The Mafia King of Philadelphia: From witness to his doted wife

Sienna stepped away from the computer and crossed the small distance between them. Then, without saying anything, she walked straight into Viktor’s arms. His hands settled around her almost automatically.

For a few seconds, neither of them moved. Viktor rested his chin lightly against the top of her head. ”Has Aria called again?” Sienna shook her head.

”No.” Her voice was quieter now. ”I’m worried about her.” Viktor tightened his arms around her. ”I know.”

”I really miss her.” He was quiet for a moment. Then... ”I’m right here.” Sienna tilted her head back to look at him.

”What does that have to do with anything?”

”Do you miss me too?” She stared at him. ”Why would I miss you when you’re standing right here?” Viktor looked offended. Sienna smiled.

”You asked a silly question.”

”I see.” His hands slid around her waist as he looked down at her. ”I guess I need to give you a reason to miss me.” Sienna’s smile faded slightly.

”Oh?” Viktor lowered his voice. ”Maybe make sure you can’t sit properly for a week.” Sienna’s eyes widened.

”Viktor.” A warm blush immediately crept into her cheeks. He smiled. ”Then perhaps you’ll miss me.” She pushed lightly against his chest.

”Who knows, maybe I may or may not, you got to try and see.”

Viktor laughed, very hard. They started toward the door together. It was already past noon, and the mansion was quieter than usual as they headed for the stairs.

Then. ”Boss!” Marcus appeared at the end of the hallway. Running. Viktor stopped. Sienna looked at Marcus. One look at his face and she knew. Something had happened.

Marcus didn’t run unless something was very wrong. ”Well,” Sienna murmured. Viktor turned toward her. She nodded toward Marcus. ”Looks like there’s a fire on the mountain.”

Viktor gave her a look. Then turned back to Marcus. Marcus was breathing hard. His face was tense. Viktor’s expression changed immediately.

Whatever playful mood he’d been in seconds ago disappeared. Sienna had seen it happen before. One moment, he was her husband. The next. He was Viktor Kessler.

”Tell me,” Viktor said. Marcus stepped closer and lowered his voice. Sienna didn’t need to hear the words. She could already see how serious it was. Viktor looked back at her.

”I’ll join you soon, baby.” Sienna let out a small laugh. ”Sure.” She knew that soon could mean anything. An hour. Five hours. The entire day. She had lived with Viktor long enough to understand. Sienna reached up and kissed his cheek.

”Go.” Viktor hesitated for half a second. Then nodded and followed Marcus back down the hallway. Sienna watched them disappear. The house became quiet again. She stood there for a moment. Then shook her head.

”Lunch alone.” She continued toward the stairs. By now, she could read the situation from Marcus’s face. This wasn’t something that would be solved quickly. Whatever had happened would probably consume the rest of Viktor’s day. Possibly the night too. Sienna would eat lunch alone.

Maybe dinner. And if it was bad enough. Breakfast too. She sighed. At least she was used to it.

—

The door slammed shut behind Viktor. ”What the hell happened?” Marcus stood across from him, his face tight. Viktor didn’t wait for an answer.

”How the hell did someone get into that site?” His voice rose. ”How did they set the entire manufacturing site on fire?” Marcus remained silent. Viktor’s eyes burned.

”We just lost merchandise worth over a billion dollars.” He hit the desk with his palm. The sound cracked through the room. ”Our workers.” His breathing became heavier. ”Our best workers were in that building.” Then his expression changed.

”What happened to Marcel and Aliya?” Marcus looked at him. ”The men took them.”

”What men?” Marcus hesitated. ”The guards said they were dressed in white.” Viktor stared at him. ”What?”

”They didn’t recognize them.” Marcus swallowed. ”Don Capri and Elena were there.” The room went silent. Viktor’s face hardened. ”And?”

”And the men in white,” Marcus repeated exactly what the guard had told him over the phone. Viktor took a step back. Then another. ”No.” His hand went through his hair.

”No. No, no.” Marcus watched him. ”This can’t be happening.” Viktor turned suddenly.

”Fuck!” The glass sitting on the side table went flying. It shattered against the wall. ”I should have killed all of them,” Marcus said nothing.

”I should have buried them when I had the chance.” Viktor paced. His chest rose and fell heavily. ”I was playing fair.” The words came out bitter. But somewhere beneath all that anger, Viktor knew the truth. The old Viktor wouldn’t have hesitated.

He would have eliminated Don Capri. Elena. Anyone connected to them. No second chances. No mercy. No concern about what Sienna would think. But things had changed. He had changed. Or at least, he was trying to.

Trying to become the kind of man who could come home and sleep beside his wife without bringing every piece of darkness in his life into their bed. Trying to be someone Sienna could live with. And now. His attempt to play fair had cost him.

”I think Don Capri made a deal with someone,” Marcus said carefully. Viktor stopped pacing. Marcus continued. ”Those men weren’t from here.” Viktor slowly turned around. His eyes narrowed. ”Someone powerful enough to walk into my territory.”

Marcus nodded. ”Take two prisoners.”

”And burn down one of my sites.” Viktor’s jaw tightened. ”Without leaving a body behind.” Marcus didn’t answer.

”Fuck!” Viktor slammed his fist against the desk. ”Fuck!” His voice thundered through the hallway.

Outside the study, Sienna stopped. She had been walking toward the dining room. But Viktor’s voice reached her before she got there. She stood still. Then came another crash. Sienna looked toward the closed study door. Her stomach tightened.

She couldn’t hear the words clearly. Only Viktor’s anger. And that was enough. Something was very wrong. Her appetite disappeared immediately. A few minutes ago, she had been teasing him. They had been arguing about online classes.

Now the entire mansion felt different. Heavy. Quiet. Sienna slowly turned away from the dining room. Lunch could wait. She looked back toward the study. Viktor was angry. Really angry. And suddenly, she was worried too.

Sienna was still standing beside the stairs when something moved in the entrance. She frowned. Footsteps. Several of them.