Chapter 6: Velvet Chains

Lexi walked down the street, the weight of what had happened between her and Julian still pressing on her mind. She couldn’t shake the feeling of betrayal, of being played like a pawn in his twisted game. Her mind was racing, thoughts scattered, when a black SUV suddenly screeched to a stop beside her.

Before she could react, the door flew open, and two large men stepped out. One grabbed her by the arm, yanking her toward the car, while the other stood by, keeping watch.

"Hey! Let go of me!" Lexi struggled, kicking and pulling, but the grip on her arm was too strong. The car doors slammed shut, and within seconds, the SUV was speeding away, taking her further from the city lights, deeper into some unknown part of town.

"What’s going on?" Lexi demanded, heart in a mess. "Who are you? Where are you taking me?"

The man who was holding her didn’t say a word. He just tightened his grip, keeping her still. She could feel the tension in his muscles, like a steel trap that wouldn’t loosen.

After what felt like an eternity, the car finally stopped. They dragged her out and marched her through a dark alley, past old, rundown buildings. She could barely see anything but the sharp outline of the man in front of her. He opened the door to an abandoned warehouse, and Lexi was pushed inside.

Inside, the cold air hit her like a punch. She could hear footsteps echoing off the concrete floor, and then the sound of a chair scraping as someone stood.

A tall man stepped out of the shadows. He had an accent that was thick, he seemed to be a foreigner. His eyes were sharp, cold—like he was sizing her up, trying to figure out what made her special.

“Lexi Thorn,” the man said, his voice smooth but laced with something dark. “You’ve been playing with fire.”

Lexi’s throat tightened, but she forced herself to speak. “Who the hell are you?”

The man chuckled, like her question was a joke. “My name is Viktor Raskov. And you... you are exactly who I need to help me.”

Lexi took a step back, looking for an escape, but the two men were blocking the door. She was trapped. “I’m not helping you. Let me go. Now.”

Viktor stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “Oh, I think you will. You see, I know all about you, Lexi. About your little... relationship with Julian Styles. I know how much you trust him. How much you need him. But what I’m offering you is better. Power. Control. Everything you ever wanted and even more importantly, revenge for your father’s downfall.”

Lexi narrowed her eyes, defiant. “You think you can just kidnap me and offer me power? I don’t care about that. Let me go now.”

Viktor smiled, but it wasn’t a friendly smile. It was cold, calculating. “I don’t think you understand. Julian is not the man you think he is. He plays everyone. But you... you can change that. You can help me destroy him. And I can give you something you’ll never get from him—freedom. Real freedom. No more games. No more lies.”

Lexi felt a jolt of anger flood through her. Her thoughts flashed to the way Julian had manipulated her, used her like a puppet. Everything between them had been a lie. And maybe... just maybe, this was her chance to make him pay.

But still, she didn’t trust this man, didn’t trust anyone anymore. “Why me?” she demanded. “What do I have to do with you taking down Julian?”

Viktor stepped closer, his voice lowering, intense. “You’re the key. I’ve never seen him care about anyone else as much as he cares about you. I can make you stronger, Lexi. Help me take him down, and I’ll give you everything. Money. Power. Freedom. I can give you everything you need to make your own decisions. You won’t have to rely on him.”

Her heart hammered in her chest. Lexi clenched her fists, the frustration building. She had been used by Julian for too long. And here was someone else offering her a way out.

It was tempting. The idea of turning the tables, of getting back at Julian for everything he had done to her, was intoxicating.

“You want me to help you destroy him?” Lexi asked, her voice steady despite the storm inside her.

Viktor’s smile was dark. “Exactly.”

She hesitated for only a moment, then nodded. “Fine. I’ll help you. But I want my own freedom. No tricks. No lies. You do what you say, and I’ll do what you need.”

Viktor’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “You made the right choice, Lexi.”

Lexi sat still, her thoughts swirling like a storm, as the man slid a sleek black phone across the table toward her. The screen was dark, but she could see the reflection of the harsh, fluorescent lights above them.

"This is how I'll contact you," he said, his voice calm, measured. "When the time comes, you’ll hear from me. Don’t make me wait."

Lexi didn’t reach for the phone right away. She stared at it, her mind still processing what exactly just happened. Julian Styles had made her feel small, insignificant. She’d let him toy with her emotions, manipulate her. But now? Now, she had a chance to strike back. She took a slow, steady breath before reaching for the phone.

"I won’t," she said, her voice colder than she felt inside.

The man’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. "I trust you’ll do what needs to be done." He stood up, turning toward the door. "You can go now. But remember: Everyone that ever betrayed me ended up dead."

With a nod, Lexi stood. As she walked toward the exit, her hand gripped the phone tightly. This was it. There was no going back now.