Seduction's Shadow

Chapter 41: Dark Revelations

Nikol sat in the living room of his sprawling mansion, the early morning sun streaming through the large windows. The remnants of last night's mission had left him tired but satisfied. Aiden, however, seemed as energetic as ever, lounging on the couch opposite Nikol, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

"So, Nik, you gonna tell me what had you so distracted last night?" Aiden asked, a playful glint in his eye.

Nikol glanced up from the file he was reviewing, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not sure what you're talking about."

Aiden chuckled. "Oh, come on. You know exactly what I mean. You were off in la-la land, staring off into the distance like some lovesick puppy. What's her name?"

Nikol sighed, rubbing his temples. "There was no 'her,' Aiden. I was focused on the mission."

Aiden smirked. "Sure, sure. But man, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were ready to write poetry about some mysterious girl. Who is she?"

Nikol shot him a withering look. "Drop it, Aiden. We have more important things to discuss."

Aiden leaned back, putting his feet up on the coffee table. "You're no fun, Nik. You know, I think you're getting old. Maybe it's time to settle down, find a nice girl, and retire from all this spy business."

Nikol rolled his eyes. "I'm not getting old, and I don't need your advice on my personal life."

Aiden laughed, then suddenly sat up, a mock-serious expression on his face. 

Nikol couldn't help but smirk. "Speaking of personal lives, don't you have your own house? You're here 99 percent of the time. maybe I should start charging you rent."

Aiden grinned, unfazed. "If that's how you feel, maybe I should permanently move in. That way, you won't miss me so much."

Nikol shook his head, amused despite himself. "You have a job, Aiden. How does the head of the FBI have so much free time?"

Aiden shrugged, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "What can I say? I'm a multitasker. Besides, keeping an eye on you is a full-time job in itself."

Nikol chuckled, closing the file he had been reading. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Aiden winked. "And you love me for it."

Just then, Nikol's phone buzzed on the table. He picked it up, his expression turning serious as he read the message.

Aiden's playful demeanor shifted instantly. "What's up?"

Nikol set the phone down, his eyes narrowing. "We've got another mission. Seems like our work from last night wasn't as wrapped up as we thought."

Aiden stood, all traces of humor gone from his face. "Alright, what's the plan?"

Nikol stood as well, his mind already working through the logistics. "We need to head to the briefing room. This one might be more complicated than we anticipated."

As they made their way to the briefing room, Aiden couldn't resist one last jab. "You know, Nik, if you find yourself getting distracted again, feel free to share. I'm always here for you."

Nikol smirked, shaking his head. "Just focus on the mission, Aiden. Leave the distractions to me."

They entered the briefing room, the weight of the new mission settling over them. But even in the seriousness of the moment, the camaraderie between them remained unshaken, a testament to their unbreakable bond.

As they reviewed the initial details, Aiden's phone buzzed with a new message. His expression darkened as he read it. "Nik, we have a situation."

Nikol looked up, his eyes narrowing. "What is it?"

Aiden hesitated before speaking, his voice grim. "There are some videos posted on the dark web. A girl, just fourteen, being tortured. People are betting on the level of torture. It's... disturbing."

Nikol felt a surge of anger, his hands clenching into fists. "Show me."

They moved to Nikol's secret unit within the house, a high-tech room equipped with state-of-the-art computers and surveillance equipment. Nikol began typing furiously, accessing the dark web through a series of secure and encrypted connections.

After a few moments, he located the videos. They watched in horrified silence as the footage played. The girl, innocent and terrified, was subjected to unspeakable torment. The masked figure inflicting the pain seemed to take perverse pleasure in the act, while viewers commented and placed bets on the severity of the torture.

Nikol's face contorted with rage. "That bastard," he growled, his British accent laced with venom. "He's going to pay for this."

Aiden placed a hand on Nikol's shoulder, his own anger barely contained. "We'll get him, Nik. But we need to be smart about it."

Nikol continued to watch, his eyes never leaving the screen. "I want to find him. I want to make him suffer."

Aiden nodded, understanding the depth of Nikol's anger. "I just got another detail from my team. There's a professor who might be involved. Several college girls have gone missing, and he's a suspect."

Nikol turned to Aiden, his expression intense. "Where do we find him?"

Aiden checked his phone again. "He's teaching at a university nearby. I was going to follow him, but I just got another message that requires my immediate attention."

Nikol's eyes hardened. "I'll look into this professor."

Aiden looked at him seriously. "We need intel, Nik. Don't act on it immediately. I know you can push his buttons and get information out of him, but we need to be careful."

Nikol's mind flashed back to a previous mission where he had tortured four men for information. The memory was vivid, the screams of the men echoing in his mind. He had been merciless, breaking bones, pouring acid and inflicting pain until they begged for death. But he had left them alive, extracting every piece of information they had.

"I remember," Nikol said quietly. "But this time, it's personal."

Aiden sighed. "I know. Just remember, we need to bring this bastard to justice, not just satisfy your anger."

Nikol nodded, though his eyes still burned with the desire for vengeance. "I'll gather the intel. But if he's involved, I'm going to make sure he never hurts anyone again."

Aiden squeezed Nikol's shoulder. "I trust you, Nik. Just be careful."

With that, they parted ways. Nikol changed out of his usual attire, donning a hoodie and jeans instead of his typically refined, lethal-looking outfits. Aiden couldn't resist a comment.

"Dressing casually today, I see. Finally decided to leave the 'old money' look behind?"

Nikol smirked. "Just trying to blend in."

Aiden chuckled. "Well, it's a good look. Just remember not to scare the students too much."

Nikol stepped out of the mansion and headed to his car—a sleek, black Aston Martin DB11. The car was a perfect blend of power and sophistication, much like Nikol himself. As he drove, his mind worked on how to approach the professor. He knew he had to be methodical, to keep his anger in check until the right moment. But the image of the girl's suffering was seared into his mind, fueling a fire that would not be easily extinguished.

As he navigated through the city streets, something unexpected caught his eye. Under a large oak tree on the university campus, he saw the same girl he had noticed the previous night—Aari. She looked different now, her outfit a striking combination of innocence and allure. She wore a flowing white top that hinted at angelic purity, paired with a leather skirt and boots that added a devilish edge. Her hair was styled in loose waves, and her eyes sparkled with a mix of mischief and curiosity.

Standing next to her was another girl, her best friend Rose. Rose had a more casual style, wearing jeans and a bright red top. She had a lively demeanor, her laughter ringing out as she chatted animatedly with Aari.