A sharp pang in her stomach jolted Kalina awake.
She blinked groggily, disoriented, trying to figure out why her neck hurt and why she was staring at a dashboard instead of her bedroom ceiling.
Oh. Right. The car. Waiting for Ophelia.
She groaned and sat up slowly, rubbing the crick in her neck. Her stomach growled loudly in the quiet car.
How long have I been asleep?
She checked her phone. 7:05 PM.
Almost two hours?!
Kalina slumped forward, resting her forehead against the steering wheel with a thud.
I'm going to kill her.
She lifted her head slightly and peered through the windshield at the restaurant.
Through the large windows, she could see Ophelia and Maxi still at their table, deep in conversation. They looked completely absorbed in each other.
At least she's having fun.
Kalina's stomach growled again, louder this time.
She watched them for another few minutes, hoping Ophelia would notice the time and wrap things up.
They didn't.
"Ugh!" Kalina groaned, grabbing her purse. "I am hungry. I am going to kill her."
She shoved the car door open and marched toward the restaurant entrance.
Inside Celestia Restaurant
The hostess looked up as Kalina entered, her professional smile faltering slightly when she took in Kalina's disheveled appearance—mussed hair, wrinkled coat, the general aura of someone who'd just woken up in a car.
"Good evening, miss. Table for one—?"
"Just waiting for someone," Kalina said, cutting her off politely.
She positioned herself near the entrance where she had a clear view of Ophelia's table.
It took exactly five seconds for her sister to notice her.
Their eyes met.
Ophelia's expression shifted from surprise to guilt to understanding in rapid succession.
Kalina raised an eyebrow and jerked her head toward the restrooms.
Bathroom. Now.
Ophelia nodded quickly and said something to Maxi before standing.
Restroom
Kalina was leaning against the sink, arms crossed, looking like she'd just emerged from a very uncomfortable nap.
"Two hours, Ophe," she said flatly. "Two. Hours."
"I'm sorry! I lost track of time!"
"I woke up with a crick in my neck and drool on my face."
"I said I'm sorry!"
Kalina's stern expression cracked, and she grinned. "So... how's it going?"
Ophelia couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face. "Really good, actually."
"Even in the purple disaster?"
"He laughed. A lot. But then we just... talked. Kal, he's—" She paused, searching for words. "He's really amazing."
"I could tell from the car. You two looked pretty engrossed."
"Wait, you were watching?"
"I woke up like twenty minutes ago. What else was I supposed to do?" Kalina pushed off from the sink. "So what's the plan? Are you staying? Leaving? Because I'm starving and I'd really like to go home and eat something that isn't vending machine snacks."
Ophelia bit her lip. "Actually... he mentioned getting dessert somewhere else. And I was thinking—"
"You want to ditch me and go with him."
"I mean... yeah?"
Kalina studied her for a moment, then smiled. "Go. Have fun. Text me when you're home safe."
"Are you sure?"
"Ophe, you've been grinning like an idiot since you sat down with him. I'm not going to ruin your good time." She shooed her toward the door. "Go. Enjoy your dessert date."
"Thank you!" Ophelia hugged her quickly. "I owe you so many tokens."
"Damn right you do. Now go before he thinks you fell in."
Ophelia laughed and headed for the door, then paused. "Kal?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. For today. For... everything."
Kalina's expression softened. "That's what sisters are for. Now go."
Ophelia left the restroom first, practically floating back to the table.
The moment she sat down, Maxi reached beside his chair and pulled out a shopping bag—pale blue with elegant handles.
"Here," he said, sliding it across the table to her.
Ophelia blinked. "What's this?"
"A change of clothes." His eyes were warm with amusement. "I could see you were clearly uncomfortable in that dress. I had my assistant drop something off while you were... indisposed."
Ophelia's mouth fell open. "You—what? When?"
"About ten minutes ago. I texted him while you were talking." Maxi gestured toward the bag. "Go change. I'd like to continue this date without you squirming every thirty seconds. Then we can leave and get that dessert I promised."
Ophelia stared at him, then at the bag, then back at him.
"You're kind of amazing, you know that?"
Maxi grinned. "I've been told."
Ophelia grabbed the bag and practically ran back to the restroom, her heart doing strange fluttery things in her chest.
At the Counter
Kalina approached the restaurant counter, her stomach growling loud enough that the hostess probably heard it.
"Hi, I'd like to order takeout, please."
"Of course! What would you like?"
Kalina scanned the menu quickly. "The grilled salmon, side of roasted vegetables, and—" Her stomach growled again. "—and the chocolate lava cake. Actually, make that two chocolate lava cakes."
"Certainly. It'll be about ten minutes."
"Perfect."
While she waited, Kalina pulled out her phone and checked her messages. Nothing urgent. Just the usual work emails she was ignoring and a message from Mireille asking how the memorial went.
Kalina: Survived. Barely. Will explain later.
Outside - Black SUV
A black SUV pulled up quietly and parked directly behind Ophelia's white Mercedes.
The engine idled.
Inside, a figure sat in the driver's seat, face obscured by shadows. They adjusted the rearview mirror, angling it to get a clear view of the restaurant entrance.
Waiting.
Watching.
Back Inside
"Order for Levesque!"
Kalina grabbed her takeout bag, the warm, delicious smell making her mouth water.
Finally.
She pushed through the restaurant door and headed straight for the car, already mentally planning which cake she'd eat first.
The SUV
The figure leaned forward, camera ready.
The restaurant door opened.
A woman in a black coat emerged, purple dress visible beneath, carrying a takeout bag.
Target.
CLICK.
The camera captured the image—clear shot of the woman walking toward the white Mercedes.
The figure typed quickly on their phone:
"Target confirmed."
Three dots appeared immediately.
"Proceed."
The figure set the phone down and started the engine.
Ophelia's Mercedes
Kalina slid into the driver's seat, set her takeout bag on the passenger seat, and immediately opened the first container.
The smell of perfectly grilled salmon hit her, and she actually moaned.
"Oh my God, yes."
She grabbed the plastic fork and took her first bite, eyes closing in bliss.
This. This is what I needed.
As Ophelia and Maximillian stepped outside, Ophelia glanced toward her car and saw Kalina in the driver's seat, absolutely demolishing what looked like a salmon dinner.
She pulled out her phone.
Ophelia: Going wellllllll... 😏
Kalina's response was immediate.
Kalina: Go to hell 😈
Ophelia laughed and sent back a joyous sticker—a cartoon character throwing confetti.
"Uber's two minutes out," Maxi said, checking his phone.
Ophelia watched as Kalina started the car, gave her a quick wave through the window, and pulled out of the parking spot.
The white Mercedes disappeared down the street.
A few seconds later, the black SUV that had been parked behind it also pulled out, following at a distance.
Ophelia didn't notice.
She was too busy smiling at something Maxi had just said.
On the Road
Kalina was in heaven.
Good food. Good music. Empty road.
She turned up the volume on her favorite playlist and started singing along, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel.
"—and I don't care what they say, I'm in love with the shape of you—"
She took another bite of cake—because why wait until after dinner?—and did a little seated dance move.
This was how you recovered from a terrible day.
The road ahead was dark, mostly empty. Streetlights cast pools of orange light at regular intervals.
Kalina merged onto the main highway, still humming.
She didn't notice the black SUV that had been following her suddenly accelerate.
Didn't notice it pull up alongside her on the left.
Not until the passenger window rolled down.
Kalina glanced over automatically—
And froze.
A gun.
Someone was pointing a gun at her car.
Her brain short-circuited.
What—
BANG.
The sound was deafening even over the music.
Her front left tire exploded.
The car immediately lurched violently to the left. The steering wheel jerked out of her hands.
"SHIT—"
Kalina grabbed the wheel, trying desperately to regain control, but the car was already spinning.
The world became a blur of lights and motion.
She slammed on the brakes—wrong move—the car spun faster.
The black SUV sped away, disappearing into the night.
Another car—coming from the opposite direction—swerved toward her.
No no no no—
CRASH.
Metal shrieked. Glass shattered.
The impact flipped her car.
Kalina felt herself being thrown against the seatbelt, her head slamming against something hard. Pain exploded through her skull.
The car rolled once. Twice.
Then finally came to rest upside down, wheels still spinning uselessly in the air.
Everything went silent except for the ringing in her ears.
Kalina hung suspended by her seatbelt, disoriented, her vision swimming.
What... what just happened?
She could smell gasoline. Smoke.
Through the shattered windshield, she saw legs approaching.
Someone was running toward her.
She felt hands on her shoulders, heard a voice—muffled, distant, like she was underwater.
The seatbelt released.
She was being pulled out of the wreckage, lifted, moved.
Everything felt wrong. Distant. Like she was watching it happen to someone else.
She was placed in another car—the back seat.
Kalina turned her head slowly, trying to focus on the person beside her.
Her vision was blurry. Doubled. But she could make out a shape.
A man in a suit.
Navy.
He was wearing navy.
"You're okay," the voice said, still muffled. "Stay with me. You're going to be okay."
Kalina tried to respond, but her tongue felt thick and useless.
The world was tilting.
Fading.
Navy suit.
That was all she could hold onto before darkness swallowed her completely.
Corner Street - Black SUV
The black SUV pulled into a shadowed alley several blocks away and came to a stop.
The driver pulled out their phone, typed quickly:
"Mission accomplished."
Sent.
Then they put the car in drive and disappeared into the night.