Walking Into the Unknown

The cool night air greeted me as I stepped out of Kira's building, the flash drive securely tucked into my jacket pocket.

No private car. No chauffeur. Just me and the streets.

I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as I started walking.

There was something liberating about moving on foot. No distractions, no obligations—just me and my own thoughts.

And right now, my thoughts were on Gregory Volkov.

What Did Kira Leave Out?

Kira gave me the flash drive too easily.

Sure, she knew I'd dig up the information either way, but people like her never handed things over unless there was a reason.

What was she hiding?

I smirked to myself. "Guess I'll find out soon enough."

I needed to get to my office, plug this thing in, and see exactly what Gregory was involved in before he vanished.

The Streets at Night

As I walked through the dimly lit streets, I kept my guard up. Cities don't sleep.

Especially when you deal with the kind of people I do.

I passed by a few late-night food stalls, their sizzling scents filling the air. My stomach rumbled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since earlier.

I stopped at a small vendor, ordering a simple meal—nothing fancy, just fuel.

The old vendor gave me a curious look. "Working late, kid?"

I smirked. "Something like that."

As I ate, my mind raced through the possibilities.

Gregory wasn't just dealing with the wrong people—he was working on a project behind his father's back.

Why?

And why did Kira hesitate when I brought up her connection to him?

After finishing my meal, I wiped my hands, tossed a bill on the counter, and continued walking.

As I finally reached my office, I shut the door behind me, tossing my jacket over the chair. The room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the city lights outside and the faint glow of my laptop screen.

I pulled the flash drive from my pocket, rolling it between my fingers before plugging it into the USB port.

The screen blinked.

[ENTER PASSWORD]

I smirked. "Now I know why Kira wasn't able to open it."

This wasn't just a regular file dump—Gregory had locked it.

Which meant whatever was inside was serious.

I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly. "Alright, Gregory. Let's see what you were hiding."

Breaking the Code

A normal person would have given up here.

A CEO?

A businessman?

Even Kira?

They wouldn't have the skills to get past this.

But I?

I wasn't a normal person.

I pulled up a secondary program, one I had acquired through less-than-legal means back when I worked high-level cyber investigations.

Within seconds, the software got to work, scanning for possible password patterns.

As I watched the progress bar fill, I muttered to myself, "Come on, Gregory. What kind of lock did you put on this?"

Minutes passed.

Then—

BEEP.

A set of words appeared on the screen.

[POSSIBLE PASSWORD HINT: "BLOOD IS THICKER THAN BUSINESS."]

I narrowed my eyes. "Family-related, huh?"

I thought back to Gregory's father—Mikhail Volkov.

The two had tension. Gregory was working behind his father's back, so maybe…

I started typing.

VOLKOV.

GREGORY.

MIKHAIL.

DENIED.

I tapped my fingers on the desk. "Not that simple, huh?"

Then, I remembered something Kira said.

"Gregory wanted power—fast. He didn't listen."

What if the password wasn't about his father… but about the people he trusted instead?

I typed:

IRENA.

ACCESS GRANTED.

I smirked. "Gotcha."

What Was Gregory Hiding?

The encrypted files unfolded before me.

Dozens of documents, images, and video logs.

I clicked on the first video file, and Gregory's face appeared on the screen. He looked… nervous.

"If you're watching this… that means I'm already in too deep."

My smirk faded.

Gregory's voice was shaky, his eyes darting as if he was paranoid.

"They lied to me. I thought this was just a business deal, but it's bigger than that. It's… dangerous."

He took a deep breath, looking straight into the camera.

"Irena isn't who she says she is. She's connected to something much bigger, something that even my father doesn't know about. If I disappear—"

The screen glitched.

FILE CORRUPTED.

I clenched my jaw. "Damn it."

But I had heard enough.

Gregory wasn't just dealing with shady investors.

He had stumbled into something deadly.

The name Irena was now my next target.

Gregory's message confirmed one thing—he got involved with something way bigger than he could handle. And now?

He was either dead… or running from people who wanted him dead.

I wasn't about to sit around and let this case go cold.

I cracked my knuckles, pulled out my phone, and started digging.

I had multiple ways to track someone like Irena, but I wasn't going to use the usual methods.

She was connected to dangerous people, meaning she knew how to stay hidden.

I pulled up my private database—a collection of information I had gathered from my work as a Private Investigator.

Typed in her name:

IRENA VASILIEV

[SEARCHING…]

The screen flickered before pulling up the basics.

Age: 29

Affiliation: Formerly associated with high-end real estate dealings

Last known location: A private club downtown

I smirked. "Bingo."

A club, huh?

That meant one thing—she felt comfortable enough to be seen in public.

Or maybe… she thought she was untouchable.

I stood up, grabbing my black leather jacket from the chair. No need for anything flashy—I wasn't here to impress.

Just a simple outfit, designed to blend in.

I checked my pockets:

Phone (for evidence)

Knife (for close encounters)

A small tracking device (just in case she tried to run)

I slid my knife into my jacket, adjusting the holster.

"Time to pay Irena a visit."

The club was located downtown—one of those exclusive, members-only places where rich people did illegal business in plain sight.

I approached the front entrance, where two massive bouncers stood like statues, scanning everyone.

One of them blocked my path. "Invitation?"

I smirked. "I don't need one."

He crossed his arms. "No invitation, no entry."

I sighed, rubbing my neck. "Fine."

Then, without warning—I grabbed his wrist, twisted it, and yanked him forward.

He stumbled, caught off guard. The second bouncer barely had time to react before I slammed my elbow into his ribs, making him wheeze.

As both men staggered, I calmly stepped past them and pushed open the door.

"See? Didn't need an invitation."

The inside of the club was dark, loud, and reeked of expensive alcohol.

I moved through the crowd, my eyes scanning every VIP section. If Irena was here, she wouldn't be in the open.

I spotted a bartender, a blonde woman wiping a glass. She looked bored.

I leaned on the counter. "Looking for someone."

She barely glanced at me. "Not my problem."

I pulled out a $100 bill, sliding it across the counter. "Irena Vasiliev."

Her hand froze mid-wipe.

Then, slowly, she took the bill and stuffed it in her pocket.

"Back room. Third door on the left."

I smirked. "Good girl."

Now… time to see what Irena knows.