When we reached the hotel, Viktor made me stay in the car.

That was thirty minutes ago.

I called him, twice but he hasn't picked up yet. I was getting seriously worried but I wasn't sure if me going to the hotel was the best decision or the worst. He could be dead but that was highly unlikely so, what was taking him so much time? I huffed and unlocked the door, stepping out. I'd been up and about too much. I really needed a break.

My hobble wasn't as bad as I entered the building and went straight for the elevator. This hotel was posh in all honestly, a good three and a half stars. Everything was shiny and clean. The lobby I passed was full of people with bags and a busy receptionist who's smile looked like it was about ready to kill. The elevator played classical music. Mirrors adorned the walls so I could see myself in every direction I looked. The only thing I noticed were how stupid these sunglasses were. I wish I could speed up my eye's healing process. I hadn't even got the time to get the frozen peas out of their bag. I was that busy worrying for Viktor.

I was convinced the only reason I did was that he would keep me alive. Being with him was less dangerous than being without him.

I knew Robert Battier's room number so I walked up to the room marked 27. I raised my hand to knock but I noticed the door was slightly ajar. My heart hammered in my chest as I pulled my hand back. Going in there was going to be a mistake. A big one. My fight or flight instincts were telling me to walk calmly back to the car and wait for Viktor. The problem? I couldn't be a coward. I pushed the door open. The room was dark.

I did what any girl in a horror film would do.

"Hello? Anyone here? Viktor?"

I took a few steps inside the room and reached for the light by the wall, flicking it on. The room was bathed in soft yellow light. The first thing I noticed was the set up in the living room. The blue pastel coloured couches were pushed against the wall. In the middle was a long table with four big beautiful curved monitors. A fancy keyboard sat before them and a sleek wireless mouse. The next thing I noticed was the mess. Pillows were thrown around like someone had tumbled on the ground. My heart beat fast in my chest.

Viktor.

"Viktor?!" I called out louder and when I got to the kitchen, my heart raced in my chest at the sight of glass and blood littering the floor. God, I hoped none of it belonged to Viktor. Where was the nuisance anyway?

I looked around the whole hotel room. Nothing. I did notice that there were two rooms, a master and another room with two twin beds and a bathroom attached. The place generally was nice. When my search for Viktor was futile, I went over to the table of monitors and settled in the chair before them. I first tried Viktor's phone, getting no answer. Again.

I sighed hoping he'd return from wherever he'd gone. I called room service and had them get my things from the car. I couldn't carry them alone even if I wished. I'm sure the two guys who'd helped lift the stuff where suspicious but with a generous tip, I knew they'd shut up.

The first thing I did was get the frozen peas. I shed my jacket and top in the kitchen, using duct tape to tie the frozen food, now not so frozen to my body. Once I was close to looking like an abominable snowman, I held the last pack of peas to my eye.

Then I allowed myself to turn on the computer's monitors. Beautiful wasn't enough to describe the quality of these screens. Pulchritudinous probably did the deed. I whistled low, trying to keep the ice on my face as I typed with one hand. I almost squealed with excitement.

It was locked, obviously but poorly. I got in without much of a hustle and I checked each and every document and google history. These guys were looking for me. Kat's coyote had tipped them off. They were 'besties' in every sense of the word according to their messages. I still hadn't found why they were looking for me and not for Viktor. They believed I'd lead them to the Don. Why?

I found a video game. Bullet Mercenary. It was a fantasy game with robots as avatars and they only used guns to defeat the other players and creatures. I logged into the game and played for a while, wondering why it was the only one on the computer. Close to giving up, I got messaged by a player. You'd never guess who.

_m.a.r.k.v.i.k_: Is the job done?

I stared at the screen stunned. This guy had hired me to get into the Bratva's network and how he wanted me killed? I let out an exasperated breath. I thought he would obviously want e gone because I'd kinda ghosted him when he needed information but then I was hit with a suggestion that was too ridiculous to be true but stuck.

What if _m.a.r.k.v.i.k_ was part of the Russian Bratva? I mean, it would make sense. They know me, know that I can get in but also know Viktor? Somehow they'd figured out he'd come after me. But... that was absurd. I tried to avoid the bigger picture of this thing but it was impossible. I had an idea and it was sticking to me like glue. I decided to reply.

deadpoolsucks566: Not yet.

My heart was out of control in my chest when no answer came. Then it raced at an unnatural rate when he started typing.

_m.a.r.k.v.i.k_: You have not yet found Viktor? What of the girl?

I was not a girl. I was turning 21 for God's sake.

deadpoolsucks566: Have the girl. Trying to get answers from her.

_m.a.r.k.v.i.k_: Don't damage her too much. She's useful.

deadpoolsucks566: Yes, boss.

_m.a.r.k.v.i.k_: Meet me when you've found and ended the boy, with proof. You'll get your full payment then.

The boy? That was an odd way to refer to Viktor. My new problem is that I needed to keep this sucker online. I needed more information from him.

deadpoolsucks566: What if the girl refuses to talk?

_m.a.r.k.v.i.k_: Find Viktor yourself. Like I said, not much harm should come to the girl. I need her alive, well and able to use all her limbs.

Well oops mister. They almost killed me. They shot me in the leg, I don't think your hitmen are as good as you'd like them to be.

deadpoolsucks566: If the girl refuses to talk, we will need more money and resources to find Viktor.

The chat went dead for a while. I sat at the monitor, having long abandoned the frozen peas on my face. My body shivered as cold water from the melted ice strapped to my body leaked into my leggings.

_m.a.r.k.v.i.k_: I'll send money.

After that, the chat collapsed. Literally. I had only a second to read the message before the chat disappeared and I was killed in the game. I stared at the screen, mortified for a few seconds. There was so much missing. I clutched my locket and the urge to take it off was strong but now was not the time nor the place. Not yet.

I needed to talk to Viktor. He wasn't here.

I went to the shared room and stripped off the frozen peas on my body. Then, took a long and cold shower, aware of my bandage. As was freezing water cascaded down my injured back, I couldn't help but think of a way to bring this whole thing up with Viktor. When I got out and changed into sweat shorts and a large graphic tee. I ordered food with room service as well. I knew the bill was going on a dead man's tab so I didn't give a shit. They killed Kat and shot me.

Viktor came back before the food arrived. I was seated in the couch in the far corner of the room, my injured leg stretched and my other drawn up to my chin. Viktor was dirty, his clothes stained by mud and what looked like... oil?

"Where have you been?" I asked him aloud. "I waited."

He didn't answer me. He went straight for the bags and started grabbing clothes.

"Viktor," I called, insisting.

"I'm going to shower first," He mumbled and disappeared. I let out a breath when he did. While the shower run, the food came. I took it from the door and to the kitchen. The cooking area was small, not necessarily packed and it only had what we needed. The fridge had some beers and water, nothing else.

I separated the food unto two plates and waited for the water in the shower of the master bedroom to cease before reheating. As I settled at the couch with a water for me and an open beer for Viktor, he came out of the room. He dropped tiredly in the seat beside me and we ate in silence. He drunk the beer almost greedily.

I just watched him through the corner of my eye, the way he drained the glass bottle and ate with vigour. I hadn't known he was starving. I also paid attention to his wet blonde hair that he'd pushed back from his face. The bags under his eyes were more prominent now, almost as bad as mine. Almost. Either way, Viktor seemed to glow. There was an easiness and tiredness in his body like he'd finished a workout that he knew he needed.

I waited for him to finish eating before I begun asking questions.

"Where have you been Viktor?" I asked gently, not sure how to approach him. He'd been avoiding my gaze this whole time but now as he leaned back into the couch and his eyes stared into mine, I noticed something wrong in them. Something unhinged.

"There was someone in the room when I got here. He was a runner so I had to make sure he didn't tell anyone about you and I. They want us dead right?"

Something was wrong here. Viktor's words were true but there was something... lurking. A darkness i hadn't sensed before. It scared me. Not in a way that threatened my safety but in a way that affected Viktor. I cared about him enough to notice.

"Is that all?" I pressed and he let out a breath, his muscles losing all tension.

"Of course. What else would I need to tell you?" he asked and we stared at each other, me worried and him ready to push back anything I wanted to say.

"Why don't we talk in the morning?" I decided, not ready to deal with Viktor when he was like this. I didn't know what this was but it reminded me too much of Peirce. I didn't like that.

I grabbed plates and took them to the kitchen. I rinsed them out and put them in the dishwasher. I turned, picking up the foil and paper littered on the counter, only to find Viktor lingering at the door way, watching me.

I ignored him. I wanted to pretend like he wasn't there in this mood. I didn't like moods. If I was with Peirce or my dad, I knew what 'mood' they were in. Angry, depressed, traumatized... I knew their tells. I didn't know Viktor's. I didn't know whether to hide from him, please him so he left me alone or appear small in his eyes so he didn't strike.

Viktor was dangerous. We'd established that a long time ago. He wasn't my brother, he wasn't my father. I didn't know jack shit about him and I was stuck in this small kitchen space with him. My heart wasn't getting a break was it?

In the act of arranging the kitchen, Viktor came up behind me and I froze but turned. I was strapped between him and the counter top.

"Viktor... please back up," I said softly, not looking to his eyes.

"You're avoiding me," he said instead. "Why Peach?"

"I'm not."

"Then look at me."

I did. I glanced up at his soft baby blues and they weren't what I wanted them to be. They were unfocused, unsteady. His lip twitched, he reached out and held my arm. I felt the tremble of his fingers. Something hit me.

He was high.

I could see it, feel it. His fingers shook, his eyes were unfocused, his voice was low, slurred and slow but his pupils weren't dilated. He didn't smell like anything at all. Something my brother said came to me.

"I might be getting high on drugs but you're getting high on something else aren't you?"

"Viktor... I'm tired. I want to get to bed," I whispered as he got closer.

There was a big red flag in my head with the words 'DO NOT PROVOKE!'. Things never ended when when I tried to get into it with my brother when he was high. I didn't know where Viktor had been or what he had done but I didn't like what he was now. I tried to take a step away from him but he pulled me back by the hold on my arm.

"You're scared," Viktor said and lifted his other hand to run the back of his hand over my face, dropping to my neck where he pressed against my pulse. My treacherous heart thumped with zeal.

"I'm not scared of you," I told him and he scoffed.

"Liar," he all but growled, his anger growing. I dropped what I was using to clean the counter in the space between us and reached for the hand at my pulse. I held it between my two smaller hands and pulled it away from me.

"I'm scared for you Viktor," I said looking up at him, trying to get him to see how genuine my feelings were. "Why don't we just go to bed? You can take the master bedroom."

He searched for something in my eyes, my face, my features and I stared back, letting him look. I had nothing to hide from him now. I'd rather function with a working partner than one in the condition he was in.

"Let me take you to bed Viktor. Come."

I threaded his fingers through mine and he let me pull him out of the kitchen. He'd be better by morning or at least I hoped so.