"Elena," Kolya whispered softly, his tiny thumb tracing the condensation ring on his glass of water. "Her name was Elena. Papa says she was an angel, but angels don’t get sick."

The red dot hovered right over Sophie’s heart.

Time seemed to slow down. She looked up and saw a figure standing on the second-floor balcony, aiming a silenced rifle directly down at her.

"Viktor!" she screamed.

Viktor didn't hesitate. He spun Sophie around, covering her body with his own just as a quiet thwip echoed above the screams.

Viktor grunted. A sharp gasp escaped his lips as he slammed against the pillar, his grip tightening around Sophie’s waist.

"Viktor!" Sophie gasped, feeling a warm, thick liquid soaking through his tuxedo jacket and spilling onto her hands. Blood. "You're hit!"

"It's... just a graze," Viktor growled through gritted teeth, though his face had gone pale.

From the shadows, four of Viktor’s elite tactical guards appeared out of nowhere, forming a human shield around them with raised ballistic shields. Night-vision goggles glowed green in the dark.

"Sir! The sniper is neutralized!" one guard reported into his comms. "We need to evacuate you now!"

"Where is O'Malley?" Viktor demanded, his voice strained as he clutched his bleeding shoulder.

"He fled toward the underground garage! He has a convoy waiting!"

"No," Viktor gasped, his gray eyes locking onto Sophie’s terrified face. "He doesn't get away. Not after targeting her."

"Viktor, you're bleeding to death!" Sophie yelled, tearing off a strip of silk from her expensive dress and pressing it hard against his wound. He flinched, a low growl escaping his throat. "Forget O'Malley! You need a doctor!"

"I need this ended!" Viktor roared softly, grabbing her wrist. "If he lives, he comes after you. He comes after Kolya. Do you understand me?!"

Sophie looked at the blood coating her fingers. She looked at the man who had stepped in front of a bullet meant for her—a man she had judged as a cold-blooded monster just hours ago.

"Then let's finish it," Sophie said, her hazel eyes blazing with a fierce, unexpected fire. "Together."

Viktor stared at her, a breathless smile breaking through his pain. "You really are incredible, Miss Larsen."

Guarded by his men, they navigated through the dark, smoke-filled service corridors of the hotel down to the subterranean parking garage.

Tires squealed in the distance. Liam O'Malley was climbing into the back of a armored black sedan, his surviving men firing wildly behind them as they tried to speed toward the exit gate.

"Close the gates!" Viktor ordered into his radio.

Heavy iron security grates slammed down, blocking the garage exit. The sedan crashed violently into the iron bars, its front end crumpling in a cloud of steam and smoke.

Viktor stepped out from behind the concrete pillars, holding a heavy matte-black pistol in his good hand. Sophie stayed right behind him, her pulse drumming in her ears.

Liam stumbled out of the wrecked vehicle, coughing violently, blood streaming down his forehead. He reached for a gun on the pavement, but Viktor slammed his heavy boot down on Liam’s hand, crushing his fingers.

Liam screamed in agony, looking up to see Viktor looming over him like the Grim Reaper himself.

"Wait... Viktor, please!" Liam begged, choking on his own blood. "It was a contract! I was hired! I didn't want to bring the kid into this! It was the Russians! The board in Moscow!"

Viktor’s eyes went deadly cold. "What did you say?"

"The Bratva Council!" Liam stammered out, desperate to barter for his life. "They think you've gone soft since Elena died! They hired me to eliminate Kolya so the council could take back control of Chicago! I was just taking the money!"

Sophie gasped, stepping forward. "His own people?"

Viktor didn't say a word. His face was a mask of terrifying, emotionless stone.

"Thank you for the information, Liam," Viktor said softly.

BANG.

A single gunshot shattered the garage's echoes. Liam slumped back onto the cold concrete, lifeless.

Viktor stood over the body for a long moment, the smoking gun resting at his side. Then his knees buckled.

"Viktor!" Sophie caught him before he hit the ground, dragging his heavy frame against her chest. "Hold on! Call an ambulance!" she screamed at the guards. "CALL AN AMBULANCE!"