Chapter 12 - Broken Truce
The ballroom erupted into chaos. Security guards rushed forward from the perimeter, hands hovering over concealed holsters, but Viktor’s men—dispersed among the crowd in plain black tuxedos—stepped into the open, their hands inside their coats. The entire room stood on the razor edge of an all-out bloodbath.
""Viktor, please,"" Elena whispered, her hand pressing against the hard wall of his chest. ""Not here. Not with Leo at home.""
The mention of Leo cut through the crimson fog in Viktor’s eyes.
Slowly, deliberately, Viktor released Dante, smoothing the lapels of the man’s jacket with brutal mockery. Dante stumbled back, coughing, clutching his collar as two of his bodyguards flanked him.
""You've broken the Accord, Vane,"" Dante choked out, his face mottled with humiliated rage. ""The Council will strip you of your territory!""
""The Council can try,"" Viktor said, turning his back on Dante with complete disdain. He wrapped his arm around Elena’s waist, pulling her flush against his side. ""Let's leave. The smell of desperation is offensive.""
They turned toward the grand exit, the sea of high-society spectators parting like water before a shark. Elena felt Viktor’s heart hammering against her shoulder—not with panic, but with the terrifying adrenaline of a predator ready to kill.
They reached the grand foyer of the hotel, descending the sweeping marble staircase toward the valet circle where their armored convoy waited.
""You were reckless,"" Elena murmured as the cool night air struck her bare shoulders. ""He was baiting you.""
""He insulted you,"" Viktor replied without hesitation, his voice low and absolute. ""No man breathes my air and insults what belongs to me.""
Before Elena could challenge the word belongs, the night shattered.
A deafening crack tore through the street. The driver of the lead armored vehicle collapsed over the steering wheel, a scarlet blossom blooming on the driver-side window. High-caliber sniper rounds rained down from the construction crane across the avenue, chewing into the pavement and sending plumes of sparks and concrete shrapnel into the air.
""Ambush!"" Marcus yelled, drawing his sidearm.
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Viktor tackled Elena to the marble steps, rolling to absorb the impact as a bullet ricocheted inches from her head, showering them with marble dust. Screams echoed from the hotel behind them as the gala guests scrambled in blind terror.
""The Carlton was compromised,"" Viktor growled, pulling the heavy titanium stiletto from Elena’s thigh and sliding a hidden Glock into her trembling hands. ""They never intended for us to leave the plaza alive.""
