that?" I demanded, my voice hoarse.

"Complications," he muttered.

"Complications?" I repeated, my voice rising. "I got shot, Viktor! You call that complications?"

His eyes flickered to the small wound on my arm.

"It's just a smal graze, so you'll be fine. But we should get it treated."

I clenched my fists, frustration and fear boiling inside me. But before I could say anything else, Sergei spoke.

"We have a bigger problem, Young Miss,"

I turned to him, my pulse still racing. "Bigger than getting shot at?"

He glanced at Viktor through the rear-view mirror, his eyes holding a hint of understanding.

"We're in so much trouble with father," Viktor spoke out, his hand running through his hair.

----

The moment we stepped inside the estate, our father wasted no time before unleashing his wrath. 

The study doors slammed shut behind us as he stood by the massive mahogany desk, his expression dark and filled with fury. 

His hands were clasped behind his back, his brows furrowed, the tension in his face, clearly evident.

"I take my eyes off you two for five seconds and you go and get yourself involved in a shootout?" He roared, sending gust of wind blowing past us.

"Fifteen of our men are dead, lost to the Petrov, again!" he said coldly, his gaze burning into Viktor. "What were you doing while that spawn of the Petrov claimed their lives with his men?"

Viktor stood his ground, his posture firm and upright. "It was unavoidable, father. Getting Aria to safety took priority over everything else."

Our father's jaw clenched, his anger reaching new heights. "I trained you to do both!"

"Not this time," Viktor added immediately. "Nikolai was there and close to us... I was thinking about Aria, father."

"Then you should have killed him first!" My father stood tall and towering over my brother, his eyes shinning with hate as Viktor remained silent under his gaze.

“And you…” he turned to me next, his expression unwavering. "What were you doing there?" 

"I dragged her along—" 

"Let her speak for herself!" My father silenced, waiting for me to respond.

I felt my fear rise up, my chest tightening as tears pricked at the corner of my eyes. I looked at Viktor who shook his head slightly, urging me to deny it. "I-I'm sorry, father. I asked Viktor to take me out to get a few drinks and clear my head."

"I didn't expect for this to happen..." I tried to persuade my father but he was too angry to listen. Instead his words came out soft and calm, his expression stoic

.

"You're no longer getting married in two months," he informed, turning to me. "You're getting married in two days,"