Kyle walked through the London streets, his pace unhurried. The encounter with Viktor had drained him more than he wanted to admit. Not physically—the Russian hadn't laid a hand on him. But mentally. Emotionally. The weight of navigating a man like Viktor, of balancing calm and caution, had taken its toll.
"I need proper rest."
His body was already feeling the brute of it all. The days had blurred together—the library, the Gucci store, the bathroom with Ella and Cassandra, the date with Jane, the encounter with Viktor. Each event had demanded something from him.
Presence.
Focus.
Control.
"I didn't expect it to be this hectic."
But having Viktor here made things easier. Strange as it sounded, knowing the Butcher was in London, watching, waiting, meant Kyle didn't have to worry about the unknown. Viktor was a known variable. Dangerous, yes. Unpredictable, yes. But visible.
"I know where he is. I know what he wants. That's more than I had before."
