Chapter 21: Chapter Twenty One.

Xena sat cross-legged on her bed, the soft glow of her laptop lighting up her face as she spoke to Elena on a video call. Her voice was tinged with anxiety as she recounted the unsettling events of the day. 

"...and he just left." Xena said, her voice trembling slightly.

"Elena, I don’t know how he found me here, but I’m really scared now." 

On the other side of the screen, Elena was unusually quiet. Xena furrowed her brows, her worry shifting from her own predicament to her best friend. 

"Elena? Are you okay?" Xena asked, tilting her head as she studied Elena’s face. 

Elena seemed to hesitate before nodding, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of unease. "Yeah, I’m good." 

Xena wasn’t convinced. "Are you sure?" she pressed gently. 

Elena forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

"Come on, I’m fine. Just a bit tired from work today." she said, waving her hand dismissively. 

Xena relaxed slightly, offering a small smile in return.

"Well, you do work too hard. But, Elena, you have to be very careful. Viktor... he’s not—" 

"A good person." Elena interrupted with a sharp edge to her voice. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

"Xena, I know. I’ve told you this before."

"I’m shocked he’s shown up there. But... oh my God, do you think he followed you—?" 

Xena’s heart raced at the thought, and she felt the weight of her fears pressing down on her. "Elena, did he follow you?" 

Elena quickly shook her head. "No. No, I don’t think so." she said firmly. 

Xena exhaled in relief.

"Good. But it’s still terrifying that he’s here. How did he even find out where I work with my nana? And why now?" 

Before Elena could respond, a soft knock sounded at Xena’s bedroom door.

She looked up just in time to see it creak open, revealing her younger brother, Diego. He shuffled inside, his eyes half-closed and his small frame wrapped in a blanket. 

"Diego?" Xena called out, her concern instantly shifting to him. "Are you alright?" 

Without answering, Diego climbed onto the bed and curled up beside her, nestling into her side. Elena smiled warmly at the sight.

"Hey there, my handsome prince." she greeted him through the screen. 

Diego gave her a sleepy grin, but his usual enthusiasm was missing. Xena stroked his hair gently. "You okay, buddy?" 

"I’m fine." Diego murmured, his voice muffled against her arm. "I just had a nightmare." 

Elena and Xena exchanged a worried glance. Xena’s heart clenched.

"What kind of nightmare?" she asked softly, trying to keep her voice calm. 

Diego yawned, his eyes fluttering shut.

"That you were taken away by a dangerous man." he mumbled sleepily. 

Elena’s eyes widened in alarm, her mouth opening slightly as if to say something, but she quickly closed it.

Xena, though shaken, pulled Diego closer, wrapping her arms protectively around him. 

"It’s okay, Diego. It was just a dream." she whispered, her voice soothing even as her mind raced. 

"I’ll call you tomorrow." Xena said to Elena, her tone clipped. 

Elena nodded hesitantly, her concern evident. "Please be careful, Xena." she urged before the call ended. 

The screen went dark, leaving Xena alone with her thoughts. She looked down at Diego, who had already drifted back to sleep in her arms. 

"Did you see the man’s face?" she asked quietly, though she knew he was too far gone to answer properly. 

Diego shifted slightly and mumbled, "No..." before falling completely silent. 

Xena sat frozen, her mind spiraling. She usually dismissed dreams like these as mere figments of imagination. But this time, it felt different. 

It wasn’t just a nightmare. Not after Viktor had shown up unannounced at her family’s restaurant.

Not when she knew what kind of dangerous man he was. 

Her arms tightened around Diego protectively as her thoughts raced. 

What does he want from me? And how far is he willing to go to get it?

For the first time in years, Xena felt truly powerless. And that terrified her. 

◇◇◇

The Next Day

Xena couldn’t shake the unease that clung to her like a second skin. She moved around the restaurant with a forced smile, her usual cheerful demeanor dimmed.

Every step felt heavier, her mind hyper-aware of Viktor sitting at one of the corner tables.

He hadn’t said a word. Not one. He simply sat there, his piercing gaze fixed on her every move.

Whether she was taking orders, chatting with customers, or laughing nervously with the regulars, she could feel his eyes boring into her.

Viktor, however, seemed to be enjoying himself. Her discomfort amused him. He leaned back in his chair, smirking whenever Xena’s gaze accidentally met his.

He found her expressions fascinating—the fear in her eyes, the nervous twitch of her lips, the way she tried to avoid looking at him altogether.

She’s cute he thought. Terrified, but still cute.

Xena was delivering an order to a young couple when her nerves got the best of her.

Her foot caught on the edge of a chair leg, and she stumbled forward, the tray tipping precariously.

Before disaster could strike, a hand shot out and steadied her. Xena looked up, her breath catching in her throat, only to see Leonardo standing there.

For the first time that day, she smiled—a genuine, relieved smile that reached her eyes.

“Thank you so much, Leonardo.” she said, her voice soft but filled with gratitude.

Leonardo’s face turned slightly pink as he scratched the back of his neck.

“It was nothing, really. Are you okay?”

Xena nodded, carefully setting the couple’s order on their table.

“That was close.” she said with a small laugh, stepping away with Leonardo.

But before he could respond, the sound of a loud crash echoed through the restaurant. Plates shattered on the floor, and gasps filled the air as everyone turned toward the source of the noise.

Viktor stood at his table, the chair he’d been sitting on overturned.

His face was a storm of fury, his eyes locked onto Leonardo like a predator sizing up its competition.

Xena froze, her heart pounding so loudly it drowned out the murmurs of the other customers.

Viktor’s gaze shifted to her, and she instinctively grabbed Leonardo’s hand, holding onto him as if it would protect her from Viktor’s wrath.

That small action seemed to enrage Viktor even more.

His jaw tightened, the muscles twitching as he clenched his teeth so hard it looked like they might crack.

He didn’t say a word, but the sheer intensity of his presence made the air feel heavy, suffocating.

With deliberate slowness, Viktor pushed his chair aside, the screech of wood against the floor grating against everyone’s ears.

The aura emanating from him was suffocating, his dominance silencing the entire room.

Without a word, he turned on his heel and walked out, the door slamming shut behind him.

Xena let out a shaky breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Her heart was still racing, and her hands trembled as she released Leonardo’s.

“Are you okay?” Leonardo asked, his voice low and concerned as he looked down at her.

“I’m fine.” she lied, stepping back and crossing her arms.

At that moment, Nana emerged from the kitchen, her sharp eyes scanning the silent, tense room.

“What happened out here?” she demanded, her voice cutting through the quiet like a knife.

Leonardo started to answer, “It’s just—”

“A customer got upset over a wrong order.” Xena interrupted quickly, cutting him off. Her voice was firm, though her hands fidgeted nervously at her sides.

Nana frowned, clearly unimpressed.

That’s why the idiot decided to shake the entire restaurant? Where is he?

“He’s gone now, Nana.” Xena said, forcing a calm tone. “Don’t worry, we won’t see him again.”

Nana muttered something under her breath and turned, heading back to the kitchen.

But her discontent was obvious in the way she slammed the kitchen door behind her.

Leonardo looked at Xena, his confusion evident. “Why did you lie to her?” he asked, stepping closer.

Xena shook her head, avoiding his gaze. “It’s nothing.” she said quickly. “It’s better to let it go.”

“Xena—”

“Excuse me, I have work to do.” she said, cutting him off again before walking away.

Leonardo stood there, his brows furrowed in confusion as he watched her retreating figure. Something wasn’t right, and he could feel it.

From outside, the mysterious man still continues to watch Xena, observing everything, taking note of Viktor's presence and the tension that had unfolded.

Unbeknownst to them all, another pair of eyes lingered in the shadows, watching the scene with dark intent.

Viktor wasn’t the only danger looming over Xena’s life.