Rising in Ruins

Termination of services

In the days that followed, Sofia delved into the process of forging a new identity. Isabella Martino's promises echoed in her mind, offering protection and a chance to escape the death contract hanging over her. The task, however, proved more complex than anticipated. Isabella's network seamlessly erased Sofia's existence from official records, leaving her as a mere ghost in the system. The once-respected detective now navigated the underworld, adopting a new persona that blurred the lines between law and crime.

Yet, despite the charm of this newfound freedom, Sofia grappled with a sense of loss. The police world she had once called home now felt like a distant echo, a fading memory that refused to be silenced. The agency, the pursuit of justice—these ideals lingered in the recesses of her consciousness, haunting her in the dead of night.

Isabella, aware of Sofia's internal struggle, visited her once again. The cartel boss, draped in an aura of power, spoke with a calculated tone. "You are reborn in the shadows, Sofia. Your old life is an echo fading into the background. Embrace the darkness, for it is your sanctuary."

Sofia nodded, her gaze reflecting a mixture of gratitude and uncertainty. Isabella's words resonated with a strange truth, yet the vestiges of her past continued to tug at her conscience.

One night, while surveilling a clandestine meeting between cartel members, Sofia's attention was drawn to a familiar face in the shadows—Lucien Monet. The Continental's intelligence analyst had a knowing look in his eyes, a silent acknowledgment of the new path Sofia had chosen.

Their eyes locked in a moment, and Sofia felt a shiver down her spine. Lucien was left alone in the meeting room with her, calculating well his words. "Sofia," his voice cut through the stillness, catching her attention. She turned to face him, a hint of guarded curiosity in her expression. Lucien's usual composure was briefly disrupted by genuine surprise.

"I didn't expect you to survive," he admitted, his dark eyes narrowing with a mixture of disbelief and suspicion. "The death contract I orchestrated... it was foolproof. How did you manage to escape it?"

Sofia, wearing a wry smile, met his gaze with determination. "Well maybe you don't have as much influence as you wished you could, Mr. Monet. Not everything is a phone call after all. Or perhaps someone else guards my footsteps, who knows"

Lucien's brow furrowed in contemplation, a seed of suspicion taking root. "Isabella," he muttered, almost to himself. The realization dawned on him as he connected the dots. "She is not the right person to depend on Sofia, Bella's position is very uncertain. She's going to go down and so do you, I hope you are aware of that. Perhaps it is time to disappear don't evolve in a war that is not yours."

"Call it what you will, Lucien. I've made my choices. I'm no longer confined by the ties of the past. As for the war you so eager to explain I see Bella more powerful than you at the moment. I recognize she plays with fire but isn't she the one that just disappeared a death contract, erased my name completely by the police and still plays with you and alexander like wooden white pawns? Instead of launching threats here I advise you watching over your partner" Sophia took her phone and passed it to him exposing leads that came directly from his personal files, hinting Alexanders Sinclair involvement.

"Lies" was the only thing he could reply. He stood still studying the possibilities of Alexander giving the plans to Bella, then he looked closer on the intel's on Sofias phone realizing those files, even though believable were fabricated. He almost smiled in the realization that Alexander was not drawn by passion but by pure cleverness although this was not agreed between them, Alexander overpassed him and acted according to his own motive and that is nothing a partner in a lower degree should do. Lucien as a man that respects hierarchy had to reintroduce himself to Mr. Sinclair drawing again the line. But it wasn't wise to do it alone, he would have to consult the continental manager for further actions.