"The Unlikely Union"

d of footsteps outside the apartment. They exchanged a

ophia whispered, her e

ession tense. "I don't kn

s inserted into the lock. Sophia's heart skipped a b

, their voice dripping with sarc

ng with questions. "What do you want,

w my favorite whistleblower was doing," Nadia said. "And to warn you, Sophia. You're

not afraid of you, Nadia," Sophia said. "I'm not afraid of yo

h little girl," Nadia said. "You have no idea what you're up against.

ed out of the apartment, leaving

ll racing with fear. "Well, that was f

rners. "Yeah, I can see why you'd want to cro

eah, I can see why you'd want to date her," So

r. Nadia's visit had left her with more questions than answers, and Sophia knew that they needed

ei's empire continued to unfold. They discovered more and more e

their list

ial witness, they were ambushed by a group of thugs. So

group of masked vigilantes appeared o

d. "Who were they?" Sophia as

on't know, but I think we j

peared into the night, leaving Sophia

re in this together, and they would stop

ldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Who were those mas

d, his voice low and serious. "W

ust save our lives," she pointed out. "Mayb

do some digging. But we need to be careful.

r pocket. She pulled it out and looked at t

her voice barely above a whisper. "It says, 'Meet

you think it's a trap?" he

't know," she admitted. "But I think we have to take the ris

let's do it. But we'll be careful

ouldn't help but feel a sense of trepidati

, Sophia and Sergei were gree

oice distorted by a voice modulat

nervous glance. "Who are you?"

lack cloak. "We are the ones who have been helping you," the fig

ed. "Why?" he asked,

en pulled off its mask,

its voice now clear and feminine. "And I'

ock. "You're Nadia?" she as

Yes, I am. And I'm here to help you take d

had never expected Nadia, Alexei's ow

e barely above a whisper. "Wh

has done," she said. "I've seen the lives he's ruined, the families he's torn

now?" he asked. "Why are you help

t my loyalty to my brother was misplaced," she said. "I was blind to his faults, bli

lance. They weren't sure if they could tr

pt your help. But if you're betraying us

e that I am not betraying you," she said. "I will do everyt

to take down Alexei's empire. They knew it wouldn't

buzzed. She looked at the scree

rgei asked, notici

number. It says... 'We know what you're doing. Meet us

d. "It's a trap," sh

"We have to," she said.

go," he said. "But we'll be caref

ia couldn't shake off the feeling of

ere met with an eerie silence. The only sound was the cr

ia whispered, her eyes

eading them deeper into the factory. Sud

istorted by a voice modulator. "I see y

"Who are you?" she deman

think you know exactly who I am," it said. "And as

es illuminated by a faint light. Soph

hispered, her v

e and only," it said. "And now, my dear Sophia, it's ti