Shadows of Naples: Code Lightning.

The darkness retreated slowly, leaving behind a bitter aftertaste. Sofia’s consciousness returned in fragments—first she heard her own breathing, then felt the cold metal of handcuffs on her wrists, and only a moment later realized she was lying on a wooden bed. She opened her eyes. A dim light surrounded her—candles, maybe an old lamp. A small cabin, the smell of damp and smoke. A forest. Sofia shifted, trying to sit up, but her wrists were bound in front of her. Her head throbbed, pain pulsing in her temples. She recalled the last moments in her office, how the door had opened… and then nothing. Her heart started to race. “Damn…” she whispered, peering into the darkness. The cabin was empty. A small window covered with black film, an old table, a chair, and the bed she was lying on. Sofia tried to free herself, but the handcuffs wouldn’t budge. And then—footsteps. The door opened, and in the lamplight appeared a tall figure. Sofia tensed, but when he stepped in, her chest tightened. “Lorenzo?” He looked almost the same as always—cold gaze, confident stride. But something in his face had changed. Something heavy and irreversible. Sofia opened her mouth to say something, but then another figure appeared behind Lorenzo—Alicia. She smiled, arms crossed over her chest. “Sweetheart,” she said with false tenderness. “You’ve walked right into the trap.” Sofia narrowed her eyes, trying to hide the fear rising inside. She sat up sharply, glancing between Alicia and Lorenzo. “So what is this? You’re going to toy with me before you kill me?” she asked coldly, looking Alicia straight in the eye. Alicia scoffed, tilting her head. “Why so dramatic?” Her voice was poisonously sweet. “We just want to talk.” “Talk?” Sofia sighed skeptically. “Honestly, I don’t really believe in your friendly intentions anymore, Alicia.” Alicia took a few slow steps forward, her heels echoing dully in the silence. “You know,” she drawled, “I once thought of you as a worthy opponent. But now… now you’re just a girl who played too much with love.” Sofia clenched her jaw, refusing to show how those words stung. “And then what?” she asked defiantly. Alicia’s smile widened. “And then it’s simple, Sofia. You lost.” She turned to Lorenzo, who still hadn’t said a word. His face was unreadable, but Sofia sensed the tension behind it. “Finish it,” Alicia ordered calmly. Lorenzo didn’t move. “You know what to do,” she repeated, harsher this time. Sofia looked at him, trying to understand what was going through his mind. “Lorenzo,” she said softly. “Is this really what you want?” He slowly met her eyes. There was a flicker of doubt—but he buried it deep almost instantly. Alicia sighed and turned to the door. “I’ll wait outside. Don’t make me come back,” she said and walked out. The door closed, leaving Sofia and Lorenzo alone. He silently pulled out a gun. --- Javier stared at his phone screen, dialing the familiar number again. Rings… another… another… No answer. He hung up sharply and cursed, gripping the phone. Sofia never ignored him this long. Something was wrong. Without hesitation, he jumped into his car and sped toward her estate. When Javier arrived, Luca was already standing at the entrance, nervously shifting from foot to foot and trying to call her too. “She’s not answering you either?” Javier asked, stepping out of the car. Luca shook his head. “That’s not like her…” They exchanged a quick glance and walked inside without another word. The house was eerily quiet. No guards. No sound. When they entered her office, Javier saw it immediately. A black card lay on the desk, with a golden crown emblem. The Crown of Fury. “Alicia…” Luca’s voice was filled with dread. “She took her,” Javier rasped, rage boiling inside him. “Damn it, we’ve lost too much time already!” “The tracker on her phone’s been disabled,” Luca muttered, typing rapidly on his tablet. “Someone jammed the signal.” “Damn it!” Javier slammed his fist against the desk, his patience gone. They called in their men, and within minutes the room filled with loyal fighters. “Sofia’s been taken by Alicia’s people,” Luca said sharply. “We’ve got a few leads, but we need something solid.” “If anyone knows anything, speak now,” Javier added, scanning the room. Silence. “There’s one guy,” one of the men finally said. “Mateo.” “That rat?” Luca spat on the floor. “He works for Alicia. He was seen at a bar—‘La Noche.’ If anyone knows where they took her, it’s him.” Javier didn’t wait. “We’re going to him.” The bar “La Noche” reeked of smoke and cheap alcohol. Mateo sat in the corner, clutching a glass of whiskey, clearly not expecting them. When he looked up and met Javier’s eyes, his hand trembled. “What are you doing here?” he rasped, trying to sound indifferent. “We’re not here to chat,” Luca said coldly, dropping into the chair opposite him, his gaze sharp as a blade. “Where’s Sofia?” Javier didn’t sit. He loomed over Mateo, a shadow of fury. “I… I don’t know…” Javier’s fist struck his stomach before he finished. Mateo wheezed, doubling over, spilling his drink. “I’ll ask again,” Javier said icily. “Where. Is. Sofia?” “Wait! Wait! I’ll tell you!” Mateo covered his head with his hands. “She’s… she’s being held in a cabin in the forest!” “Coordinates,” Luca hissed. “There’s… an old hunting lodge past the old bridge,” Mateo gasped. “But…” “But what?” Javier leaned closer, voice low and dangerous. “They ordered to kill her,” Mateo stammered. For a few seconds, silence filled the room. Then Javier grabbed him by the collar. “If anything happens to her, I’ll come back for you—and you’ll wish you’d kept your mouth shut.” Mateo squinted but said nothing more. Javier released him and stormed out of the bar without a word. Luca pulled out his phone. “I’m gathering the team.” “I’m not waiting,” Javier said and ran to his car. He didn’t care how reckless it was. That it might be a trap. That he could die. All he knew was this: Sofia was out there, and she needed him. Without wasting another second, he jumped in the car and slammed on the gas, speeding toward the forest. --- Sofia felt her heart pounding in her chest, but her face showed no trace of fear. She simply took a deep breath, staring at Lorenzo. “This is a joke, right?” Her voice was quiet but sharp as a blade. Lorenzo said nothing. He slowly released the gun’s safety—click—the sound slicing through the silence. “You won’t do it,” she said firmly, unblinking. He gripped the gun tighter. “It’s not that simple, Sofia,” his voice sounded… guilty? “You loved me. Or at least pretended to,” her eyes narrowed. “And that’s exactly why it’s so hard,” Lorenzo exhaled. “But some things stand above feelings.” “You’re speaking her words,” Sofia sneered. “Alicia controls you. How pathetic…” He flinched. “She’s my boss.” “You were never the kind of man to obey anyone.” He fell silent again. His hand trembled. “Lorenzo…” Sofia leaned forward, her voice softer now. “We’ve been through too much for it to end like this.” He stepped back sharply, as if her words burned him. “Shut up,” he rasped. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you can do it.” Lorenzo swallowed hard and finally met her gaze. They stared at each other for long, unbearable seconds. “I’m sorry, Sofia,” he whispered. Footsteps sounded outside. “Finish it! You know what to do!” Alicia’s voice shouted from behind the door. Lorenzo clenched his jaw, his finger tightening on the trigger. Sofia took a deep breath and closed her eyes. --- Javier raced through the forest, oblivious to pain or exhaustion. Branches whipped across his face, leaving bloody scratches, but he didn’t stop. Somewhere deep inside, reason screamed about the danger—but he ignored it. Only one thing mattered now—Sofia. Where are you, my love? Hold on. I’m coming. The darkness of the forest felt endless, but he kept running. His heart pounded, his lungs burned. He didn’t even know exactly where he was going—only following instinct. Just a little farther. Just a few more meters. Something inside him screamed that he was too late. That every second mattered. He should’ve been there. Should’ve protected her. Now she was out there—alone, defenseless, in enemy hands. If something’s happened to her… If I lose her… Javier ran faster, every step pounding chaos into his heart. The same thought echoed again and again: If something happens to her, it’ll be my fault. He’d covered miles already, driven only by one purpose—to find Sofia. Those nights when he’d promised to protect her felt painfully distant now. He couldn’t stop. He couldn’t even breathe properly. Time was slipping away, and she might be dying. If I lose her, it’s over. I can’t live without her. She’s everything I have. His thoughts tortured him, but he couldn’t slow down. The sound of his steps, his heartbeat, and the eerie silence of the forest were his only companions. Why didn’t I come sooner? The question tore through his mind again and again. If only he’d known Alicia would move this fast, he wouldn’t have wasted a single second. Now every meter mattered—and the closer he got, the stronger his fear grew. I… I’ll find her. Up ahead, between the trees, a small cabin silhouette appeared. Javier’s heart leapt to his throat. He stopped abruptly, panting, and stared. Silence. Too deep. Too ominous. He took a few careful steps forward, listening for any sound. Nothing—only oppressive stillness. “Sofia… Sofia... I’m here.” And suddenly—the forest exploded with the sound of a gunshot. And once again, everything fell silent. --- To be continued…