Chapter 19: Chapter Nineteen.

The restaurant bustled with life as always, laughter and chatter blending with the clinking of utensils and plates.

Xena moved seamlessly through the crowd, a bright smile on her face as she balanced trays of food.

Her cheerful demeanor was infectious, bringing a warm and inviting energy to the room. 

"Enjoy your meal!" she said with a cheerful tone as she placed dishes in front of a table of customers. They smiled back, and she gave them a polite nod before making her way back to the counter. 

She barely had time to set the empty tray down when Javier approached her, a tray still balanced in his hands.

His expression was less than cheerful, and he leaned in slightly, his voice low but laced with curiosity. 

"Why is our restaurant suddenly drawing the attention of creeps?" he muttered, motioning with his chin toward the far corner of the restaurant. 

Xena followed his gaze, and her breath hitched. Sitting at a small table, alone, was the same mysterious man who had been frequenting the restaurant for the past three or four days.

He was unmistakable—dressed in dark clothing, his presence exuded a brooding, unsettling aura. 

"How long has he been here this time?" Xena asked, her voice barely above a whisper. 

Javier shrugged, shifting the tray in his hands. "Can’t tell. But it’s been long enough that I noticed." 

Before Javier could elaborate, the man suddenly stood up.

Xena’s heart skipped a beat as his cold, penetrating gaze locked onto hers. It felt as though he was looking straight through her, and a shiver ran down her spine. 

The man didn’t linger. He reached into his pocket, pulled out some cash, and placed it on the table.

Without a word, he turned and walked toward the exit, his movements deliberate and unnervingly calm. 

Xena exhaled a shaky breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Her eyes remained fixed on the door long after it had swung shut behind him. 

"He’s one scary man." Javier remarked, glancing at Xena’s tense expression.

"But what I don’t get is, why does he always stare at you like that?" 

Xena shook her head, her lips pressing into a tight line. "I... I don’t know." she replied softly, her voice tinged with unease. 

Javier studied her for a moment, then offered a small smile, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Well, let’s hope he’s just weird and not dangerous." he said before heading toward the back, leaving Xena alone at the counter. 

But Xena’s mind wasn’t at ease. Her thoughts swirled with unanswered questions.

*Why is he here again? Why does he keep staring at me?*

She felt her stomach churn as her gaze drifted back to the now-empty table where he had been sitting. 

Shaking her head, she forced herself to focus on her work.

But deep down, a sense of foreboding had taken root. Something about this man felt wrong, and no matter how much she tried to push the feeling aside, it lingered, casting a dark shadow over her otherwise carefree evening.

◇◇◇

Meanwhile, Mikhail’s voice buzzed relentlessly through Viktor’s phone, a constant stream of complaints and questions that tested Viktor's patience. 

"I still don’t get why the hell you’re in Italy. I got on a call with Pavel, and he says you’ve got no business there." Mikhail rambled. 

Viktor pinched the bridge of his nose and leaned back in the leather seat of the car.

"Shut the fuck up, Mikhail. My head’s pounding, and you’re whining like my mother." he snapped, his tone sharp enough to silence most people—but not Mikhail. 

"I’ll stop when you tell me why you’re still in Italy." Mikhail persisted, his voice dripping with exasperation. 

Viktor’s jaw ticked, his knuckles whitening as his fist clenched tightly.

The growl that escaped his throat was low and menacing. "I have something to handle here. I’ll be back when it’s done." 

"How long?" Mikhail demanded. 

"A week." Viktor bit out, his tone leaving no room for further argument. 

Mikhail sighed but quickly shifted gears.

"Fine. By the way, we’ve got an update on Yuri’s whereabouts. Turns out the little bastard has been working for Alexei." he began. 

Viktor’s already dark expression grew even stormier as Mikhail continued. 

"The shipment contract Yuri stole? Turns out Alexei put him up to it. Seems Alexei isn’t joking around this time. He’s been tempting Yuri with one hell of a deal. Oh, and Pavel dug up something else—Alexei took Yuri’s girlfriend. That’s why Yuri broke your trust. Guess loyalty doesn’t mean much when someone’s holding your heart hostage." Mikhail reported grimly. 

The mention of Alexei’s name caused Viktor’s teeth to grind audibly.

"I don’t care." he growled, his voice icy and cutting. "Find Yuri. I’ll deal with Alexei personally when I’m back in Russia." 

There was a momentary pause on Mikhail’s end, but Viktor could sense the unease in his silence.

"Understood." Mikhail finally said, and the line went dead. 

Viktor slipped his phone into his coat pocket, his jaw taut with fury.

Alexei was more than just an enemy in the mafia world; he was a dangerous rival, a thorn in Viktor’s side who was as cunning and ruthless as Viktor himself.

They were equals in power, but where Viktor worked with precision, Alexei thrived in chaos. 

As his thoughts stewed in anger, the car came to a stop in front of a quaint, bustling restaurant.

Viktor looked out the window, his expression softening just slightly as he recognized the sign: Sophia Rossi’s restaurant. 

With a smooth movement, Viktor stepped out of the car. The chilly evening breeze ruffled his long black coat, which only added to his imposing figure.

His height and muscular build immediately drew the attention of passersby, but Viktor paid no mind. 

He adjusted his coat, his lips curling into a smirk.

"*Little fire*." he murmured to himself in Russian, the nickname rolling off his tongue with a mix of amusement and anticipation. 

The doors to the restaurant were in sight, and Viktor’s sharp eyes caught a glimpse of Xena moving inside. His smirk widened slightly. 

He strode inside with purpose, his every step radiating authority and danger.

The patrons inside the restaurant had no idea what storm was about to walk through their doors.

♧♧♧

Xena served her last customer, wiping her hands on her apron as she made her way back to the counter.

The evening had been busy, and she was eager for the shift to end. As she approached the counter to take a brief rest, her eyes scanned the restaurant, ensuring all customers were being attended to.

That’s when she noticed him—a man sitting at the far end of the room, his broad shoulders and commanding presence impossible to miss. 

"Huh? Did I missed him?" She murmured to herself.

"You want me to take that one?" Javier asked, appearing beside her, tray in hand. 

Xena smiled, shaking her head. "No, don’t worry. I’ve got it. Thanks, though." she replied, picking up her notepad and pen before heading toward the man. 

As she neared his table, she kept her gaze polite but professional. "Welcome to Sophi—" 

Her words died in her throat the moment she looked up and saw who it was. 

"Hello, *little fire*." the man said, his deep voice laced with a dark amusement, his lips curling into a smirk. 

Xena’s eyes widened in shock and fear. Her heart began to race, pounding so loudly in her chest she was sure he could hear it.

Her legs felt like they had turned to lead, and the notepad in her hand trembled slightly. 

She blinked rapidly, her mind reeling.

*What is he doing here?*

The man she had met in New York City—*Viktor*—had somehow found his way to her small Italian town, to her Nana’s beloved restaurant of all places. 

"H-hi...s-sir." Xena stammered, unable to look him directly in the eyes. Her voice was barely audible, her fear palpable. 

From across the room, Javier and another worker noticed Xena’s unusual discomfort.

The easygoing, cheerful girl they knew was suddenly stiff and tense, her movements shaky. They exchanged concerned glances. 

Javier wasted no time and walked over.

"Xena, Nana is looking for you in the back. Why don’t you let me take this table?" he offered, his tone gentle but firm. 

Xena hesitated, stealing a glance at Viktor, who was watching her with an intensity that made her shiver.

His smirk only deepened, as if he was savoring her reaction. 

"I—yes." Xena whispered, nodding quickly. Without another word, she turned on her heel and hurried toward the back. 

As she walked away, she could feel Viktor’s gaze burning into her back, making her shiver even more. She didn’t stop until she reached the safety of the kitchen, her breathing shallow and uneven.