The Heist Begins

Midnight at the Warehouse

The night air in Istanbul was crisp as Sophia arrived at the location Natalia had given her. The warehouse sat near the docks, its exterior guarded by men in dark suits, their faces cold and unreadable.

She took a steady breath and approached.

One of the guards stepped forward. "Name?"

Sophia smirked. "Sophia. Natalia is expecting me."

The man eyed her for a moment before nodding toward the entrance. "Go in."

Inside, the warehouse was filled with crates stacked high, the air thick with the scent of saltwater and metal. Men moved between the boxes, checking inventory, exchanging quiet words.

At the center of it all stood Natalia Romanov.

Dressed in a sleek black outfit, she turned as Sophia entered, her lips curving into a knowing smile.

"You showed up."

Sophia shrugged. "I was curious."

Natalia stepped closer, eyes gleaming. "Good. Curiosity is a powerful thing. But it can also be deadly."

Sophia held her gaze, unflinching. "Only for the weak."

Natalia chuckled. "I knew I liked you."

She gestured for Sophia to follow her toward a set of steel doors at the back of the warehouse. "Let's talk business."

A High-Stakes Job

Beyond the doors was a private office, luxurious in contrast to the industrial setting outside. A large map of Europe was pinned to the wall, dotted with red markings. Weapons. Smuggling routes. High-profile buyers.

Natalia poured two glasses of whiskey, handing one to Sophia.

"You strike me as someone who doesn't just follow orders."

Sophia took the glass, her fingers brushing against Natalia's. "I prefer to make my own way."

Natalia smirked. "Then you'll like what I'm about to offer you."

She pointed at one of the red marks on the map. "A shipment is arriving tomorrow night. It's worth millions, but there's a problem—another group wants it. I need someone who can handle… complications."

Sophia sipped her drink. "And you think I'm that person?"

Natalia's eyes darkened. "I think you're exactly what I need."

Sophia leaned against the desk, pretending to consider. She was deep enough now. One wrong move could blow her cover.

But one right move…

"I'm in."

Natalia's smile widened. "Good choice."

She leaned closer, her breath warm against Sophia's skin. "And who knows? Maybe after the job, we can discuss… other things."

Sophia smirked. "Looking forward to it."

Inside, her mind was racing.

This wasn't just a job anymore.

This was a test.

And if she wasn't careful, she wouldn't just be playing a role—she'd become part of this world for real.

The Night of the Job

The cold wind whipped through Sophia's hair as she stood on the rooftop of the warehouse, overlooking the docks. The moon hung high, casting silver light over the dark waters. Below, Natalia's men were moving into position, armed and ready. The shipment was arriving soon.

Sophia took a deep breath. This was it—the biggest job she had ever been a part of. If she played her cards right, she would be set for life. But if anything went wrong… she might not make it out alive.

Natalia's voice crackled through the earpiece.

"Positions, everyone. The buyers are on their way."

Sophia scanned the area. Everything seemed under control, but something felt off. Maybe it was paranoia, or maybe it was instinct. Either way, she couldn't shake the feeling that tonight wouldn't go as planned.

She adjusted the strap of her pistol and made her way down the side ladder, landing quietly near the loading bay. The deal was about to begin.

A Dangerous Exchange

Two black SUVs pulled up near the docks. Five men stepped out, dressed in dark suits, their faces unreadable. Their leader, a bald man with a scar across his cheek, walked forward.

Natalia approached him, her confidence unshaken.

"You have the money?" she asked.

The scarred man smirked. "You have the shipment?"

Natalia snapped her fingers. One of her men pulled back a tarp, revealing crates filled with military-grade weapons. The buyers nodded in approval.

"Good," the scarred man said. "Let's finish this quickly."

Sophia watched from a distance, fingers twitching on the handle of her gun. The tension in the air was thick.

Then—

A gunshot rang out.

Chaos erupted.

Betrayal in the Dark

Sophia dove behind a crate as bullets flew across the dock. Someone had double-crossed them. But who?

She saw one of Natalia's men slump to the ground, blood pooling beneath him. The buyers had drawn their weapons, firing at Natalia's crew.

Sophia turned her head and saw—Natalia.

Holding a gun.

Pointed at her.

"Sorry, darling," Natalia said with a smirk. "But I needed a scapegoat."

Sophia's heart dropped. It had all been a setup.

The deal had never been real.

She was the one being sold out.

Betrayal Burns Like Fire

Sophia's breath caught in her throat. Natalia had betrayed her.

The woman she had trusted, the one who had promised her power and wealth, had set her up as the fall girl.

Gunfire still echoed through the docks. Natalia's men were getting slaughtered, but Natalia didn't seem worried. She smirked, stepping back into the shadows as her true allies—the police—began swarming the area.

It was a sting operation.

Sophia cursed under her breath. She had no time to process the betrayal. She had to get out.

She sprinted toward the crates, dodging bullets and diving behind cover as police officers shouted orders. Her body moved on instinct, fueled by pure adrenaline.

Then—

"STOP! HANDS UP!"

A bright flashlight shone on her face.

A police officer.

Sophia's heart pounded. She was trapped.

But then, something snapped inside her.

Not today.

The Escape

In one swift motion, Sophia grabbed a crowbar from a crate beside her and swung it. It hit the officer's wrist, making him drop his gun. She didn't hesitate—she kicked him in the stomach, sending him crashing into the crates.

BANG!

A bullet whizzed past her ear. Another officer was closing in.

Sophia grabbed the fallen officer's gun and fired two warning shots. The police hesitated just long enough for her to bolt toward the edge of the dock.

She had two choices:

Get arrested. Jump into the freezing water.

She chose the second.

Taking a deep breath, she leaped.

The cold hit her like a sledgehammer.

Darkness swallowed her whole.

Nowhere Left to Hide

Sophia swam under the water, lungs burning as she pushed herself forward. When she finally surfaced, she was far from the docks, hidden in the shadows of abandoned boats.

Shivering, she dragged herself onto the shore, coughing up salt water. She had escaped—for now.

But now, she was a wanted criminal.

Natalia had framed her.

She had nowhere to go.

No money.

No allies.

And no idea what to do next.

But she knew one thing—Natalia was going to pay.