Last Stand

No More Fear

Sophia's decision was made. No more running. No more hiding.

She stared at the black screen of her phone, the image of her father frozen in her mind. If Nasir thought threatening her family would make her surrender, he had underestimated her.

She turned to Elliot. "We take him down. But I want this done cleanly. No blood on my hands."

Elliot smirked. "Smart choice. Let's destroy him the way he built himself—through power and money."

Sophia nodded. "Time to ruin his empire."

The Trap is Set

Nasir sat in his penthouse, a glass of whiskey in hand, watching the Dubai skyline. He felt invincible.

Until his phone rang.

His face darkened. His offshore accounts were being seized. His properties frozen.

"What the hell is happening?" he barked.

Bilal, his right-hand man, rushed in. "It's Sophia. She's working with international financial regulators. They found links between your businesses and illegal activities. We're losing everything!"

Nasir's grip on the glass tightened. "That girl thinks she can destroy me?"

He slammed his drink down. "Get her. I want her dead by sunrise."

A Final Goodbye

Sophia sat in her hotel suite, staring at a picture of her parents.

She picked up her phone and dialed her father.

He answered almost immediately. "Sophia!"

Her eyes watered at the sound of his voice. "Daddy, I'm coming home soon."

He sighed. "You shouldn't have gotten involved in this life."

Sophia smiled sadly. "I know. But I'm ending it."

A sudden noise outside made her freeze. The fight wasn't over yet.

The Final Hunt

Sophia's instincts screamed at her. Something was wrong.

She quickly moved to the window, peering down at the quiet Dubai streets. Too quiet.

Then she saw them. Three black SUVs parked across the street.

Her heart pounded. Nasir had sent his men.

Elliot rushed in, gun in hand. "We need to leave. Now."

Sophia grabbed her bag, stuffing in her passport and cash. "They won't stop until I'm dead."

Elliot nodded. "Then we make sure they don't get the chance."

The Escape Begins

As soon as they stepped out of the hotel, a group of men in dark suits rushed toward them.

Elliot pulled Sophia behind him. "Run!"

Sophia sprinted through the back exit as gunshots rang behind her. Her heart slammed against her ribs.

She couldn't die here. Not now.

Elliot fired back, dropping two of Nasir's men before following her into the alley. They needed a car. Fast.

Sophia spotted a parked motorcycle. "Get on!"

Elliot didn't argue. He jumped on, and Sophia wrapped her arms around his waist as he sped off.

Behind them, Nasir's men gave chase.

The hunt was on.

Nasir's Rage

Nasir slammed his fist on the table. "You fools! How did you let them escape?"

Bilal hesitated. "They won't get far. We have eyes at the airport, train stations, and every major exit."

Nasir's jaw clenched. "I don't want them escaping. I want them dead."

Bilal nodded. "Understood, boss."

Nasir picked up his phone, dialing a private number. "It's time to end this."

Sophia's Last Stand

Elliot and Sophia arrived at a private airstrip. Their ticket out of Dubai.

A small jet waited, engines running.

Sophia exhaled in relief. "Almost there."

But just as they stepped forward, bullets tore through the air.

Nasir's men had found them.

Elliot shoved Sophia down. "Stay low!"

Sophia's mind raced. They had to finish this now.

Because there was no turning back.

No More Running

Sophia's pulse thundered in her ears as bullets ripped through the night air. They had nowhere left to run.

Elliot fired back, taking cover behind a stack of cargo crates. "They have us surrounded!"

Sophia clenched her fists. This was Nasir's final move. If she didn't end this now, he would never stop hunting her.

She peeked over the crates. Five men. Fully armed.

Their jet was just a few feet away, its engines roaring. So close. Yet impossible to reach.

Elliot cursed. "Sophia, we need a distraction."

Sophia inhaled deeply. She was done being afraid.

No more running. It was time to fight back.

Nasir Arrives

A black Rolls-Royce pulled up near the airstrip.

The door opened, and Nasir stepped out.

Dressed in his usual expensive suit, he adjusted his cuffs, watching the scene with cold amusement.

"Sophia," he called out, his voice calm but menacing. "You've put up a good fight. But this ends tonight."

Sophia stood up from behind cover, staring at the man who had once controlled her life.

"You think I'm scared of you?" she shot back.

Nasir chuckled. "You should be."

He nodded to his men. "Kill her."

The Last Bullet

Gunfire erupted again.

Elliot took out one of Nasir's men, but they were still outnumbered.

Sophia's eyes darted around, searching for something—anything—that could turn the tide.

Then she saw it.

A fuel truck.

It was parked near the jet, a bullet hole already leaking gasoline.

A crazy, dangerous idea formed in her mind.

"Elliot, shoot the fuel tank!" she screamed.

Elliot's eyes widened. "Are you insane?"

Sophia grabbed a discarded gun from one of Nasir's fallen men. "Just do it!"

Elliot didn't hesitate.

BANG!

The bullet struck the fuel tank—

BOOM!

A massive explosion erupted, flames swallowing Nasir's men.

Sophia and Elliot dove to the ground as the airstrip shook from the impact.

Smoke and fire filled the night.

As the chaos settled, Sophia slowly got to her feet—only to find Nasir standing there, his gun pointed at her.

The Last Choice

Nasir was injured, blood staining his sleeve, but his grip on the gun was steady.

"You should've stayed in your place, Sophia."

Sophia didn't flinch. "You ruined my life. Used me. Controlled me. It's over."

Nasir's finger tightened on the trigger. "Then let's end this."

Before he could fire—

BANG!

A single shot rang out.

Nasir staggered, eyes wide in shock.

Blood bloomed across his chest.

He collapsed to his knees, staring at Sophia with disbelief. She had pulled the trigger first.

As he fell back, his final breath escaping, Sophia whispered:

"I'm free."

The Escape

Elliot grabbed her hand. "Come on! We need to go!"

The jet was still intact.

Sophia and Elliot ran toward it, the ramp lowering as the pilot waved them in.

As she stepped onto the aircraft, Sophia took one last look at Nasir's lifeless body.

Her past was dead.

As the jet lifted into the sky, leaving Dubai behind, Sophia closed her eyes.

She had survived.

But at what cost?

A New Dawn

Sophia gazed out of the jet's window as Dubai faded beneath the clouds. The city had once been her golden cage, but now, it was nothing more than a memory.

She had won.

Yet, a strange emptiness settled in her chest.

Elliot sat across from her, his face bruised and exhausted. "We made it," he muttered, almost as if he couldn't believe it.

Sophia nodded but said nothing.

Did she really make it? Or had she lost a part of herself along the way?

The Message

As the jet cruised through the sky, Sophia's phone buzzed.

She hesitated before picking it up. Unknown number.

Her stomach twisted.

She swiped to read the message:

"You're not free. You never will be."

Sophia's breath hitched. Who could it be? Nasir was dead. His men were gone.

Unless…

Elliot noticed her expression. "What is it?"

She turned the phone screen toward him. His jaw tightened.

"Someone's still out there."

A shiver ran down her spine. This wasn't over.

A Safe House?

The jet landed in a private airstrip in Greece. Elliot had arranged for them to stay in a luxurious cliffside villa—a safe house.

At least, that's what it was supposed to be.

Sophia stepped into the marble-floored living room, the ocean breeze flowing through the open balcony doors.

It was breathtaking. Peaceful.

But she couldn't relax. Not with that message still on her mind.

Elliot poured himself a drink. "You need rest, Sophia."

She shook her head. "Not until I find out who sent that message."

Elliot sighed. "Sophia, Nasir is dead."

Sophia's voice was ice-cold. "Then why does it feel like he's still watching me?"

The Past Won't Stay Buried

Night fell, but sleep never came.

Sophia sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her phone.

Then, another message arrived.

"You thought you killed the devil. But some demons never die."

Her fingers trembled.

The phone rang.

A deep, familiar voice echoed through the speaker:

"Miss Adeyemi… Did you really think Nasir was the one in control?"

Her blood turned to ice.

Elliot burst into the room. "Sophia, what's wrong?"

She looked at him, her voice barely above a whisper.

"We're not safe."

A Voice from the Shadows

Sophia gripped the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white.

"Who is this?" she demanded.

A low chuckle came from the other end. "I've watched you for a long time, Sophia. You've been quite… entertaining."

Elliot moved closer, signaling her to put the call on speaker. She did.

"Nasir was a fool," the voice continued. "A reckless dog playing king. But I? I am the one who truly pulls the strings."

Sophia's stomach churned. There was someone bigger than Nasir?

"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice steady despite the storm in her chest.

"Oh, Sophia," the voice sighed. "It's not what I want from you. It's what you've already taken from me. And for that… you will suffer."

The call disconnected.

Silence.

Elliot cursed under his breath. "We need to find out who this is. Fast."

Sophia inhaled deeply, forcing her emotions under control. "We don't run this time, Elliot. We fight."

A Name from the Past

Elliot wasted no time. He pulled up his laptop, hacking into Nasir's old network.

Minutes turned into an hour. Then—

"Got something."

Sophia leaned over his shoulder. On the screen was a name she hadn't heard in years.

"Salvatore DeLuca."

Her breath hitched.

"The Italian billionaire?"

Elliot nodded grimly. "He wasn't just Nasir's business partner. He was the real boss. Nasir was just his pawn."

Sophia clenched her fists. "That bastard was letting Nasir do all the dirty work while he stayed in the shadows?"

Elliot's jaw tightened. "And now he wants revenge."

The Invitation

A notification popped up on Sophia's phone.

An email.

From Salvatore DeLuca.

The subject line?

"Let's meet, cara mia."

Her pulse quickened.

She opened it.

"You've played your little game well. But now, it's time to meet the real king. Athens. Midnight. The Acropolis ruins. Come alone, or I'll make you regret it."

Elliot scoffed. "It's a trap."

Sophia smirked. "Of course, it is. But I'm going."

Elliot exhaled sharply. "Then we make sure you're not going in blind."

Sophia's eyes darkened.

This was it.

The final battle had begun.