Test Of Loyalty

The Acropolis at Midnight

Sophia stood atop the ancient ruins, the moon casting long shadows over the crumbling stones. The cool Athens breeze tugged at her hair as she tightened her grip on the tiny blade hidden in her sleeve.

She wasn't alone.

Salvatore DeLuca stood a few feet away, draped in a sleek black suit, his silver hair combed back. He exuded the kind of confidence that came with absolute power.

His men—six of them—formed a loose semicircle behind him, all armed.

Sophia tilted her head. "For someone who claims to be the real king, you sure are scared of one woman."

Salvatore chuckled. "Scared? No, cara mia. I simply value efficiency."

He took a step closer. Sophia didn't move.

"You're a very expensive problem," he said smoothly. "And I don't like problems."

Sophia's lips curled into a smirk. "Then why don't you just kill me?"

Salvatore studied her for a moment, then laughed. "Because I don't waste potential."

Her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

An Offer of Power

Salvatore motioned to his men, and they stepped back.

"I'll be honest with you, Sophia. You impressed me."

She remained silent, waiting.

"Nasir was a brute. He ruled with fear, not intelligence. But you? You've outplayed men more powerful than him. And that is why…" He spread his arms. "I want you on my side."

Sophia scoffed. "You expect me to betray everything and work for you?"

Salvatore smirked. "Oh no, Sophia. I expect you to rise."

His voice dropped into a whisper. "With my backing, you wouldn't just be running away from power. You would own it."

The words slithered into her ears, tempting. Dangerous.

He wasn't offering survival. He was offering dominance.

Sophia clenched her fists.

She had fought so hard to escape this life.

But a part of her… a dark, silent part… was curious.

Would it be so bad to take what was being offered?

To finally stop running?

To rule instead of being ruled?

The Decision

Sophia inhaled deeply. "And if I refuse?"

Salvatore's expression darkened. "Then you die."

Silence.

The weight of the moment crushed down on her.

Sophia closed her eyes for half a second.

Then—she smiled.

"I accept."

Salvatore's smirk widened. "Smart girl."

Elliot, watching from the shadows with his sniper trained on Salvatore, muttered under his breath.

"What the hell are you doing, Sophia?"

The First Order

Salvatore studied Sophia with amusement, his sharp eyes scanning her for any sign of hesitation.

"Good," he murmured, stepping closer. "But words mean nothing in my world, cara mia. Prove your loyalty."

Sophia didn't flinch. "How?"

Salvatore snapped his fingers.

One of his men dragged a blindfolded man forward, his face bruised and bloodied. The poor soul was on his knees, trembling.

"This man betrayed me," Salvatore said, his voice calm, almost casual. "He stole from me, thinking I wouldn't notice. Kill him."

Sophia's stomach twisted.

She had seen blood. She had ordered hits. But killing someone with her own hands?

That was a different game.

Salvatore reached into his suit and pulled out a sleek silver pistol. He extended it toward her, his smirk growing.

"Consider this your initiation."

Sophia's fingers hovered over the gun.

Elliot Watches from Afar

Elliot's heartbeat thundered in his ears. Hidden on a rooftop a few blocks away, he watched everything through the scope of his sniper rifle.

Sophia was holding the gun.

She was hesitating.

Come on, Sophia. Don't do this.

He adjusted his aim, his finger lightly pressing the trigger. If she pulled the trigger on the man, he would have no choice but to intervene.

But then—

She raised the gun.

Pointed it straight at the man's forehead.

No, Sophia. Don't.

Sophia's Choice

The blindfolded man sobbed. "Please… I have a family—"

BANG!

A gunshot echoed through the night.

Blood splattered onto the ground.

Sophia's hands trembled slightly as she lowered the gun. The man collapsed, lifeless.

Salvatore clapped slowly. "Beautiful."

Elliot cursed. He could barely breathe.

Sophia had just crossed a line.

One she could never return from.

The Next Step

Salvatore walked up to Sophia and whispered in her ear.

"Welcome to my world, cara mia."

She kept her expression blank, but inside, her heart pounded.

She had made her choice.

But at what cost?

The Morning After

Sophia stared at herself in the hotel mirror, her fingers gripping the edge of the sink. The reflection looking back at her was a stranger.

Her mind replayed the gunshot. The blood. The lifeless body crumpling at her feet.

She had killed a man.

Not by accident. Not in self-defense.

She had executed him.

Her stomach twisted, but she swallowed down the nausea. There was no turning back now.

A knock on the door snapped her back to reality.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Salvatore's right-hand man, Marco, stepped inside. He tossed a small black envelope onto the table.

"Boss says you're ready for something bigger."

Sophia opened the envelope. Inside was a photograph of a woman—dark-haired, elegant, but with cold, calculating eyes.

Below the photo, a name was printed in bold letters: Natalia Romanov.

Sophia frowned. "Who is she?"

Marco smirked. "A problem."

The Target – Natalia Romanov

Sophia sat in a dimly lit lounge as Marco briefed her.

"Natalia Romanov runs an underground smuggling operation in Istanbul. She's been moving weapons that don't belong to her."

Sophia raised a brow. "So she's competition?"

Marco chuckled. "Let's just say she's been making business… complicated."

He leaned in. "Your job is to send a message. Get close. Find out where she's keeping the stolen shipments. Then, eliminate her."

Sophia exhaled slowly. "And if I refuse?"

Marco grinned. "Salvatore doesn't like refusals."

Sophia clenched her jaw.

She wasn't just being tested anymore.

She was being shaped.

Arriving in Istanbul

Two days later, Sophia walked into one of Istanbul's most exclusive clubs, The Velvet Rose, wearing a deep red dress that hugged her curves.

The room smelled of expensive cigars and ambition.

She spotted Natalia Romanov almost instantly. The woman sat in a VIP section, surrounded by bodyguards and wealthy men eager for her attention.

Sophia approached the bar, ordering a glass of wine. She made sure her eyes lingered on Natalia just long enough to be noticed.

Sure enough, the Russian woman's gaze flicked toward her.

Sophia smirked.

Game on.

The First Encounter

Sophia swirled the wine in her glass, pretending to be lost in thought, though she could feel Natalia Romanov's gaze on her. She didn't look away.

Confidence. Mystery. Alluring danger.

That was the game.

Natalia whispered something to a man beside her, then rose gracefully from her seat. Within moments, she was approaching the bar, her icy blue eyes locked onto Sophia.

"I don't recognize you." Natalia's voice was smooth, with a thick Russian accent.

Sophia smirked and took a sip of her wine. "Maybe you should fix that."

Natalia chuckled. "Bold. I like bold." She extended a manicured hand. "Natalia."

Sophia placed her hand in Natalia's, squeezing just enough to show she wasn't intimidated. "Sophia."

Natalia studied her. "American?"

Sophia tilted her head. "Nigerian, actually."

Natalia's eyes flickered with intrigue. "Exotic."

The woman leaned against the bar, still sizing Sophia up. "Tell me, Sophia, are you here for business or pleasure?"

Sophia smiled, slow and deliberate. "Why not both?"

Getting Closer

Natalia was sharp. Getting into her circle wouldn't be easy, but Sophia had played this game before.

Over the next hour, she let Natalia take the lead—asking questions, teasing information out of her while revealing just enough to be intriguing but not suspicious.

When Natalia finally leaned in and whispered, "Join me in the VIP lounge?", Sophia knew she had her hook in.

Inside the private section, the atmosphere was even more exclusive—dark velvet seats, golden chandeliers, and bottles of the finest champagne.

Sophia played her role perfectly, laughing at Natalia's witty remarks, engaging in subtle power plays. The Russian woman was clearly interested in more than conversation.

Natalia ran a finger along the rim of her glass. "I like you, Sophia. You're… different."

Sophia met her gaze. "And I like powerful women."

Natalia smirked, lifting her glass. "To powerful women, then."

They clinked glasses.

Step one: complete.

A Dangerous Proposition

As the night deepened, Natalia leaned closer, lowering her voice.

"I might have some work for someone like you."

Sophia's heart pounded.

This was the moment.

She kept her expression neutral. "I'm listening."

Natalia smirked, tapping her glass against the table. "Meet me tomorrow. Midnight. My warehouse."

Sophia tilted her head. "And what happens if I don't show?"

Natalia chuckled darkly. "Then you'll miss out on a very profitable opportunity… and maybe a very enjoyable night."

Sophia smiled, though her mind was already calculating.

Salvatore wanted Natalia dead.

But now, Sophia was in her world.

And she wasn't sure which side she truly wanted to be on.