The Light In The Shadows

1- THE NAME HEARD SOMEWHERE

The roar of the engine filled the night as I sped down the winding city streets, Maria clinging tightly to my back, her usual protests drowned out by the sound of the bike. "You're gonna get us killed one day, you know that, right?" she yelled, half-serious. I ignored her, accelerating faster, feeling the rush of adrenaline, the thrill of the chase.

Ahead, our target's car swerved, trying to lose us in the back alleys, but there was no escape. I'd grown up in these streets, learned to own them long before I took over my father's work. They belonged to the Romanov family, and no petty traitor was going to outrun me. I shifted my weight, took one hand off the handlebar, and aimed at the tires. Two sharp bangs echoed into the night, and the car screeched as it spun out of control, crashing into a pile of crates on the curb.

I pulled the bike to a stop, barely an inch from the wreckage, and removed my helmet. Maria was already getting off, shaking her head as she took in the damage. "Call Alexei," I said. "Tell him we've got the rat, and see if he has any special instructions."

This life, this power-it ran in my blood. I didn't want anyone to mistake it. My father, Alexander Romanov, had built his empire from nothing, and it would be my job to protect and expand it. There was no room for weakness, no room for betrayal.

Maria rolled her eyes at me, but a grin tugged at her lips. "You're so full of yourself, you know that?"

"Comes with the name," I shot back, a hint of amusement in my voice. But she was right. No one crossed the Romanovs.

I stood in My father's lavishly decorated study, the walls lined with dark wood and the shelves filled with leather-bound books-most of them disguise for the more illicit documents and plans they held. Alexander Romanov sat behind his massive desk, a crystal glass of vodka in one hand, studying me with that calculating gaze he reserved only for matters of business and betrayal. "You handled the traitor well last night," he began, his voice calm yet cold. "But remember, Sofia, every move we make must send a message. Our allies may be loyal, but fear keeps them in line."

I nodded, familiar with this lesson. I'd grown up hearing stories of betrayals and power plays, each one a reminder that the family business was built not on alliances, but on dominance. "I understand, Papa," I replied, folding my arms as I leaned against the doorframe.

Alexander leaned back in his leather chair, his gaze steady on me. "We're meeting with the Petrovs tonight," he said, his voice carrying a tone that suggested this was more than a standard business affair. I raised an eyebrow, surprised-Petrov was a name I'd heard in passing but had never been involved with directly.

"Who's leading this for them?" I asked, trying to gauge his sudden focus on the deal. "Their son," Alexander replied, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes. "Adrick Petrov." He paused, studying my reaction closely, though I could only meet his stare with slight confusion.

I didn't fully understand why father's voice had taken on such weight. But then, Alexander rarely explained his choices outright; everything with him was deliberate, even when it came to who I met. "There's a lot riding on this one, Sofia," he continued, his tone sharpening. "Stay focused. The Petrovs are... not easy business."