Chapter 45: Chapter Fourty Five.

Viktor sat in his home office, the dim glow of the overhead light casting long shadows across the room. His mind was still clouded with thoughts of Xena—her face, her scent, the way she challenged him with every glance. She was fire, untamed and defiant, and it only made him want to keep her even closer.

The sharp knock at the door snapped him out of his trance.

“Come in.” he said, his voice low and cold.

The door creaked open, and Mikhail stepped inside, a thick file clutched in his hand. His expression was unreadable, but Viktor could sense the weight of whatever was inside that folder.

“I’ve got everything you asked for.” Mikhail said, handing the file over before taking a seat across from Viktor’s desk.

Viktor didn’t waste time. He flipped through the pages with sharp eyes, scanning the first few sheets. Xena’s picture was the first thing he saw, her soft features frozen in the still image. His fingers lingered on the edge of the photo before he turned to the next page.

Basic information. Birth records. Schooling. Nothing surprising—until he flipped further.

Then his jaw tightened.

The file detailed the deaths of Xena’s parents. Both her mother and father had perished in a car accident. The report classified it as an *unfortunate incident.* but Viktor knew better than to believe in coincidences. His gut twisted with suspicion.

Further down, he found a name that made his grip on the file tighten.

*Xena Rossi, first daughter of the Rossi family and rightful heiress to Rossi Enterprises.*

Viktor’s lips curled into a smirk, but it quickly faded.

“My little fire is an heiress?” His voice was low, thoughtful.

He continued reading, and his expression darkened.

Despite the Rossi family not being directly involved in the mafia world, their connections told a different story. They had ties to several criminal syndicates—one name standing out more than the rest.

*The Bellini Family.*

Viktor’s jaw clenched. The Bellinis were dangerous, notorious for their ruthlessness. If the Rossis were associated with them, it meant there was more to this than just business.

Flipping to the next page, his suspicions were confirmed.

A contract. Signed and sealed.

His eyes scanned the document, and his body stiffened.

The Rossi family had made an alliance with the Bellinis—one that promised their daughter, *Xena.* to Marco Bellini.

A low growl rumbled in Viktor’s chest as he slammed the file shut.

Mikhail shifted in his seat, watching his boss closely. “There’s a problem.” he said carefully.

Viktor’s deadly gaze flicked up. “What problem?”

“The details of the contract are incomplete. There’s no mention of what the deal truly entailed. It’s as if the real terms of the agreement were deliberately hidden.”

Viktor exhaled slowly, trying to contain the fury boiling inside him.

“The fuck kind of deal is that?” he muttered, his grip on the file tightening.

“We couldn’t retrieve the missing details.” Mikhail admitted.

Viktor stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. His movements were rigid, controlled—but the storm within him was barely restrained.

“I don’t care what kind of fucking deal it was. Xena is *mine.*” His voice was like steel, his eyes burning with possessiveness.

Mikhail leaned back, assessing Viktor’s rage. Then he spoke carefully. “Perhaps we could talk to someone else.”

Viktor’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“She must have had a guardian after her parents died,” Mikhail reasoned. “Someone who handled her affairs. That person might know something about the missing details.”

Viktor’s thoughts ran wild for a moment—then suddenly, his entire body stiffened.

“Her grandmother.” he murmured.

Mikhail raised an eyebrow. “Xena’s grandmother?”

“Yes.” Viktor confirmed, his mind already calculating his next move.

Mikhail exhaled. “That could work, but… I don’t think you should go to her just yet.”

Viktor’s glare snapped up. “And why the fuck not?”

Mikhail leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.

“Because Marco Bellini is already watching you like a hawk. If you step foot in Italy, the entire Bellini empire will come down on you. Not to mention, Xena’s grandmother will *hate* you for kidnapping her granddaughter.”

Viktor’s jaw ticked, his fury simmering just beneath the surface.

“She can hate me all she wants.” he said darkly. “But she’ll talk.”

Mikhail sighed, knowing there was no talking his boss out of this.

Viktor Rossi never *asked* for anything.

He *took.*

♧♧♧

Xena sat at the long dining table, absentmindedly poking at her food with her fork. The warm aroma of freshly cooked dishes surrounded her, but her mind was elsewhere—still reeling from what had happened with Viktor earlier.

The memory of his rough grip, the way his darkened eyes had burned into hers, and the possessiveness in his voice made her face flush all over again.

*Damn him.*

Her mind was torn between embarrassment and frustration. She had spent the entire evening cursing Viktor in her head, replaying the incident over and over. Why did he always have to be so intense? So overpowering?

"Are you okay, Xena?"

Zoya’s gentle voice broke through her thoughts. Xena flinched slightly, snapping back to reality. She looked up to see Zoya watching her with concern.

"You’ve been frowning at your food for a while now," Zoya pointed out.

Xena forced a chuckle, shaking her head. "Oh! Uh… no, it's nothing."

Zoya raised an eyebrow curiously "You don’t like the food?"

"No, no! It’s delicious," Xena assured her quickly, offering a nervous smile.

Zoya studied her for a moment before nodding. “Alright then.”

Xena quickly resumed eating, trying to ignore the lingering warmth on her face. As soon as she finished, the maids swooped in to clear the table.

Just as she was about to stand, Zoya spoke again.

"By the way, Xena… where were you today?"

Xena blinked. “Oh, I was in the library.”

“The library?” Zoya asked, tilting her head.

Xena nodded, sipping a bit of water before replying. “Yeah, I just lost track of time.”

Zoya’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Lost track of time? Xena, do you have any idea how worried everyone was? We thought you ran away.”

Xena winced. *Oh… so that’s why Viktor lost his mind too?*

"The books there were amazing." she explained. "I got completely absorbed. Plus, it was so warm and peaceful in there."

Zoya sighed “please, Next time, if you plan on disappearing for hours, at least tell one of us. Boss went absolutely crazy today. He had the entire mansion on a search hunt.”

Xena swallowed, feeling a wave of guilt settle in. "I… I’m really sorry for the trouble." she murmured.

Zoya smiled, shaking her head. “It’s okay, Xena. Just don’t make a habit of it.”

Xena nodded. The tension between them eased, and Zoya glanced toward the hallway. “You should go back to Boss’s room now. He’s probably waiting for you.”

Xena’s breath hitched slightly at that. *Waiting for me?*

Before she could respond, Zoya turned and disappeared down the hall, leaving her standing there with an odd feeling in her chest.

With a sigh, Xena pushed back her chair and made her way upstairs. Each step felt heavier than the last as she neared the bedroom. When she reached the door, she hesitated before finally pushing it open.

Her eyes widened.

The room was spotless.

The broken glass, the spilled whiskey, the chaotic mess from Viktor’s earlier rampage—it was all gone. Everything was back in place, as if nothing had ever happened. The air even smelled fresh, the lingering scent of alcohol completely erased.

Xena exhaled in surprise. "Impressive." she muttered, stepping inside and gently closing the door behind her.

But as she took another step forward, she felt something shift in the air.

Viktor was here.

She could *feel* him.

Her heart pounded as she turned her head, and sure enough—there he was, sitting in the dimly lit corner of the room, his piercing gaze already locked onto her.

“Enjoyed your meal?”

Viktor’s deep, velvety voice filled the room, making Xena tense up instantly. She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. “Y-Yes,” she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

Viktor’s gaze was unreadable as he leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. “Come.”

It wasn’t just an invitation—it was a command.

Xena frowned, hesitating. She didn’t like the way he always spoke with such authority, as if she had no choice but to obey.

Still, she forced herself to take slow, careful steps toward him. But just before she got too close, she stopped, keeping a safe distance.

“Come closer, *printsessa*. My little fire.” he murmured, his tone laced with something dark and possessive.

A shiver ran down Xena’s spine at the way he said it, the way his voice wrapped around those words like a promise—or a warning.

“Uh… I’m okay here. I can hear you perfectly—”

Before she could finish, Viktor moved. Swift and precise, he closed the distance between them in an instant, his strong hands gripping her waist and pulling her flush against him. Xena barely had time to gasp before his lips crashed onto hers.

The kiss was intense, almost punishing. Viktor wasn’t just kissing her—he was claiming her, making sure she knew she belonged to him. His fingers dug slightly into her waist, his grip firm yet possessive, and his mouth moved against hers with a kind of desperate hunger.

Xena’s hands pressed against his chest, pushing with all her strength, but he didn’t budge. She tried to break free, but Viktor was relentless, deepening the kiss as if he wanted to erase any trace of doubt from her mind.

Her lungs screamed for air, her body weakening in his hold. Finally, sensing her struggle, Viktor pulled back, his breath heavy as he stared down at her.

His eyes—dark, intense, and burning with raw emotion—held her captive. “I will never let you go, printsessa,” he growled, his voice low and possessive. “No one. Not even Marco will take you from me.”

Xena was still breathless, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to regain her composure. His grip hadn’t loosened; he still held her close, pressing her against his warmth, his scent overwhelming her senses.

A smirk tugged at his lips as he took in her flustered expression. “It’s getting late.” His voice had softened, but the dominance was still there. “You should go take a shower.”

Xena shot him a glare, trying to mask the way her heart was hammering against her ribs.

Viktor chuckled, tilting his head slightly. “Or,” he drawled, his voice dripping with amusement, “do you want me to join you?”

Xena’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What?! No!” she blurted out, her cheeks heating up furiously.

Viktor’s smirk deepened, his gaze never leaving her.

With an exasperated huff, Xena spun around and hurried toward the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

Viktor chuckled lowly, running his tongue across his bottom lip as he stared at the closed door. His fingers brushed against his lips, still tasting her.

“She’s mine.” he muttered under his breath, a dark promise lingering in the air.