Chapter 148 TALIA’s RETURN.
\~~~LUCIANO.
Viktor rubbed the back of his neck, a rare sign of discomfort from the man who faced down bullets without flinching. "I know you and I started off bad. I was... mean to you," he admitted, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment.
I drew my brows together, surprise rippling through me. Viktor wasn't one to admit his wrongs. In fact, he prided himself on never committing anything worth apologizing for. He'd always been my right hand, calculating and unyielding, the kind of guy who fixed problems before they became regrets.
Watching him now, fumbling through an apology, felt like seeing a crack in stone.
"And I am sorry for misunderstanding you that much," Viktor continued, meeting her eyes again. "I just needed to look out for my boss. No one else but me is capable of that."
Raina rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "You give yourself too much credit, don't you think?" she shot back, her tone playful now, the edge softening.
I chuckled, the sound low and warm in my chest. This was turning into something almost entertaining, a break from the weight of Talia's return.
"I think I give myself less credit than I deserve," Viktor replied, a smirk creeping onto his face. He straightened up, his confidence snapping back into place.
"And now he's being cocky," Raina said, turning to me with mock exasperation. "I will never forgive him, Luciano! He said he hated me!"
Viktor held up a hand, correcting her gently. "I said I didn't like you."
Raina planted her hands on her hips, scoffing. "And what is the difference between the two?"
"I could still stand you a little, that is the difference," Viktor said, his smirk widening just a fraction.
She threw her hands up, pacing a step away before spinning back. "And should I be happy and grateful that you could stand me a little? Like that's some big compliment?"
Viktor shrugged, unfazed. "Better than nothing. Most people I can't stand at all."
"Oh, wow, high praise," Raina mocked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She glanced at me, her eyes dancing with laughter now. "Is he always this charming, or is it just for special occasions?"
I grinned, crossing my arms as I leaned back against the desk again. Watching them bicker was like seeing two sides of a coin I'd never expected to flip. Viktor's stoic walls cracking under Raina's relentless energy. "He's got a point. You're growing on him, baby."
"Growing on him? Like mold?" Raina shot back at me, then turned to Viktor. "Admit it, you thought I was trouble from day one."
"You were trouble," Viktor agreed, but his tone held no bite. "Still are, probably. But the good kind. The kind that keeps the boss on his toes."
Raina blinked, caught off guard, then laughed, a real, bright sound that cut through the room's tension like sunlight. "The good kind of trouble? I will take that. But don't think this means I forgive you for calling me a gold-digger that first time."
Viktor's eyes narrowed playfully. "I never said gold digger. I said you looked like you were after something shiny."
"Same difference!" she exclaimed, stepping closer to him, pointing a finger at his chest. "And you glared at me like I was a thief in the night."
"Had to make sure," Viktor said, not backing down. "Boss's wife? That is a big deal. I can not have just anyone waltzing in."
"Waltzing in? I was invited!" Raina countered, her hands gesturing wildly now. "And for the record, I wasn't after his money. I was after... well, him." She jerked her thumb toward me, her cheeks coloring slightly.
I felt a warmth spread through my chest at that, my smile softening as I watched her defend herself with such fire. Viktor noticed too, his expression easing into something almost fond.
"Fair enough," he conceded. "But if you had been after the money, I'd have run you out myself."
"Oh, big man," Raina teased, rolling her eyes again. "What would you do? Chase me with that scary stare of yours?"
"Worse," Viktor deadpanned. "I'd assign you paperwork."
She burst out laughing, clutching her sides, and even I couldn't hold back a full laugh this time. The image of Viktor burying someone in boring reports was too perfect. Raina wiped at her eyes, still chuckling. "Okay, that might actually be scarier than the threats."
"See? I'm full of surprises," Viktor said, crossing his arms again, but there was a lightness to him now, and the bickering was pulling him out of his usual shell.
Raina shook her head, still smiling as she turned to me. "He is not so bad when he's not growling."
"Don't get used to it," Viktor warned, but his eyes twinkled with rare humor.
The banter flowed on like that for what felt like minutes, the two of them trading jabs and retorts, each one lighter than the last. Raina poked fun at Viktor's serious demeanor, calling him "Mr. Stone Face," and he fired back by teasing her about her dramatic entrances, saying she could star in her own spy movie. I stood there, arms crossed, just watching, a quiet contentment settling over me.
It was a side of Viktor I rarely saw. It was human, almost playful and seeing Raina draw it out made my heart swell. She had that effect, turning enemies into allies with her wit and warmth.
But beneath the laughter, the weight of Talia's return lingered in my mind.
As their voices overlapped in good-natured argument, I let my gaze drift to the window, the city lights twinkling like distant threats.
Talia was back, and with her came risks we couldn't ignore. Yet, in this moment, with Raina filling the room with her light, I felt ready to face whatever came next.