Ashley’s POV
The air was thick with smoke and blood. The explosion had thrown us apart, and my ears were still ringing from the blast. Through the haze, I saw Viktor Petrov, his cold, calculating eyes locked onto me.
He looked nothing like Maddox. Where Maddox had been arrogant, Viktor was controlled. Where Maddox had flaunted his power, Viktor carried his like a shadow, unseen but deadly.
"You made a mistake coming here," Viktor said, his Russian accent thick and deliberate. "Maddox was just a pawn. You’ve barely scratched the surface of the real war."
Caden stepped forward, wiping blood from his lip. His expression was pure steel. "The only mistake was leaving you alive this long."
Viktor smirked. "Then fix it."
The fight erupted.
A Battle of Blood and Fire
Gunfire roared through
