A Choice Between Loyalty and Love

"You're telling me what?!"

Claudia's shriek shattered the peaceful morning calm of their tiny kitchen, sending a flock of pigeons scattering from the fire escape outside. The coffee mug she'd been holding slipped from her grasp, shattering against the linoleum floor, sending shards of ceramic and a dark brown splatter across the checkered tiles. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the sharp, metallic tang of blood – a fitting olfactory metaphor for the chaotic mess Blair had just unleashed.

Blair, braced for her friend's explosive reaction, recounted the events of the past few days – the mission James had assigned, the chilling realization of Victor's true nature, the agonizing conflict tearing her apart. Each word felt like a betrayal, a violation of the unspoken code that had bound them together as assassins, as sisters, for as long as they could remember.