Chapter 24 - Sofia
The acrid stench of smoke assaults my nostrils as I burst through the factory doors of the eastern wing, my eyes watering from the thick haze. Flames dance along the walls, casting eerie shadows across panicked faces. I steel myself, pushing aside the fear threatening to overwhelm me.
"Everyone, listen up!" I shout, my voice cutting through the chaos. "Head for the nearest exit immediately. Stay low and move quickly!"
Workers scramble around me, their eyes wide with terror. I grab the arm of a young woman frozen in place, her face ashen.
"Move, now," I command, my tone leaving no room for argument. She nods shakily and stumbles toward the door.
The heat presses against my skin, suffocating in its intensity. Sweat trickles down my spine, but I force myself to remain focused. These people need a leader, and I'll be damned if I let them down.
"This way!" I call out, gesturing toward the emergency exit. "Single file, don't push!"
As I guide the stream of workers, I spot a man collapsed on the floor, clutching his leg. Without hesitation, I dart to his side.
"Can you walk?" I ask, my voice softening slightly as I assess his injury.
He grimaces, shaking his head. "I-I don't think so."
"Well, that's unfortunate," I mutter, my lips quirking into a wry smile. "Looks like you're getting a free ride out of here."
I loop his arm over my shoulder, grunting as I haul him to his feet. He's heavier than he looks, but I refuse to let it show.
"Hang on," I instruct, leading him toward the exit. "And try not to enjoy this too much. I don't make a habit of rescuing damsels in distress."
He lets out a pained chuckle as we stumble forward. "Wouldn't dream of it, Miss."
***
As I usher the last group toward safety, my eyes scan the smoky haze. Something's not right. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, a warning I've learned never to ignore.
"Keep moving!" I bark at the stragglers, my voice sharp enough to cut through their panic. "The exit's right there. Don't make me carry you out myself."
They hurry past, coughing and stumbling. I turn, ready to follow, when a flicker of movement catches my eye. My heart lurches, recognition hitting me like a punch to the gut.
That silhouette. I'd know it anywhere.
"Impossible," I whisper.
He moves like a ghost through the smoke, familiar and yet so foreign. It can't be him. It shouldn't be him. But my instincts scream otherwise.
"Hey!" I shout, my voice carrying a hint of desperation I despise. "Stop right there! The exit is this way!"
He doesn't listen.
I hesitate, torn between getting the hell out of here and the burning need to follow him.
The smoke thickens, threatening to swallow his retreating form. I know I should let him go. But what if it’s someone else who needs my help?
I spin around, my eyes locking on a senior employee. "Get these people out," I command, my tone leaving no room for argument. "I need to check something."
He nods, his weathered face etched with concern. "Be careful, Miss. This place could come down any minute."
"I always am," I retort, already moving. My long legs eat up the distance as I dart after the mysterious figure, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs.
The factory floor is a maze of twisted metal and billowing smoke. I weave through it all, my eyes never leaving the shadowy form ahead. He moves with a practiced ease that only confirms my suspicions. This is no panicked worker. This is someone who knows exactly what they're doing.
"Stop!" I shout again, knowing it's futile. My voice is swallowed by the crackling flames and groaning metal.
My lungs burn with every breath, but I push on. I can't let him slip away. Not if it is who I think he is.
"He always did like to play games," I mutter under my breath, ducking under a fallen beam.
As I round a corner, I catch a glimpse of his face in profile. My suspicions crystallize into cold, hard certainty. It's him, alright.
Suddenly, the fire seems too convenient, too well-timed. My eyes narrow as suspicion coils in my gut.
The chase leads us out of the inferno, and I see him exit through a door. Without a thought, I follow, certain I can’t let him get away.
I’m hit with a burst of fresh air and find myself in a narrow alley. The roar of the fire fades, replaced by the pounding of my heart and the echo of our footsteps. I corner him against a brick wall, my breath coming in sharp gasps.
"Nowhere left to run," I say, my voice cutting through the night air. "Now, what the hell are you doing here?"
He turns slowly, and I now realize my instincts were right all along. Alexei Volkov, the man I once deceived, is now standing before me with eyes that burn hotter than the fire we just escaped.
"Kira," he drawls, his voice a mix of venom and amusement. "Still playing the hero, I see. Or should I say, Sofia Orlov?"
I straighten my spine, refusing to be intimidated by his towering presence. "And you're still lurking in shadows, causing destruction. Some things never change."
Alexei's lips curl into a sneer. "Oh, but things have changed, haven't they? You're not the innocent little girl I remember."
"And you're not the powerful gangster you used to be," I retort, my green eyes narrowing. "Now, tell me why you're here."
He takes a step closer, and I fight the urge to back away. "Maybe I just wanted to see how you've grown up, Sofia."
I clench my fists. "Cut the act, Alexei. What do you want?"
Alexei's jaw clenches, and I can see the bitterness etched into every line of his face. "You want to know what I want, Sofia? I want back everything your husband took from me."
His words hit me like a physical blow, but I keep my expression neutral. "Is that why you're here? Revenge?"
"You have no idea what I've been through," he snarls, taking another step closer. I can smell smoke and cologne on him, a heady mix that makes my head spin. "Your husband's little power play cost me everything. I might have been low in the ranks, but the superiors were so damn pissed that they traced everything back to me. Now? Everything’s gone. My status, my respect, my future."
I listen, my mind racing. Is he here to hurt Vladimir? To hurt me? I need to stay calm, to make sure he does nothing to Vladimir.
"That's quite the sob story, Alexei," I say, injecting as much ice into my tone as possible. "But you made your own choices. We did what we had to—to protect our family."
His eyes flash dangerously. "You have no idea what really happened, little girl."
I square my shoulders, lifting my chin defiantly. "Then enlighten me. Or are you just here to whine about the past?"
Alexei's hand shoots out, gripping my arm. It's not painful, but it's firm enough to remind me of the danger I'm in. "Watch your mouth, Sofia. You're not as untouchable as you think."
I recall my training, ready to break his hold if necessary. But for now, I meet his gaze steadily. "Neither are you, Alexei. Times have changed. I'm not the same girl you knew."
His grip loosens slightly, and I see a flicker of something—curiosity?—in his eyes. "No," he murmurs, "you're certainly not."
The tension crackles between us, ready to rage war. I decide to make the first move, my fists flying with practiced precision. My right hook aims for his jaw, but Alexei's reflexes are lightning-fast. He dodges, catching my wrist mid-swing.
"Is that the best you've got, princess?" he taunts, a smirk playing on his lips.
I grit my teeth, twisting to break his hold. "I'm just getting started."
My knee comes up, aiming for his gut, but Alexei anticipates it. He sidesteps, using my momentum to spin me around. Suddenly, I'm pressed against the alley wall, his body uncomfortably close to mine.
"You've learned some new tricks," he murmurs, his breath hot on my ear. "But you're still green, Sofia."
I struggle against his grip, my heart pounding. "Let go of me, you asshole!"
"Now, now," Alexei chuckles darkly. "Is that any way to talk to an old friend?"
His strength is overwhelming, his experience evident in every calculated move. My confidence begins to waver as I realize how outmatched I am. The world starts to blur at the edges, whether from fear or lack of oxygen, I'm not sure.
"I'm… not your friend," I gasp out, still fighting against his iron grip.
Alexei leans in closer, his voice a low rumble. "No, you're not. But you could be so much more, Sofia. If you'd just stop fighting me."
My vision swims, but I refuse to give in. "Never," I hiss, even as my strength begins to fade.
"We'll see about that," Alexei whispers, his tone almost gentle now. "We have all the time in the world to change your mind."
As the world starts to dim around me, a part of me wonders if there's more to Alexei's vendetta than I initially thought. But I can't dwell on it now. I need to focus on staying conscious, on finding a way out of this mess.
With one last surge of desperation, I thrash against Alexei's unyielding hold, my nails clawing at his arms. "I won't… let you win," I snarl, but my voice comes out weaker than I intend.
"Oh, Sofia," Alexei murmurs, his lips brushing my ear. "You've already lost."
My vision blurs, black spots dancing at the edges. I feel myself slipping, my body growing heavy in his arms.
"No," I whisper, more to myself than to him. "I can't… I have to…"
"Shh," Alexei soothes, and he sweeps me into his arms. "Just let go, Kira ."
As consciousness fades and I feel him carrying me away, my thoughts turn to my family—to the mission I swore to complete. I see my sister's face, hear my brother's laughter, see Vladimir chuckle at a joke I crack. Please, I think, my heart aching. Let them be safe.
The alley grows silent, the world fading to black. My last sensation is Alexei's arms around me. And then, I slip into darkness.