-Hailey-
The morning sunlight stabbed through the barroom windows like a blade.
Logan and I sat at the bar, nursing cups of coffee that had long gone cold and staring at our half–eaten plates of bacon and eggs.
Scarlett was pacing behind the bar. Her curls were a mess, and her blue eyes were sunken with worry.
“You’re gonna wear a hole in the floor,” Logan muttered, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
She shot him a glare. “It’s been two nights, Logan. Two fucking nights. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve spent two nights without Maverick? I think we were in high school-”
“Stop,” Logan interrupted, sharp enough to cut through her spiral. “We’re workin‘ on it. You gotta relax.”
“Relax,” she barked out a laugh. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one stuck in that cell.”
Logan sighed, but he didn’t say anything else.
The rumble of engines broke through the silence. Soon after, the door swung open and Talon and Laura stepped in.
“Dad, Mom…” Scarlett said, her voice tight. “Please have some good news.”
Talon sighed, running a hand through his hair. “We tried Viktor’s old numbers. No answer. I put word out to the Russians, but…”
“But?” Scarlett pressed.
“But I’m not holdin‘ out much hope, Hellcat,” Talon admitted. “He’s been gone a long time. If he wanted us to find him, he would’ve made it easier.”
Scarlett’s shoulders slumped and she started pacing again, her fingers clenching into fists.
I watched her pace, feeling her agitation. My chest felt tight with guilt and helplessness. Monty’s absence was a gaping hole in the club, and I still couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d somehow caused it all.
Laura walked behind the bar and put a hand on Scarlett’s shoulder. “Honey, worrying isn’t going to bring him home any faster. We’ll figure this out. We always do.”
Her voice was calm, steady. Scarlett stopped pacing and hugged her. Laura’s presence seemed to put us all a little bit at ease. If just for a second.
Logan shoved his plate away with a clatter. “I need air,” he muttered, pushing off his stool.
I hesitated for a second, then followed him. The cool morning air hit me as we stepped outside, and I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering despite the sunlight.
Logan leaned against the wall, pulling two cigarettes from his pack and lighting them, handing one to me. He didn’t say anything, just took a long drag and exhaled slowly.
I leaned beside him, not saying anything at first. The silence between us was heavy, but it was better than the suffocating tension inside.
Before I could decide what to say, the rumble of an engine pulled our attention. A black SUV pulled into the lot, its windows tinted and its engine idling ominously.
17:54 Fri, Dec 26 R
Chapter 40
My heart skipped a beat, and I stepped closer to Logan on instinct.
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He straightened, his cigarette dangling from his lips. “Stay behind me,” he muttered, his voice low and dangerous.
When the back passenger door opened, and a foot hit the pavement, Logan shook his head. “No fuckin way,” he murmured under his breath.
An older man stepped out, still massive and broad–shouldered for his age, with a shaved head and a face that looked like it had seen too much.
He was dressed in a crisp gray suit, and his polished shoes clicked across the pavement as he approached us.
He stopped a few feet away, his sharp eyes flicking between Logan and me.
“You came,” Logan said, stepping forward and holding out his hand.
“Logan,” the man said, shaking his hand. His voice carried a heavy Russian accent. “Good to see you, my boy.”
My heart was pounding in my chest. I couldn’t be sure who he was, but the way Logan was looking at him told me everything I needed to know.
“How did you-” Logan started, but he cut him off.
“My associates reached out. And who is this?”
I realized he was gesturing toward me. I gulped.
“Shit, sorry,” Logan said, putting his arm around my waist. “This is Hailey.”
“Hailey,” he said slowly. He made my name sound like a threat wrapped in velvet.
He reached for my hand and pressed his lips to my knuckles. “Viktor Ivanov. A pleasure to meet you.”
I stared at him while he chatted with Logan. My hand still tingled where his lips had brushed my knuckles. His presence was overwhelming, like a tornado.
“You’ve been at the gym,” Viktor said, his accent thick but smooth. “The last time I saw you, you were still scrawny.”
Logan chuckled, but it sounded tense. “Yeah, well. Time does that.”
Viktor’s lips twitched into something close to a smile. “Where is Talon?” he asked. His tone was casual, but I caught something darker.
Logan jerked his head toward the clubhouse. “Inside.”
Viktor nodded, his gaze sweeping over the building before landing back on me. “And you,” he said, his voice low. “Hailey, You’re tangled up in this mess?”
I swallowed hard, feeling like a deer in headlights. “I… guess so. Yeah.”
He studied me for a few seconds, then stepped past us and headed for the door. Logan glanced at me and followed him.
I took a final drag of the cigarette, stubbing it out with my boot and trailing in behind them.
The clubhouse was eerily quiet when I stepped in. Everyone’s eyes were on Viktor, their expressions a mix of relief and apprehension.
“You came,” Talon said with a smile.
17:54 Fri, Dec 26
Chapter 40
Viktor nodded, his hands clasped behind his back. “You called. I came.”
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Scarlett looked like she might burst into tears. She ran out from behind the bar, her voice trembling. “Uncle Viktor-” She crashed into him, burying her face in his chest.
“Martyshka,” he murmured, pulling her into a tight hug. It was strange to see him soften like that.
Then he patted her back, pulling away. “Little time for sentiment. We have work to do.”
She nodded, wiping tears from her face with her sleeve. Viktor’s sharp eyes swept the room, landing on each of us in turn. “So, who is this detective? Tell me everything.”
Logan and Talon exchanged a glance before launching into the story – Becker, the arrests, Matt and me, Monty, the drugs. Viktor listened in silence, his expression unreadable. Somewhere in the middle, Jake and Trina came through the front door, greeting us with quiet smiles.
When they finished, Viktor exhaled slowly. His lips pressed into a thin line.
“Becker,” he said. “I know this man.”
Logan’s jaw went tight. “You’ve dealt with him before?”
Viktor’s lips twitched. “Dealt is a strong word. Our paths have crossed. He is a man with… many enemies.”
I swallowed hard. The way he spoke sent chills down my spine. He was calm, almost casual, but there was an edge to his words that made my stomach twist. He could’ve made a grocery list sound dangerous.
“Then you know how to take him down,” Talon said, stepping forward.
“Of course,” Viktor replied. Like it would be simple.
“How do we fix this?” Scarlett’s voice cracked from behind the bar. She was gripping the edge so hard her knuckles were white. “Mav is still in that cell, Viktor. We have to get him out.”
“I will handle this,” he replied. “But you must have patience. These things take time.”
Patience. The word felt like a knife twisting in my gut. Monty was sitting in a cell, and Becker was definitely plotting his next move against the club. How could we afford to wait?
But Viktor’s calm was unnerving. There was something about the way he carried himself – like he’d seen the worst the world had to offer. Like he’d *been* the worst the world had to offer. I couldn’t help but trust him.
Logan found my hand and squeezed it, pulling me out of my head. “This is good, Ace.”
Viktor turned to Talon and Jake, his expression like stone. “We need to talk. Alone.”
Jake nodded toward the back room. “Chapel.”
“Logan,” Viktor called over his shoulder as they disappeared into the back. “You also.”
Logan kissed me on the cheek and followed them, leaving me standing in the middle of the clubhouse,
I glanced around the room, taking in everyone’s faces. They were all wearing the same mixture of relief and apprehension.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Viktor’s help might come at a price.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
