𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬

Chapter 3: Morning Confessions

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Sofia woke to the pale light of dawn filtering through her curtains. The events of the previous night played over in her mind like a movie she couldn't switch off. She couldn't shake the feeling of warmth she had felt in Alexei's presence, a stark contrast to the cold, calculating world she was accustomed to.

Determined to share her experience, she quickly dressed and made her way to her best friend's apartment. Elena Morozov had been Sofia's confidante since childhood, their bond unshakable despite the turbulent world they lived in.

Elena's apartment was modest but cozy, a stark contrast to the Petrova mansion. Sofia knocked on the door and was greeted by Elena's cheerful smile.

"Sofia! Come in," Elena said, pulling her inside. "You look like you have something exciting to tell me."

Sofia couldn't contain her smile. "You won't believe what happened last night."

They settled on the couch with cups of steaming coffee. Sofia recounted every detail of her encounter with Alexei-their conversation, the dancing, the drive home. Elena listened with wide eyes, occasionally interrupting with exclamations of surprise.

"And then he said, 'In a world full of chaos, you are my calm,'" Sofia finished, her cheeks flushing at the memory.

"Wow, Sofia, this sounds like something out of a romance novel!" Elena said, her eyes sparkling. "Who would have thought you'd meet someone like that at a wedding? And an Ivanov, no less!"

"I know, right?" Sofia said, her excitement tempered by a hint of apprehension. "But there's so much I don't know about him. And given our families' histories... it's complicated."

"Complicated is an understatement," Elena agreed. "But maybe this could be a chance for something different. You deserve happiness, Sofia."

Sofia nodded, though her thoughts were still tangled. "I hope so. But let's see where it goes. For now, I need to focus on... other matters."

Later that evening, Sofia found herself thrust back into her grim reality. Her father's orders echoed in her mind as she prepared for a confrontation with the Ivanovs' associates. It was a dangerous mission, but Sofia was determined to protect her family's interests and minimize the collateral damage.

Dressed in a sleek, dark outfit that allowed for movement yet retained an air of sophistication, Sofia joined her father's men. They drove through the dimly lit streets of Moscow, their destination a warehouse where a deal was set to go down.

The tension in the car was palpable. Sofia felt the weight of the gun holstered at her side, a stark reminder of the life she was bound to. As they neared the warehouse, her heart pounded in her chest.

The plan was simple: intercept the Ivanovs' men, secure the money, and get out.

The scene at the warehouse was chaotic. Men shouted, guns were drawn, and the air was thick with the smell of fear and adrenaline. Sofia moved with precision, her mind focused on the task at hand.

In the midst of the chaos, she caught a glimpse of a familiar face. Her heart skipped a beat. Was it Alexei? She couldn't be sure. He was in uniform, directing his team as they tried to gain control of the situation. Sofia ducked behind a stack of crates, her mind racing.

"Stay focused," she muttered to herself, pushing the distraction aside.

The firefight intensified. Sofia's men clashed with the Ivanovs, bullets flying, shouts echoing. She moved with the grace and precision she'd been trained for, her gun firing with deadly accuracy. But her thoughts kept drifting back to Alexei.

In a brief lull, Sofia's eyes scanned the scene. There he was again, his expression determined, his movements calculated. He hadn't seen her, but the sight of him stirred something deep within her. This was the man who had made her feel alive just the night before, now a part of the very chaos she was entangled in.

What Sofia didn't know was that Alexei had arrived on the scene not because of any personal vendetta, but because of his duty as a police officer. A tip had come through about a major exchange between rival mafias, and his presence there was purely professional. The uniformed officers were meant to be backup, to swoop in and restore order once the situation escalated.

"Focus, Sofia," she told herself, forcing her attention back to the mission.

The exchange was brutal but swift. Sofia's men managed to seize the money, their retreat carefully orchestrated. As they fled the scene, Sofia glanced back one last time. Alexei was still there, oblivious to her presence, but his image was burned into her mind.

Several of Sofia's men had been injured in the exchange, their groans of pain a haunting melody in the back of her mind. Her thoughts were consumed with the weight of responsibility, the knowledge that lives had been forever altered by their actions tonight.

As they reached their getaway vehicles, Sofia took a moment to catch her breath. Her father's voice crackled over the radio, his instructions terse and commanding.

"Sofia, head to the hospital," he ordered. "Check on our men. Make sure they're taken care of."

She nodded curtly, slipping into the driver's seat of her car. The hospital loomed ahead, its lights a beacon of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to engulf her. Sofia's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white with tension.

Little did she know that someone else will be there too.

heyyy! its the author Yui! this chapter might be a bit boring but the next one 👀