Chapter 133

Sofia. The safehouse was too quiet. Even with security outside, even with the occasional sound of footsteps in the halls, the silence felt wrong. It had always been like this—a cold, calculated kind of quiet, designed for function, not comfort. The walls were thick, reinforced, soundproofed. No outside noise. No echo of the life that existed beyond these walls. I had stayed here once before. Years ago. Back then, silence had been a luxury. A moment to breathe. Now, it was suffocating. I moved through the dimly lit halls, my bare feet light against the marble. The scent of coffee lingered in the air, rich and bitter, but when I reached the kitchen, I found the pot empty. Someone had been here recently. I exhaled sharply and filled a glass of water from the sink, bringing it to my lips with slightly unsteady hands. “Drinking water instead of coffee? That’s new.” I didn’t turn at the sound of Nikolai’s voice. “You’re one to talk.” The chair scraped against the floor as he pulled it out, s