Left Behind
The warehouse was still thick with smoke.
Bodies.
Blood.
Silence.
And distance.
Alessandro didn't look at her again.
Not once.
"I'll handle Alex myself," he said, his voice cold, final.
Lucas stepped beside him. "Boss—"
"Now."
No hesitation.
No second thought.
He walked past Isabella like she wasn't there.
Like she had never mattered.
Her chest tightened painfully.
"Alessandro—"
He didn't stop.
Didn't slow.
Didn't even react.
And just like that—
He was gone.
The sound of engines roared outside as his convoy pulled away.
Leaving her behind.
Alone.
The Silence After Him
Isabella stood frozen.
Her hand still gripping her gun.
Her heart…
Still reaching for someone who had already let go.
"He didn't even hesitate," she whispered.
But she understood why.
She made sure he would.
A bitter smile touched her lips.
"Good," she muttered. "At least he's safe…"
"Not for long."
The voice came from the shadows.
Her entire body tensed.
Slowly—
She turned.
And saw them.
The Russians.
Stepping out one by one.
Guns raised.
Eyes cold.
Her handler stood at the front.
Unimpressed.
Unamused.
"Disappointing," he said.
Isabella's grip tightened.
"You let him go," he continued.
Silence.
"You had the perfect shot."
She didn't respond.
Didn't explain.
Didn't apologize.
Because there was no point.
"I did what I needed to," she said calmly.
His eyes narrowed.
"No," he corrected.
"You hesitated."
A step closer.
"You're compromised."
That word…
Carried weight.
Danger.
Death.
Isabella didn't move.
"And what if I am?" she asked quietly.
The warehouse grew colder.
Her handler smiled.
Then—
He pulled out a phone.
Tapped it once.
And turned the screen toward her.
A video.
Her breath stopped.
Another person.
Tied.
Beaten.
Barely conscious.
Someone else she knew.
Her past.
Her weakness.
"You're not the only one with people to lose," he said softly.
Her heart pounded violently.
"What do you want?" she asked.
His expression hardened.
"Finish it."
A pause.
"Kill Alessandro."
Silence.
Heavy.
Deadly.
"And if I don't?" she asked.
His smile returned.
"Then we start with them."
The screen flickered slightly.
A faint, broken voice came through.
Calling her name.
That was enough.
Isabella closed her eyes for a brief second.
Then opened them.
Cold.
Controlled.
"…Fine," she said.
A lie.
Or maybe not.
Meanwhile…
A different location.
Dark.
Private.
Alessandro stepped into the room.
Alex was already there.
Waiting.
"You came alone," Alex said.
Alessandro's eyes were empty.
"I'm not here for a fight."
A pause.
"I'm here for answers."
Alex studied him carefully.
"She told you, didn't she?"
Silence.
Alessandro didn't respond.
But that was answer enough.
Alex exhaled slowly.
"Then you already know," he said.
A beat.
"She was sent to kill you."
Alessandro's jaw tightened.
"That part?" Alex added quietly.
"Was real."
Silence.
But then—
Alex leaned forward slightly.
"There's something you don't know."
Alessandro's eyes lifted.
Sharp.
"What?"
A pause.
Then—
"She stopped following orders."
That…
Changed something.
Just slightly.
Alex continued.
"She's been working against them for days now."
A beat.
"You think tonight was her plan?" he asked.
Alessandro said nothing.
But doubt…
Had already started.
Back to Isabella
The warehouse emptied.
The Russians gone.
Leaving her alone once again.
But this time—
Not by choice.
Isabella lowered her gun slowly.
Her mind racing.
"They're watching me now…" she whispered.
Every move.
Every breath.
And Alessandro?
Gone.
Believing the worst.
Exactly how she wanted it.
And yet…
It hurt more than she expected.
"Great," she muttered bitterly.
Now she had two enemies.
The ones she betrayed…
And the one she loved.