Shadows of Naples: Code Lightning.

The sun was already setting behind the horizon, casting warm orange reflections on the building facades. The streets of Naples filled with the evening bustle, but the small café in the very center was almost empty. Sofia sat at a corner table, calmly stirring her espresso with a spoon, as if she were merely waiting for someone for a casual chat. Her appearance was effortless: light makeup, a stylish ivory blouse, loose hair. She looked like a woman who had casually dropped in for coffee—but beneath that calm exterior, tension simmered. “He’s approaching,” Javier’s voice came through the earpiece. He was watching from the car parked nearby. “Good. Stay on the line,” she whispered, as if speaking to herself. The café door opened, and Federico Moreira entered—a tall, neatly dressed man with a cunning, slightly cocky expression. Spotting Sofia, he raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Sofia? Didn’t expect to see you here,” he approached, feigning genuine delight. “Nice to see you, Federico. Have a seat if you have a moment,” she said with a light smile, as if truly glad to meet him. Federico sat down, ordered a coffee, and lowered his voice slightly: “I heard the situation with the restaurant has calmed down. Everything under control?” Sofia merely nodded. She looked him in the eyes, trying to catch any hint of nervousness. But he was cold and calm, as always. “You’re holding up well, Federico. Tell me… when was the last time you were at the headquarters?” “Last night. I was checking the documents from the latest shipment. Why do you ask?” “Just curious who else has access to the system. We suspect someone inside might have leaked sensitive information.” For a moment, something barely perceptible flickered in his gaze. He quickly took a sip of coffee, pretending not to notice. “Maybe it’s an accidental leak,” he shrugged. “Sometimes technology doesn’t protect as well as we’d like.” Sofia smiled slyly: “Perhaps. But it would be interesting to speak with everyone who was at headquarters recently…” At that moment, Javier whispered in her earpiece: “Caught his microexpression. After your words, his pupils dilated, breathing rate increased. He’s hiding something.” Sofia maintained her smile, but inside she already knew: the traitor sat before her. --- Sofia feigned relaxation and shifted the topic: “Have you heard anything about the Antwerp shipment? They say there might be customs issues…” Federico nodded almost immediately, without hesitation: “Yes, I heard. James mentioned some problem with the Dutch contacts who didn’t verify the documents, right?” Silence fell between them. Sofia didn’t take her eyes off him. The light smile on her lips vanished. She carefully set down her cup, leaned forward, and whispered almost tenderly: “Federico… you just gave yourself away.” He blinked. “What?” “The Antwerp information—we made it up with Javier two days ago. It was fake. And only a very limited list of people knew it. Lorenzo didn’t hear it. James didn’t disclose it. No one in the Wing had access. It existed only in one conversation—and it was a trap.” Federico froze for a moment. His face lost color, and he swallowed hard. “You… you think it was me?” “I don’t think anymore. I know,” Sofia said coldly. “And the question isn’t whether you’re guilty. It’s how Javier and I will decide your fate.” --- Federico stood up abruptly, the chair scraping the floor behind him. His hands clenched into fists, his voice trembling: “You don’t understand… You don’t understand anything, damn it!” Sofia remained silent, her gaze never leaving him for a moment. “She… she’s holding my sister,” he finally whispered, hunching over as if with every word he lost another piece of himself. “Alicia. If I don’t obey—she’ll be gone…” His voice cracked. “She sent me a video. Said it was just a warning. I… I had no choice, Sofia… none…” Sofia rose slowly from her seat. The cold in her eyes was gone—only a shadow of pain remained. “And you decided to betray all of us. Everyone who considered you family?” Federico shook his head, desperation in his voice: “I wanted to do the right thing… I hoped to buy time… I thought I could somehow get out…” A minute of silence. “Where is she?” Sofia asked sternly. “In Naples. Alicia is keeping her at an old villa by the coast. Heavy security…” Sofia nodded. “Alright. We’ll save her. But you no longer work in the shadows. From now on, every step you take will be monitored. If you betray me again… you know what will happen.” Federico left silently, not looking back. His back was tense, as if he bore the weight of the entire world. Sofia remained at the table, staring into the empty space before her as the café door opened and Javier entered. He immediately noticed her—pensive, a little weary, with a glass of wine she hadn’t touched. “He’s broken,” she said quietly, sitting opposite him. “He said Alicia is holding his sister. Threatened her… blackmailed him. He had no choice, Javier.” Javier sighed, running a hand across his face. “But there’s always a choice. Always, Sofia.” She gave a bitter smile. “And would you betray everyone for me?” Javier fell silent. He hadn’t expected the question. His eyes dropped; his fingers drummed lightly on the table. “I don’t know… But I know one thing—he put all of us at risk. Our people. You.” “And at the same time… he didn’t take a penny. Didn’t sell out. He was just scared. Loved too much…” “Love isn’t an excuse for betrayal,” Javier replied coldly, though the anger had left his voice. Only weariness remained. “So, what now?” Sofia looked out the window, where the night was thickening. “Now we have to decide what to do with someone who betrayed us… but not out of malice, out of pain.” A silence followed. Their choice was no longer black and white. Too many shades of gray were involved. “We have to save his sister,” Sofia said firmly, meeting Javier’s eyes. “If we don’t get her out—Alicia will always have him on a leash.” Javier nodded slightly. “Sofia… you really want to risk it for him? After everything that happened?” “Yes,” her voice didn’t waver. “Because if we leave her there, we’re no better than Alicia. I won’t let her hold someone’s life hostage to force someone to betray.” “And if it’s a trap?” he asked cautiously. “What if Federico is leading us straight into Alicia’s hands?” “He was scared, Javier. But when he talked about his sister… there was no lie. I saw real despair in his eyes. He was asking for help, even if he was afraid to admit it.” Javier stared at the table for a few seconds, then sighed and raised his gaze. “Then we do it our way. Carefully. With backup. And if something goes wrong—I won’t let you die, Sofia. Even if I have to drag you out myself.” Sofia smiled softly, that bitter-sweet tenderness that appears when more than life is at stake. “I know. But this time we’ll try to save everyone.”