CHAPTER 6 — THE BETRAYAL
CHAPTER 6 — THE BETRAYAL
The forest was silent.
Too silent.
Even the wind seemed afraid to move.
Nora stumbled through knee-deep snow beside Luca, clutching the wooden box beneath her coat.
His shoulder was bleeding heavily now.
"You need a hospital."
"I need distance."
"You're losing blood."
"I've lost more."
She almost argued.
Instead, she noticed something strange.
There were fresh footprints ahead.
Only one person.
Walking toward them.
Not away.
Luca stopped instantly.
His pistol came up.
A woman emerged from the trees.
Mid-fifties.
Elegant despite the blizzard.
Dark green coat.
Silver hair gathered neatly beneath a wool hat.
She raised both hands slowly.
"Easy."
Nora froze.
Recognition hit like lightning.
"...Mrs. Evelyn?"
Her voice trembled.
The woman smiled warmly.
"I was wondering how long it would take you to recognize your old librarian."
Nora couldn't believe it.
Evelyn Hart had worked at the neighborhood library for nearly fifteen years.
She had recommended books.
Remembered birthdays.
Always slipped an extra bookmark into Nora's novels.
She had felt...
Safe.
"What are you doing here?"
Evelyn's smile faded.
"I've been looking for you since the kidnapping."
Luca didn't lower his weapon.
"You found us remarkably quickly."
Their eyes met.
Neither blinked.
"You know who I am," Evelyn said.
"I know exactly who you are."
Nora looked between them.
"What is happening?"
Luca answered without taking his eyes off the woman.
"Her name isn't Evelyn Hart."
Silence.
The woman sighed.
"No."
"It isn't."
"My real name is Elena Volkov."
Nora frowned.
"I don't understand."
"You will."
Elena slowly reached into her coat.
Luca's finger tightened on the trigger.
Instead of a weapon...
She produced an old photograph.
Three people stood together.
A much younger Luca.
A younger Elena.
And a smiling man Nora had never seen before.
"They were partners," Elena said quietly.
"We all were."
She looked directly at Luca.
"Until the night you killed him."
Nora stared at Luca.
His expression became unreadable.
"You murdered someone?"
Luca finally spoke.
"I was ordered to."
"You obeyed," Elena replied.
"And everything fell apart."
Snow drifted between them.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Then Elena looked at Nora.
"He's lying to you."
"He didn't rescue you by accident."
Nora's stomach tightened.
"What do you mean?"
Elena's voice was calm.
"The people hunting you..."
"...work for Luca's own organization."
The world seemed to stop.
Nora slowly turned toward Luca.
His silence was louder than any denial.
"You knew..."
she whispered.
"You knew they were coming for me?"
Luca closed his eyes for a brief second.
"When I learned your name..."
"I realized my family had already been searching for you."
"You used me."
"I protected you."
"After they kidnapped me!"
"I wasn't the one who ordered it."
Before Nora could answer—
A single rifle shot echoed through the forest.
Elena's eyes widened.
A crimson stain spread across her coat.
She collapsed into the snow.
With her last breath, she grabbed Nora's sleeve.
"They're... too late..."
"The box..."
"It doesn't belong..."
"...to Moretti."
Her hand fell away.
Dead.
At that exact moment, dozens of red laser sights appeared among the trees, surrounding Luca and Nora from every direction.
Then a familiar voice echoed through the forest.
The silver-haired commander from the docks stepped into view, smiling coldly.
May you like
"This time, Moretti..."
"...there's nowhere left to run."
