Chapter 10 THE GAME

Alina's POV

Ronan left me alone in the study, and I didn't follow. The smart move would have been to go find Jaxon or Maddox, talk to them about the recordings. Instead, I sat at that laptop and listened to my father's voice over and over again.

*"I do what I do to keep her safe."*

*"Her mother was asking questions she shouldn't have."*

*"The girl needs rules. Structure. Control for her own good."*

It felt more like manipulation disguised as concern. And the hardest truth? Some of what he said might have been true. He might actually care about me. He might believe he's protecting me. But in my family, love and control were so mixed up that I couldn't tell where one ended and the other began.

Just then, my phone buzzed. I glanced at a text from an unknown number: *We need to talk. Meet me at the old warehouse on Halsted. Come alone. – V*

Viktor. The vulture who'd been keeping an eye on me, the one who sent threatening photos. My first thought was to tell the others. But then I instinctively considered going alone.

The warehouse was only five blocks from my safe house. If I moved fast, I could be there and back before anyone noticed. Viktor likely wouldn't do anything risky in public. Maybe I could convince him to leave me alone without any violence.

I quickly put on a jacket and slipped out the back door.

When I reached the warehouse, it looked just like I expected-run-down and industrial, perfect for secret meetings. Viktor stood there, leaning against an old metal container. He looked just like he had in the park: tall, thin, covered in tattoos hinting at a rough past.

"Commissioner Hart's daughter," he said, his voice echoing in the empty space. "Brave. A bit foolish. But I admire your spirit."

"You wanted to talk," I said, trying to keep my voice steady even though my heart was racing.

"I wanted to make you an offer." He stepped closer, moving slowly. "The Serpents can't keep you safe forever. Your father will escalate things. Sooner or later, someone will make a mistake, and you could end up in jail or worse six feet under."

"What's your offer?"

"Join us, the Vultures. Help us take down the Serpents from inside, and I'll make sure you're safe. Your father would back off if he believed his daughter was under our protection."

It was a tempting offer-everything I had been seeking-freedom, safety, and a chance to make my own choices.

"No," I said firmly.

"You don't fully understand what you're dealing with-"

"I know enough." I stepped closer, matching his intensity. "You think your way is better than what I already have. But joining you would just lead to a different kind of prison. At least with the Serpents, I know the rules."

For a moment, something shifted in his expression-maybe respect, or maybe just irritation.

"You're making a mistake."

"Maybe. But it's my decision to make."

After a pause, he nodded. "Then we're enemies. And enemies, Alina, don't get mercy."

Suddenly, he pulled a knife from his jacket, and just like that, the meeting turned into a trap I should have seen coming.

The first slash came fast, aimed right at my throat. I reacted purely on instinct-Jaxon's training kicked in. I ducked and spun around, kicking Viktor hard in the stomach. He grunted but quickly recovered.

"Good," he said, his smile turning threatening. "Fight back, it'd have been less fun if I just killed you."

We moved around the warehouse like dancers, each of us trying to anticipate the other's next move. Viktor was skilled-brutal and quick. But I had something he didn't: desperation and the knowledge that three men would do anything to protect me.

He lunged at me again with the knife, and I spotted a metal pipe on the ground. When his blade came at me, I blocked it with the pipe, sparks flying from the impact. The shock jolted my arm, but I didn't hesitate. I swung the pipe at his legs, forcing him to jump back.

We found ourselves stuck for a moment, caught in a tense silence.

"Did your boyfriends teach you that?" Viktor asked, breathing heavily.

"Which one?" I shot back.

His laugh was sharp and bitter. "You're really the perfect trophy for the Serpents."

"I'm nobody's trophy."

"Everyone belongs to someone, Alina. The real question is who you belong to."

Just then, the loud sound of motorcycle engines echoed in the warehouse, unmistakable and powerful. A group of bikes was coming our way.

Viktor's expression darkened. "Looks like your boyfriends decided to crash the party."

The first bike through the door was Jaxon's. He took in the scene immediately-me, dusty with some scrapes, and Viktor holding a knife with blood on his shirt. His face became completely blank.

Maddox and Ronan pulled up right next to him, and it felt like the air in the room grew colder.

"Step away from her," Ronan said, his voice icy.

Viktor didn't move. "She came to me, remember? This was her choice."

"Alina," Jaxon's eyes locked onto mine, searching for answers. "What are you doing here?"

I glanced between Viktor and the three men who had taken me in, finally understanding what I truly wanted. These men wouldn't just protect me-they would do anything for me. But here I was, thinking I was strong and independent, wandering into this situation alone.

I thought I was making my own choices.

But in moments like this, choices can feel like lies. I was really just picking which captors I preferred.

"I'm leaving with them," I said firmly to Viktor.

A cruel smile spread across his face. "Just a warning, princess. Next time you disobey them and wander off? There won't be a way out. Just a body."

He dropped the knife and disappeared into the shadows of the warehouse.

When I turned to face my three men, I could see the conflict in their eyes. Jaxon looked ready to explode with anger. Maddox studied me with a look of disappointment. And Ronan... he watched me as if I were a complicated puzzle he needed to solve.

"We need to talk," Jaxon said, his voice tense.

"A lot," Maddox added.

Ronan didn't say anything but kept his gaze locked on me, making me realize that my decision to act alone had crossed a line. I had questioned their ability to protect me and tested boundaries I shouldn't have.

As they led me back to the bikes, it hit me that being connected to these three strong men meant letting go of the independence I had fought so hard to keep.

And the hardest part? I was beginning to wonder if surrendering that independence might actually be what I needed.