Viktor's Offer

Aria.

48 hours before the party.

I groaned as the sack came off my face. My head was ringing, my eyes bleary. The world was a blur of indistinct shapes and colors.

Dear God! My head felt like it had been split open.

Memories came flooding back - leaving the coffee shop, bitter espresso on my tongue. Walking through the alleyway to my second job at the mall, it was quiet, too quiet. Suddenly, I felt the prickling sensation down my neck that told me I was being watched.

I had turned around, the fear already starting to rise in my chest. And then everything had gone dark.

My hands were tied, but not tight enough to be painful. I adjusted to a more comfortable position on the creaking chair. Realization suddenly dawned...

Someone kidnapped me! Oh God, please!

"I think you broke the doll," I heard a voice say. The sound startled me, and I jolted my head upright, my eyes scanning the room for the source.

My captor emerged from the shadows, draining the color from my face. He was tall and menacing, with gray hair and piercing eyes that seemed to see into my soul. The cruel curve of his lips hinted at his enjoyment of pain.

He approached with a sinister confidence, making me want to scream and escape. But I stayed silent, paralyzed with fear.

Don't show him you're afraid!

He crouched down to my level, his eyes scanning my face, and I tried to look anywhere but at him.He brushed away a few black strands of hair and his hand lingered on my skin briefly.

"Don't be afraid, pretty doll," he whispered. "No one is going to hurt you..."

I could feel the lie in his words, my heart pounding as I tried to figure out what to do. His eyes showed a craving for power and control, sickening me.

"Unless you don't do what we ask you to," he added, a sly smile twisting his mouth.

I tried to keep my expression neutral, not wanting to show any weakness. But the fear was still there, gnawing at the edges of my mind.

I didn't know how I was going to get out of this alive.

I glanced around the room, looking for any sign of a way out. The windows were too high, the door was guarded. There was no way I could escape on my own. I could feel my heart racing, and I tried to keep my breathing even, but it was hard with the menace he exuded.

"I don't know who you guys are, but clearly, you've got the wrong person," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Do we?" he asked, standing up to face the two men behind him. "She says we have the wrong person."

"No. I'm certain," I said firmly. "You have the wrong person. I have no money. There's no point in kidnapping me." I tried to reason with him.

He just smirked and stepped closer until I could feel the heat emanating from his body. As he reached out to touch me, I flinched away, but he caught my cheeks in a tight grip. He pulled me closer.

"You're wrong, pretty doll. You're worth everything to me," he murmured in my ear, his breath hot against my skin. I recoiled in horror.

"Get away from me, you freak! What do you want from me?" My voice grew shrill as I twisted my head away.

"A feisty one." He chuckled. "All in due time, my dear."

I struggled to free myself from the ropes, but it was no use. I was completely at his mercy.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice trembling. "What the hell do you want from me?"

He regarded me with a glint in his eyes. Malice rolled off him in waves.

"Ah! Yes, how terribly impolite of me," he drawled, savoring the moment. "My name is Viktor, but around these parts, people call me the Big Boss."

His laughter chilled me, a sinister reminder of his power over me. Yet, the contemptuous sneer on his face made my blood boil.

What a narcissistic bastard!

"You, my dear," he continued, his tone dripping with menace, "are merely a pawn in a much larger game. Nothing personal, of course."

"What game? What are you talking about?" Confusion joined my fear now.

He smirked. "You'll find out soon enough."

This must be a mistake. It has to be!

"You must have mistaken me for someone else!" My voice trembled slightly, but I forced myself not to waver as I met his gaze.

"So, you're not Aria Blackwood?" The man's words hit me like a freight train. He knew my name.

How? I never told him.

Panic rose in my chest as he continued to speak. "You're not Aria Blackwood," he said, "and Leo Blackwood isn't your brother?" His voice was laced with amusement. He was toying with me. He leaned in closer, his eyes gleaming as he saw me shrink back. "You're not as clever as you think you are."

I looked at him in shock, my mouth hanging open.

Nilo, what the hell have you done?

His sinister chuckle sent a chill down my spine, as if he was relishing in my fear. The sound echoed through the small, dimly lit room, filling it with an ominous energy that made my heart race faster.

"Let me tell you a story about yourself, Aria Blackwood. You're 23 years old, and you work three jobs just to take care of your sick grandmother and support your drug-dealing brother. You work as a waitress, a sales associate at a department store, and a caregiver for a wealthy family. Did I miss anything important?"

I swallowed hard, my mind reeling. How could he know all of this? And why was he telling me?

Taking a deep breath, I attempted to steady my voice. "Well, thanks for the goddamn life story recap," I sneered. "I mean, you've got the basics down, but did you have to make it sound so dramatic?"

I forced bravado into my reply, despite the panic bubbling in my chest. "I'm not sure if you're auditioning for a soap opera or something. Just tell me what you want already."

If my attitude annoyed him, it didn't show. Instead, he let out a laugh. "Let's just say I have a vested interest in you and your family. And I'll do whatever it takes to get what I want."

My head began to spin as I tried to figure out what this was all about. "I haven't done anything wrong," I managed to say.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I couldn't let them see my weakness. It would be like blood in the water with a hungry shark – one drop, and I'd be devoured.

Keep your guard up!

His rough, calloused hands grabbed my chin and forced my head up, exposing my neck. I gasped for air as he clamped his hand around my throat, tightening his fingers. I struggled, but it only made things worse. Panic consumed me as my vision blurred and I felt light-headed.

"You're a fighter, I'll give you that," he said, amusement in his voice. "But you're in way over your head."

I glared at him, somehow finding a kernel of courage. "Let go of me," I rasped out, my voice hoarse from lack of oxygen.

He chuckled, his grip tightening even further. "I like it when they're feisty," he said, and I felt a shiver run through me.

Suddenly, he released me with a hard shove. My head dropped back, and I sucked in sweet air.

He turned to the two men behind him. "Bring him out."

I watched in horror as they dropped my battered brother on the floor next to me. He groaned in pain, and anger and fear washed over me.

"You see, your brother stole from me," the man said with a sneer. "So much that you and all of your jobs would take nearly a decade to repay me."

"Fuck you!" I screamed, tears streaming down my face. "Let go of my brother! Let go of him, you bastard!"

I struggled to catch my breath as the man studied me, his eyes calculating. I knew I had to be prepared for whatever he would do next.

"Alright, Aria," he began, his voice low and menacing. "I'll make you a deal. You help me with a little task, and I'll let your brother go. In fact, I'll even forget his debt."

My heart pounded as I stared at him, clenching my fists in anger. But I knew I needed to stay composed if I wanted to save my brother.

"Wh-what do you need me to do? I'll do anything. Please." I knew he could hear the desperation in my voice, but the sight of my brother's unmoving form was tearing away the last of my defenses.

"You're going to spy for me, little doll," he said mockingly. "There's this man, Axel Yakov. I need your help to keep tabs on him. I have a feeling he might be coming for my throne now that he's out of..." He trailed off for a moment, a cruel smile dancing on the edge of his lips. "His cage," he finished.

"How am I supposed to do that?" I snapped. I looked up at him with a fierce rage burning in my chest, using it as fuel to face any task he threw at me. I held on to the feeling, wondering where I fit into all this.

"I need you to infiltrate his house and bug all the important rooms there. Specifically, his private office that's attached to his bedroom," Viktor said.

"And why can't any of your lackeys do it? Why kidnap an innocent woman and drag her into your sick games?" I asked as I shot a glare at the two men behind him.

"Because," he started as if the reason was very obvious, "if Axel catches an intruder, they won't make it out of his house alive. Girls like you are expendable; my men are not."

"What?" I whispered, uncertain I heard him right. "What kind of man would do that?"

"Let's just say he's in the business of crime," my captor said coolly.

Oh, God. He wants me to spy on a mobster!

"But...but how am I supposed to do that?" I blurted.

"He'll be having a celebration at his estate in two days. Sneak into the party. Bug his bedroom and office and get the fuck out. If Axel finds out you're spying for me, he'll end your life right there on the spot."

"I-I..." My words failed me as I heard his requests.

This is a suicide mission!

I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. "If I do this for you, if I risk my life to spy for you, you have to promise me one thing," I said, my voice shaking but firm.

He raised an eyebrow, seemingly amused by my audacity. "And what is that?"

"You let my brother go...unharmed. You leave him alone, and you never come near him or my family again. That's the only way I'll do this."

For a moment, Viktor looked like he was weighing his options, and I held my breath, hoping he'd agree to my terms.

Finally, he smirked and nodded. "Fine. Do this for me, and your brother goes free. But remember, you better not fail, or the consequences will be dire."

"You keep your word, and I'll keep mine," I said firmly, even though my stomach was churning with anxiety. But if it meant ensuring my brother's safety, I didn't care what kind of mission this was – I'd walk straight into the fucking lion's den without a second thought.

"Deal," said Viktor. "Now let me tell you what the plan is..."

***