INTO THE FIRE

Elara's POV

With its chilly muzzle shining in the low light like the promise of death itself, the gun aimed squarely at Leo. Standing in the doorway, Viktor Sokolov maintained a rigid posture and his weight permeated the space. The strain nearly intolerable, the air appeared to get thicker. My legs seemed about to give way under me, my pulse thumping in my throat. I could not turn away, though.

Victoria.

Naturally, I had heard of him—who hadn't? He was a name murmured in the darkest recesses of the underground. a man playing the game without conscience or rules. A man who gave Dmitri toy-like boys like appearance. He ought not to be here. Not immediately. Not right in the center of all that was disintegrating.

And then here he was, in front of us, his frigid stare fixated on Leo, his lips twisting into a nasty sneer.

"Viktor," Leo's voice matched the coldness of the rifle pointed at him. "I was wondering when you might show up."

I choked hard, my mind racing, but I couldn make sense of any of it. Was this the aim at last? Was Viktor here to complete what Dmitri had initiated?

"Funny," Viktor replied, his voice silky and nearly sarcastic. "I was looking for more... cooperation. Again, though, I ought to have known better."

I stopped breathing and lost clarity of thought. I glanced at Leo, the man who had entered my life like a storm—wild, erratic, yet unquestionably compelling. I wanted to reach out to him, tell him to sprint, get out before it was too late. Still, I couldn't. Not me either.

Though Dmitri's treachery was still raw and festering inside me, now I had to deal with another menace. a fresh risk much beyond anything I had ever considered.

"What Do You Want, Sokolov?" With a quiet but calm voice, Leo asked, betraying none of the anxiety I experienced. You are too late to the celebration.

Viktor's smile grew more pronounced, but it was not one of delight; it was a controlled gesture. "Oh, Leo," Always so certain of yourself. But for far too long you have undervalued me. And now? It is now your chance to lose.

The weight of Viktor's words, the ice that crept into my bones, felt great. This was not only a game these days. War was what we were experiencing. And I found myself caught in the midst with nowhere to escape.

I murmured "Leo," stepped slightly toward him, my fingers shaking as I reached out, as if I could somehow halt the unavoidable. Still, he avoided looking at me. His eyes stayed fixed on Viktor. "What are you doing? What is his desired outcome?"

Viktor switched his eyes back to Leo after momentarily flickering to me. "Oh, Elara, you need not be concerned about her. She is but a pawn in this small game of chess. Is she not?" His comments were venomous, and even now from where I stood, I could feel their sting.

Leo snarled as his voice became savage, "don't you dare speak to her like that."

Viktor just laughed; the sound was sharp and piercing. Leo, you believe you can shield her? From mine? From all that is about to happen?

As Viktor entered the room, his presence stifling, the planet appeared to whirl about me. To conceal, to flee this dream, I longed to sprint. However, I couldn't. Not at this moment. Not following all that had happened.

"Everything you care about," Viktor said, his voice low but lethal, "everything you have created, Leo, it is all going to burn. I will also like seeing you fall apart.

Paralyzed, I stood there as the stress in the room grew. The weight of Viktor's words bearing down like a thousand tons felt as though the walls were closing in on me. I turned once again to Leo; his jaw closed and his fists tightened at his sides. He did not fear. He wasn't caving in.

However, I was afraid. Freighted of losing him. Fearful of what Viktor might do.

"You don't get to decide my fate," Leo replied, his voice like steel, relentless. "You never had. And you never will."

Viktor's smile wavered for just a moment, but it vanished before I could even notice it. Leo, you believe you have control? You believe you could just stand here and pretend you are untouchable? Over the years, you have created a lot of adversaries. They have all come to collect now as well.

Leo's eyes fixed Viktor with a great intensity, not waversing. "I have suffered worse than you, Viktor. You are only one more challenge. And I will do whatever is necessary to guard her."

Viktor's eyes swung back to me once more, his smile returning but not friendly. "Protect her?" he said, his voice full of contempt. She already represents a liability. She has always been.

Though I felt the weight of his words, I was not ready to let him know how profoundly they changed me. I did not show weakness. No more.

"You don't get to control me, Viktor," I said, advancing forward and China lifted angrily. "I am not pawn for anyone. Not personal. Not according to Dmitri. Not what Leo's.

Viktor arched an eyebrow, obviously delighted by my abrupt outbursts. " Ah, the flames I observe. Too bad it's going to be gone really soon.

Leo turned to me then; his dark, unfathomable eyes stopped me cold in their glance. Perhaps a promise. Or was it terror? Anxiety over what was to follow?

Leo murmured, "Elara," his voice urgent. "We had to leave. Nowadays.

There was a harsh click before I could answer, a sound that made my blood stop. Viktor had reached for his gun.

Still, it was not aimed at Leo anymore.

It aimed at me.

"Move," Viktor said, his voice icy and detached. "Right now." Alternatively I will pull the trigger.

I stayed in place. I am unable.

Leo whispered, his voice low and menacing, "don't do this." " You know I won't let you get away with it."

Viktor's eye never wavered; his finger hung over the trigger. "You have made your decision, Leo. She should now be making hers.

My brain whirling, I looked between Viktor and Leo. The only thing was that instant things started to shift. The moment I had to pick.

Would I flee? Would I try to flee the anarchy in my life? Alternatively would I stand with Leo, with the guy who now defines everything, despite all the risk?

The seconds seemed to last like hours, and then another loud sound—another bang—before I could decide.

The door went open.

And I observed them.

Two black men in black suits dashed into the room mask-covered faces hidden. One of them seized Viktor's arm to yank the rifle from his hand.

Still, I gasped not from the gun but from another factor. That was the man trailing behind them.

And in his hand—still another pistol. One rifle squarely directed at me.

"Elara," Dmitri's voice sounded frigid, but his eyes held something else. "You made an error."