The image on the screen froze the entire room.
Valentina sat tied to a metal chair, her head slightly tilted forward, strands of dark hair falling across her face. A bruise darkened her cheekbone, and dried blood traced the corner of her lip.
For a moment, Elena couldn't breathe.
Her sister—who had just revealed the truth about their father, who had been moving like a ghost across the city—was now sitting helplessly in Orlov's hands.
"No…" Elena whispered.
Adrian leaned closer to the screen, disbelief written across his face. "That's impossible."
Alessandro's eyes narrowed.
"Yes," he said quietly. "It is."
Orlov's voice came through the speakers again, smooth and confident.
"I see I have your attention."
Elena stepped closer to the screen.
"What did you do to her?"
Orlov leaned back in his chair, folding his hands calmly.
"Nothing she didn't invite upon herself."
Rage sparked in Elena's chest.
"Let her go."
Orlov chuckled softly.
"You know that's not how this works."
Alessandro spoke then, his voice colder than steel.
"You're bluffing."
Orlov tilted his head slightly.
"Am I?"
The camera zoomed closer to Valentina's face.
She stirred weakly, her eyes fluttering open.
For a moment she looked disoriented.
Then she focused on the camera.
And immediately understood.
"Elena…" she murmured hoarsely.
Elena's heart clenched.
"I'm here."
Valentina's eyes shifted slightly, scanning her surroundings.
Then they hardened.
"You shouldn't be."
Orlov laughed.
"Still stubborn, even now."
Adrian folded his arms.
"How did you catch her?"
Orlov smiled faintly.
"Geniuses make the same mistake as everyone else."
"And what's that?" Adrian asked.
"They believe they're untouchable."
He leaned closer to the camera.
"She was inside my systems for weeks."
Valentina spat blood onto the floor beside her chair.
"You deserved it."
Orlov sighed like a disappointed teacher.
"And that attitude is exactly why you're tied to a chair."
The Demand
Orlov's gaze shifted between Alessandro and Elena.
"Now," he said calmly, "let's discuss terms."
Alessandro didn't blink.
"You don't get terms."
"Oh, but I do."
He tapped something on the desk beside him.
The camera angle shifted again.
Now the feed showed explosives strapped to the floor beneath Valentina's chair.
Elena's heart stopped.
"If she dies," Orlov said lightly, "half my tower goes with her."
Adrian swore quietly.
"You're insane."
Orlov smiled.
"Possibly."
He looked directly at Elena.
"But I believe family matters to you."
Elena's hands trembled slightly.
"What do you want?"
Orlov's answer came slowly.
"You."
Alessandro's jaw tightened instantly.
"No."
Orlov raised an eyebrow.
"I wasn't asking you."
He leaned closer to the camera.
"Elena comes to my tower alone."
Adrian laughed sharply.
"That's not happening."
"If she doesn't," Orlov continued calmly, "your sister dies."
Elena's pulse thundered in her ears.
Across the screen, Valentina shook her head weakly.
"Don't."
Elena swallowed hard.
"I won't let him kill you."
Valentina forced out a faint laugh.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
But Valentina's eyes flickered briefly toward the corner of the room she was in.
Just for a second.
Elena noticed.
And suddenly something clicked.
The Hidden Message
Elena stared at the screen carefully.
Valentina's hands were tied.
Her posture looked weak.
But something about her expression seemed… wrong.
Too controlled.
Too calm.
She wasn't acting like someone who had been completely defeated.
Valentina spoke again slowly.
"Elena… listen to me."
Orlov rolled his eyes slightly.
"Yes, let's have a touching reunion."
But Valentina ignored him.
"You always trusted people too easily."
Elena's breath caught.
That sentence.
It was something Valentina used to say when they were children.
When they played chess.
When Elena made reckless moves.
Elena's mind raced.
Valentina continued.
"Remember what father taught us."
Adrian frowned.
"What is she doing?"
Elena didn't answer.
Because she already knew.
Her sister wasn't begging.
She was warning.
And sending a message.
Orlov leaned back in his chair, clearly amused.
"Your sister seems fond of speeches."
Elena looked directly into the camera.
"What did father teach us, Valentina?"
Valentina's lips curved slightly.
"Never sacrifice the queen."
The words echoed through the room.
Elena understood instantly.
Her sister wasn't the victim.
She was bait.
The Real Trap
Elena straightened slowly.
"You're not leaving that tower alive, Orlov."
Orlov laughed.
"Bold statement."
"You think Valentina walked into your system without planning an escape?"
His smile faded slightly.
"She's tied to a chair."
Elena's eyes gleamed.
"Is she?"
Orlov frowned.
Suddenly—
The lights in his office flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then the entire screen glitched.
Adrian's eyes widened.
"She's hacking from inside the room."
Valentina smiled faintly on the screen.
The ropes around her wrists dropped to the floor.
Orlov stood up sharply.
"What—"
Valentina grabbed the explosive detonator strapped beneath the chair and ripped the wires free.
"I told you," she said calmly.
"You shouldn't underestimate geniuses."
Alarms began blaring throughout Orlov's tower.
The video feed shook as security rushed into the room.
Orlov's expression darkened.
"You planned this."
Valentina shrugged.
"I needed access to your central network."
Adrian stared at the screen in awe.
"She let herself get captured."
Alessandro's eyes narrowed slightly.
"She used him."
Elena whispered,
"She used all of us."
On the screen, Valentina looked directly into the camera again.
"Elena," she said quietly.
"Now it begins."
Then the video feed cut to black.
The War Expands
The war room fell silent.
Adrian slowly leaned back against the desk.
"Well…"
He let out a breath.
"Your sister is insane."
Elena rubbed her temples.
"No."
"She's ten steps ahead of everyone."
Alessandro stared at the dark screen.
"What did she just start?"
Adrian turned back to the monitors.
More alerts were appearing across the city map.
Financial servers collapsing.
Security systems shutting down.
Bank accounts freezing.
Every major operation tied to Orlov's empire was suddenly failing.
Elena whispered,
"She's dismantling him."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"And not just him."
He pointed at the screen.
Several council families were also losing access to their assets.
Alessandro's voice lowered.
"She's targeting the entire network."
Elena felt a chill.
Valentina wasn't just fighting Orlov.
She was burning the entire criminal power structure.
And if she succeeded…
The city would descend into chaos.
Alessandro turned toward Elena.
"We need to find her."
Elena nodded.
"Yes."
Because if Valentina's war continued…
No one—not Orlov, not the council—
Not even Alessandro—
Would survive it.