Chapter 2: The invisible chains
605 Words
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The air in Moscow carried a sharp chill, but Alina barely noticed. Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag as she stepped onto the quiet street leading to her apartment. The feeling hadn’t left her—not since she turned that last corner.
Someone had been there.
Someone had been following her.
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to breathe, to think rationally. Maybe it was just her mind playing tricks on her. The city could be unpredictable, full of strangers and passing shadows. But deep down, her instincts screamed at her. Something had been wrong.
A shiver crawled down her spine.
She stopped, turning her head slightly, scanning the empty sidewalk behind her. No one. The streets were quiet. Too quiet.
She wasn’t sure why, but the silence made her stomach twist.
Still, she shook it off and forced herself forward. Just a few more steps.
She reached her building, fumbling for the keys in her coat pocket. Her hands felt colder than before, but she ignored it, pushing the door open and stepping inside. The warmth of the hallway did nothing to ease the tension in her chest.
She climbed the stairs quickly, letting out a slow breath as she reached her apartment. With a quiet click, she locked the door behind her.
Safe.
But the feeling of being watched still lingered.
She exhaled shakily, pressing her back against the door. Maybe I’m overthinking. She’d been under stress lately. University, her job at the café, her father’s endless debts—it was enough to make anyone paranoid.
Shaking her head, she turned on the lights, kicking off her shoes and heading to the kitchen. She needed tea. Something warm. Something to settle the unease curling in her stomach.
But she wasn’t alone.
Not really.
Somewhere Else in the City…
Viktor watched her.
From the darkness of his study, the large monitor on his desk displayed the live feed from the security cameras surrounding her apartment building. He had every angle—the entrance, the stairwell, the hall leading to her door.
She had no idea.
His jaw clenched as he watched her. So fragile. So unaware. The thought made something dark coil inside him.
The man who had followed her tonight was already dealt with. His body would never be found. No one touched what was his and lived.
But it wasn’t enough.
She needed more protection.
She needed him.
She just didn’t know it yet.
He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping against the polished wood of his desk. The dim light from the monitors cast shadows over his face, sharpening the already cold expression in his icy blue eyes.
He had been patient. For years, he had watched, kept his distance, letting her live a life that didn’t yet belong to him.
But tonight had changed something.
Tonight had tested his restraint.
He picked up a cigarette, twirling it between his fingers before setting it down. A habit he had long abandoned, but tonight, the urge to calm the hunger inside him was stronger than usual.
Patience.
It was the one thing keeping him from taking her now.
He reached for his phone and pressed a single button. The voice on the other end answered instantly.
"Increase security on her. Double it." His voice was low, commanding. "And start the next phase. It’s time."
There was a pause. Then, "Understood."
The call ended, and Viktor set the phone down, exhaling slowly.
It was time.
Time for her to step out of the shadows and into his world.
She just didn’t know it yet.
To be continued…
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- Writer
