A chilling silence settled between them, stretching through the burning remnants of the estate. The flames cast eerie shadows on Victor’s face, accentuating the cruel amusement in his eyes.
Alina’s breath came in sharp, uneven gasps. "A deal?"
Damon stood rigid in front of her, shielding her from Victor’s gaze. His entire body was taut, coiled with barely restrained fury. The gun in his grip remained steady, but she could see the tension in his fingers—"as if he was calculating how many shots he could fire before Victor made his move."
Victor smirked, his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his designer coat. He was completely at ease, as if the gunfire and destruction around them were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
“I’ll admit, Damon,” Victor said, tilting his
