The rain-soaked streets glimmered like a snake's skin, the neon lights reflecting off the wet pavement in a dizzying display of color and light. Mercer navigated the crowds, his eyes scanning the throngs of people for any sign of surveillance. He'd ditched the phone, knowing it was a liability, and was relying on his instincts to guide him.
He spotted Sophia standing by the entrance of the bar, her eyes locked on his, a look of relief washing over her face. Mercer felt a twinge of caution, wondering if she was playing him, but pushed it aside. He needed answers, and she was his only lead.
As he approached, Sophia's eyes darted around the area, her movements quick and nervous. "Alex, thank God you're here," she whispered, her voice husky and urgent.
Mercer followed her inside, the bar's dim lighting a welcome respite from the city's glare. They sat in a corner booth, the sounds of the bar's patrons a distant hum in the background.
"What's going on, Sophia?" Mercer asked, his eyes locked on hers, searching for any sign of deception.
Sophia's gaze darted around the room, her eyes lingering on the other patrons before returning to his. "I know who you are, Alex. I know what you did in Prague."
Mercer's heart skipped a beat, his mind racing with possibilities. How did she know about Prague? He'd thought he'd covered his tracks.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice even, his eyes never leaving hers.
Sophia's smile was a work of art, a masterpiece of calculation and deception. "Don't play dumb, Alex. I know you killed Viktor Kuznetsov. I know you were working for the Agency."
Mercer's instincts screamed at him to get out, to run as fast as he could, but he knew he couldn't. He needed to know what she knew, what she wanted.
"Okay, let's say I did," he said, his voice low and even. "What does it have to do with you?"
Sophia's eyes glinted with a mix of fear and determination. "I was there, Alex. I was Viktor's mistress. I know what really happened that night."
Mercer's mind was spinning, his thoughts racing with possibilities. What was she going to reveal? He leaned in, his eyes locked on hers, his voice barely above a whisper. "What do you know, Sophia?"
Sophia's gaze darted around the room, her eyes lingering on the other patrons before returning to his. "I know that Viktor was working on something big, something that could bring down the Agency and Blackstone Security. And I think you're the key to unlocking it."
As Sophia spoke, Mercer's phone buzzed in his pocket, the sound like a scream in the silence. He knew it was a message from Lucius, and he knew he had to leave.
"I have to go," he said, his voice low and urgent.
Sophia's eyes widened, her hand reaching out to grab his arm. "No, Alex, don't go. They're watching us. They're waiting for us."
Mercer's instincts screamed at him to get out, to run as fast as he could, but he knew he couldn't leave her behind. He grabbed her hand, pulling her out of the booth, and they made a break for the back door.
As they burst into the alleyway, Mercer spotted a figure emerging from the shadows, a gun trained on them. He pushed Sophia to the ground, covering her body with his, as the sound of gunfire echoed through the night.
The world around him slowed, the sounds of the city fading into the background as he waited for the inevitable. But it never came.
As he looked up, he saw a figure standing over them, a gun still trained on them, but it wasn't pointing at him. It was pointing at Sophia.
"Get up, Alex," the figure said, its voice low and even. "We're leaving."
Mercer's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. Who was this person? What did they want?
As he stood, Sophia's eyes met his, a look of terror washing over her face. "Alex, no," she whispered.
But it was too late. The figure grabbed her, pulling her into the shadows, and Mercer was left standing alone in the alleyway, wondering what he'd just gotten himself into.
To be continued...
Will Mercer rescue Sophia, and what secrets will he uncover about the Agency and Blackstone Security? Find out in Chapter 6: "Ghosts of the Past".