Page 43 of Eternal
Viktor’s gaze shifts to me, softer than before. “You alright,Kroshka?”
I lean against the wall, taking a long drag of my cigarette. “Yeah, just thinking.”
“Planning how to kill me for the sake of Kat’s little crises?” Viktor lets out a low chuckle, but his eyes stay on me. There’s something in his gaze, concern and something else, something deeper, somethingsoft.
I exhale, blowing smoke between us, watching it swirl and vanish in the air. “I’d never kill you.”
The words hang in the silence that follows, unexpectedly. It’s almost like the first time I’ve said something kind, if you could even call it that.
Vik leans closer, his arm draping over my shoulders, his cheek resting on top of my head. “So, you can be cute and affectionate when you want to,” he murmurs, his tone stupidly soft.
Kat bursts out laughing, looking at us like she’s witnessing some rare, miraculous event, like she’s proud andhappy.
“I’d never kill either of you,” I say again, firmer this time. Then I scowl. “But don’t call me affectionate.”
I wish I was, like when we were kids. I wish I kept that part of little me intact, but I failed her.
Vik grins against my hair, taking another drag of his cigarette afterwards. “So cute. Acting like the sweetest sis ever, right, Kat? She doesn’t want to kill us.”
“You’re both psychotics,” Kat mutters, crossing her arms, her breath clouding the air. She shakes her head like she’s seen enough of us. “And be careful, the smoke could burn her hair, you idiot.”
Viktor smirks, far too amused. “Get inside,Sistra. Your lips are trembling.”
Kat nods, sending us a playful flying kiss before disappearing into the house.
“How long did she stay in Russia?” I ask.
“Seven years. She wasn’t feeling well when you disappeared. And my father thought she was weak. He sent her there to harden her.”
I nod, “That’s fucked.”
Viktor steps closer, his arm falling away as his usual businesslike expression settles back in place, but beneath it, there’s something more serious. He flicks open his lighter, the soft flame catching as he lights another cigarette.
“You smoke too much, lately. What’s stressing you?”
He shrugs, “Life?”
“Seriously, Vik.”
“I’ve got something big to announce tonight,” he says. He exhales a thin stream of smoke, his words curling between us. “We’re putting together an elite duo for enforcer missions. High-risk, high stakes, and I want you in it, with another member.”
I didn't respond immediately, I know what he’s doing. How he sees me. Alone. Capable. Strong. But also, how I operate best: untethered, no strings, no one slowing me down or second-guessing my moves.
He studies me, his cigarette burning low between his fingers, the ash threatening to fall, his eyes flick between mine, searching. “I know you love working alone,” he says finally. “Hell, I’d trust you solo against anyone. But I’m not sending you out there by yourself again. Not to exhaust you when you have your own mission to accomplish.”
“Who’s idea, was it?” I ask.
He pauses, his gaze hardening, “Pakhan’s orders. Shit’s brewing. Might not hit us here, but we’re in the crosshairs. We need to stay ahead, we need to be careful.” he continues, his words clearer than before, “I’m assigning someone to keep an eye on you, on the missions. Not as a babysitter, but... someone to back you up. You don’t get to die for this shit alone.”
“I don’t need a protector,” I replied.
“I know you don’t,” he says, his voice softer now, like he understands something I don’t want to admit. “But I need you alive. I need you to finish what you started, what you came back here for.”
I exhale a long breath, it’s not a fight I want to pick tonight, not with him. “Okay, is that it?”
He nods, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips, like he’s trying to lighten the mood. “Gonna officially promote Katarina as my right hand.”
I raise an eyebrow and smile. “Is that why you want to keep it secret until the announcement?”
