Alex started walking down the hallway.
The others followed in silence.
But as they stepped out into the cool night air, the weight of what waited hung between them... unspoken, thick, impossible to shake.
The night was quiet, but not still.
Alex didn't look back.
His mind was already moving forward, cold and calculating.
Sophia thought she was clever. Thought her little games gave her power, that she could manipulate people like chess pieces and walk away untouched.
She had no idea what was coming.
He was going to teach her a lesson she'd never forget. One so thorough, so devastating, that she'd understand exactly what happened when you came after the people he cared about.
But not yet.
Not while she had a use. Marcus still had to be taken care of... and she was the tool for it.
Patience, he reminded himself. Let her think she's won for now. Let her plan her punishment for Lila. Let her believe she's still in control.
Then, when the time was right...
