Bound by Shadows .jc

CHAPTER 27

Shadows of Suspicion

Sofia exited the café with practiced precision, her every movement exuding an air of confidence. The sun gleamed against her tailored black blazer as her sharp heels clicked against the pavement. She paused momentarily, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. Nothing seemed amiss, but that didn't mean there wasn't more beneath the surface.

Reaching the sleek black car parked nearby, Sofia retrieved her phone from her bag and slid into the back seat. The door closed with a solid thud, sealing her in the quiet interior as she tapped Viktor's number on speed dial. The line connected after a single ring, and his low, gravelly voice cut through the silence.

"Report."

Her tone was calm, professional. "The café is clear. Nothing suspicious to report on the surface. If they're hiding something, they're doing an excellent job. Wonwoo was there."

There was a pause, just long enough for her to feel the weight of his calculated thoughts on the other end of the line. "Wonwoo?" Viktor repeated, his voice laced with an undercurrent of suspicion.

"Yes," Sofia affirmed. She adjusted the hem of her skirt, her voice steady despite the subtle tension in her shoulders. "He was seated casually, observing the place. Ordered an americano, no theatrics, but his presence is telling. He wants us to think Jeonghan is here."

The pause this time was longer, heavier. Viktor's voice came through cold and deliberate. "And what do you think?"

Sofia hesitated for the briefest moment, careful to choose her words. "If Wonwoo is monitoring the café himself, it's unlikely to be a decoy. Either Jeonghan is here, or someone close to him is."

A deep hum resonated through the phone, almost like a growl. Viktor was thinking, calculating. "Come back," he said at last. "We'll discuss this further."

"Yes, boss," Sofia replied, ending the call. Dropping the phone back into her bag, she caught a glimpse of her own reflection in the rearview mirror. For a fleeting moment, her composed exterior faltered, but she quickly straightened, her face hardening again.

"Drive," she instructed the chauffeur, leaning back in her seat. The car pulled away from the curb, leaving the café and its secrets behind.

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In his dimly lit office, Viktor sat behind a massive oak desk, the room heavy with the scent of cigars and leather. His fingers tapped against the polished wood as he processed Sofia's report.

"Wonwoo..." he muttered under his breath, his expression tightening. A man like Wonwoo didn't move without purpose. If he was out in the open, it wasn't without a reason. It was either a calculated bait or a deliberate show of control.

Viktor leaned back in his chair, the shadows of the room casting long streaks across his face. "Jeonghan," he said, almost as if testing the name on his tongue. It came out more like a curse.

"You're slipping, S.Coups," Viktor said with a faint sneer, his mind turning over every possibility. If Jeonghan was nearby, it would explain Wonwoo's presence. But if he wasn't, then this was a game—one he wasn't willing to lose.

Reaching for his phone, Viktor dialed another number. The response on the other end was immediate.

"Keep the team on high alert," Viktor commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Double the surveillance around the café and flower shop. I want every shadow, every breath accounted for. If Jeonghan is there, I want him."

"Yes, sir," came the curt reply before the line went dead.

Viktor leaned forward, steepling his fingers as a sinister smile tugged at his lips. "Let's see how far you'll go to protect him," he murmured.