Chapter 26: Chapter Twenty Six
They both stepped into the luxurious private jet, its sleek interiors gleaming under the soft lighting.
Viktor guided Xena toward a plush leather seat near the window, his hand firm on her lower back. She obeyed silently, her every move weighed down by fear.
“Sit.” Viktor commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. Xena lowered herself into the seat, her heart pounding.
As she settled in, the pilot stepped out of the cockpit. He was tall, with sharp features and a professional demeanor, seemingly in his late twenties.
His uniform was pristine, and a polite smile graced his face as he approached them.
“Greetings, sir… and madam. We will be taking off shortly. Please enjoy your flight.” the pilot said smoothly.
“Thank you.” Viktor replied curtly, his voice low and authoritative. The pilot nodded, his eyes flickering toward Xena. He offered her a small, courteous smile, which Xena instinctively returned.
The moment the pilot turned and walked away, Viktor’s hand shot out, gripping Xena’s chin firmly but not harshly.
He tilted her face toward him, his dark eyes boring into hers.
“Don’t ever smile at any man.” he growled, his accent thick with irritation.
Xena hissed in discomfort but quickly nodded, terrified of provoking him further.
Viktor’s grip softened, and his lips curved into a dark, possessive smile.
“My little fire.” he murmured, his voice dropping to a hoarse whisper as he leaned closer, his breath warm against her trembling lips.
She swallowed hard, her chest tightening under his intense gaze.
Finally, he released her, leaving her breathless and shaken. Viktor sat back in his seat, his expression calm yet unreadable.
The jet began its ascent, the engines roaring softly as they climbed into the sky.
Xena turned to look out the window, her hands gripping the hem of her dress tightly. She felt as though her entire life was spiraling out of control.
Her thoughts raced. What will happen now? Where is he taking me?
She thought of Nana and Diego—would they realize she was gone? Would they think she abandoned them? And then there was Leonardo.
She squeezed her eyes shut, guilt washing over her. He was hurt because of her, and she didn’t even know if he was alive.
Lost in her thoughts, Xena barely noticed when Viktor stood and left his seat. He disappeared into a private cabin further down the aisle, leaving her momentarily alone.
“Ahem!”
The sharp sound jolted her out of her reverie. Xena looked up and saw a flight attendant standing in front of her with a food cart, her expression a mix of professionalism and disdain.
“Um… hi?” Xena said hesitantly, confused by the woman’s glare.
“Would you care for something to eat, ma’am?” the air hostess asked, though her tone lacked warmth.
Xena’s brows furrowed. The woman’s attitude was unsettling, but she simply nodded. “Yes, thank you.”
As the hostess leaned over to place a tray on the table in front of Xena, her icy gaze lingered a little too long.
It was subtle, but enough to make Xena uneasy.
“Is there a problem?” Xena asked cautiously.
The woman straightened, forcing a tight smile. “Not at all, ma’am.” she said curtly, then added, “Enjoy your meal.”
Xena glanced at the tray of delicately plated food, but her appetite was nowhere to be found.
She watched the flight attendant wheel the cart away, her gut telling her something wasn’t quite right.
Moments later, Viktor reappeared from the cabin. He walked with an air of authority, his presence immediately filling the space.
His sharp eyes swept over her, then narrowed slightly as he noticed her tense expression.
“What’s wrong, my little fire?” he asked, sitting back down beside her.
Xena hesitated, unsure whether to tell him. “It’s nothing.” she muttered, avoiding his gaze.
Viktor reached out, his fingers gently gripping her chin and turning her face toward him. “Do not lie to me.” he said firmly.
She sighed, her resistance faltering under his intense stare. “It’s just… the flight attendant. She seemed… odd. Like she was glaring at me or something.”
Viktor’s expression darkened instantly. He glanced over his shoulder, his sharp eyes searching for the woman in question.
“What did she say to you?”
“Nothing, really.” Xena said quickly, not wanting to escalate the situation.
“It was probably just my imagination.”
But Viktor wasn’t convinced. He leaned back slightly, pulling out his phone and typing a quick message.
Within seconds, one of his men appeared at the entrance to the cabin.
“Bring me the air hostess.” Viktor ordered curtly.
Xena’s eyes widened. “Viktor, no! It’s not a big deal—”
He cut her off with a look. “No one disrespects what’s mine.”
Before Xena could protest further, the flight attendant was brought forward, her previous confidence replaced by visible nervousness.
“Yes, sir?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Viktor’s gaze was cold and calculating. “Do you have something to say to my guest?”
The woman’s eyes flickered toward Xena, then back to Viktor. “No, sir. I was simply doing my job.”
Viktor studied her for a moment before speaking again.
“If I find out you disrespected her in any way, I’ll make sure you never work in this field again. Do you understand?”
The air hostess nodded quickly, her face pale. “Yes, sir. I apologize if I caused any offense.”
“Good. Leave.” Viktor said with a wave of his hand.
As the woman hurried away, Xena sat frozen in shock. “You didn’t have to do that.” she said quietly.
Viktor turned back to her, his expression softening slightly. “I protect what’s mine, Xena. Always.”
Xena looked away, her heart pounding as she tried to process the storm of emotions swirling inside her.
Fear, confusion, and something she couldn’t quite name. All she knew was that her life was no longer her own, and Viktor Sokolov was a force she couldn’t escape.