MEETING THE DARKNESS

25

After the grand reveal at the party—a dazzling event that marked the announcement of Dia as the Mafia Queen and Viktor as the soon-to-be Mafia King—the night had passed in a whirlwind of toasts, dangerous alliances, and whispered promises. The underworld now knew what was coming: Dia and Viktor, together, were an unbreakable force. But their marriage of convenience had only fueled their desire to take down OCTI with full force.

The morning after the party, Dia sat in their private strategy room, surrounded by maps, dossiers, and intelligence reports. Despite the grandeur of the previous night, the reality of their situation was sinking in fast. OCTI wasn't going to take their union lightly; it was a direct threat to their global operations, and Dia knew retaliation was coming.

Viktor entered the room, his presence commanding as always, dressed in casual dark clothes but still exuding that lethal aura. He looked over at Dia, who was intensely focused on the map in front of her.

"You look like you didn't sleep," Viktor said, his voice smooth but carrying an edge of concern.

Dia didn't look up, her fingers tracing lines across the map and replied sarcastically along with a hint of seriousness. "Who had time to sleep? We're on a deadline. OCTI won't just sit back and watch as we consolidate power. They're going to hit us harder than ever."

Viktor stepped closer, leaning over the table. "They know we're a threat now. We've weakened them already, but they're going to come back swinging."

"They already have," Dia replied, showing him a report of OCTI's latest moves. "Their resources are more vast than we anticipated. If we don't strike back soon, they'll close the gap."

Viktor studied the map, his jaw tight as he considered their options. "We need to hit them where it hurts. Their Central Asian base—if we take that down, we'll disrupt a huge portion of their operations."

Dia nodded, pointing to the exact location he was talking about. "I agree. It's their largest hub, responsible for arms trafficking, drugs, and their most secretive communication lines. But we can't go in unprepared. I've got intel that they've doubled their security since we announced our marriage."

Viktor's lips curled into a dangerous smile. "Let them double their security. They won't see us coming."

She raised an eyebrow at his confidence. "We're not invincible, Viktor. One wrong move, and this war could drag out for years."

"I'm not suggesting we charge in recklessly," Viktor said, pulling out a chair and sitting beside her. "We need to be tactical. I've got some of my best men already in position, and I've made sure Rhys is backing us with additional resources. The real question is—when do we strike?"

Dia leaned back, considering. "We need more than just manpower. I'll have to pull in some of my best from the Bloodmoon Triad. Sid's already preparing for an assault, and we can combine forces. But we also need to hit them from the inside—find out who their top commanders are, dismantle their chain of command."

Viktor's eyes darkened with a calculating look. "I have some contacts who might be able to get us intel on their leadership. We can start setting traps. Let them think they have the upper hand."

Dia stood up, pacing as she processed the information. "We'll need a distraction, too. Something to pull their attention away from our main target."

Viktor watched her, impressed by her sharp mind, though he'd never admit it aloud. "That can be arranged. I have a few smaller operations in Europe that can leak false information. They'll think we're focusing there while we hit them where it matters."

Dia stopped pacing and met his gaze. There was an unspoken understanding between them now, despite their turbulent relationship. Their personal feelings had to be buried, at least for now. This was about survival, and they had no choice but to trust each other in this war.

"Two days," Dia said finally, her voice steady. "We move in two days. That gives us enough time to set everything up, get our people in position."

Viktor stood as well, nodding in agreement. "I'll handle the logistics with my team. You handle the Triad."

There was a beat of silence as they stood facing each other, the tension between them palpable. Despite the gravity of their situation, the intensity that always simmered between them was still there, just beneath the surface. But neither of them acknowledged it.

Viktor broke the silence first, his tone shifting to something more personal. "What about Sid? You trust him to handle this?"

Dia nodded, not breaking eye contact. "Sid's my second in command for a reason. He's loyal, and he knows the stakes. He'll have everything ready."

Viktor raised an eyebrow. "You really trust him, don't you?"

Dia's expression softened slightly, though her voice remained firm. "I trust him with my life. He's proven himself time and time again."

There was something in Viktor's gaze that flickered, something almost like jealousy, but it was gone in an instant. He nodded and turned back to the map, refocusing. "Good. We'll need every ounce of trust we can muster for this."

Dia sighed, rubbing her temples. "This never ends, does it?"

"Not in this life," Viktor replied, his voice low but resolute. "But we chose this. And now, we finish it."

The next evening, as preparations were underway, Dia received another intelligence update from Sid, confirming OCTI's movements. The stage was set. The traps were ready. Now, it was just a matter of execution.

She stood by the window of their shared penthouse, watching the city lights flicker in the distance. Viktor approached her from behind, his presence unmistakable.

"You ready?" he asked, his tone serious.

Dia didn't turn, her eyes still fixed on the skyline. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Viktor stepped closer, his voice lowering. "We're going to win this."

Dia finally turned to face him, their eyes locking. "We have to."

In that moment, they weren't just two people trapped in a marriage of convenience. They were allies, warriors, bound by a shared enemy and the desire to emerge victorious.

"Two days," Viktor reminded her. "Then we make our move."

Dia nodded, her resolve hardening. "Two days."

And with that, their war against OCTI truly began.

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Happy reading!

With love,

CARA