That very night, Krishna left.
No words. No announcement. No trace.
Only her dogs knew. And only because she allowed it. Not one of them dared ask why. Not even Lucius.
She was headed to Country M.
Her name wasn't on the flight manifest. Not her real one, at least. The identity she used had been created years ago, buried beneath layers of dead trails and nonexistent backgrounds. The kind of name you didn't search without disappearing right after.
The flight was booked in economy. Intentionally. It was beneath her, yes, but useful. No one looked twice at someone cramped between crying infants and corporate burnouts. She wore neutral colors. No scent. No jewelry. No markers that could be traced.
She passed through the airport like vapor.
The landing came with gray skies and a stale breeze. Her boots hit the pavement by morning.
One bag. Slung over her shoulder. All she needed.
She didn't linger.
The appointment was pre-arranged, its location chosen precisely, neutral ground, high-end enough to warrant privacy, yet forgettable enough to erase. A restaurant with soundproof VIP rooms and a discreet staff that understood who to speak to and who to avoid.
She didn't shake the CEO's hand when she arrived. She didn't smile either.
They exchanged information, not pleasantries. The entire conversation stayed locked in cold, flat tones. Strategic. Calculated. There was no small talk. No wine poured.
Just two people deciding the future of power over an untouched plate of food.
The meeting ended within hours. She didn't need more. Krishna was already standing.
She left without turning back.
Checked in at a five-star hotel under the same alias. The suite was vast, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private balcony. She didn't use either. Her eyes weren't on the view. They were on the schedule.
The charity auction would be held in this very hotel.
Three days from now.
Everything in place. Everything as calculated.
Bella would be arriving soon.
Perfect timing.
Krishna's fingers grazed the inside lining of her coat where a folded list rested, handwritten, clean, final. Names. Numbers. Assets. Details the Citadel CEO thought he kept well-protected.
She had come to collect what belonged to her.
Bella would come, too. Accompanied by two assistants.
A Beta, timid, careful, well-mannered.
And an Omega, plump, wide-eyed, easy to disarm.
Krishna didn't blink at the report.
They were harmless. Props for appearance.
Her interest wasn't in them.
It was in Bella.
And now, all the pieces were here.
Waiting.
Bella arrived in Country M unaware that Krishna was already there.
She thought she was ahead of the game.
She wasn't.
Krishna had landed three days earlier. Checked into the same hotel. Different floor. Different name. Different reason.
Bella had no idea she was walking into her mouth.
From behind the smoked glass of her private suite, Krishna stood still, watching.
No one knew she was there. Not the staff. Not the guests. Not even Bella's assistants, who shuffled into the lobby first like lambs grazing before the slaughter.
The Omega was the first out of the car. Young. Curvy. Skin glowing with makeup and body oil. Her walk was all sway, all hunger to be noticed. She looked around the hotel with awe. Too fresh. Too green. The type that bloomed early and wilted fast under pressure.
Next came the Beta.
Small-framed. Bookish. Quiet. Her head ducked as she adjusted her blazer twice in under ten seconds. She whispered to the driver about bags, timing, check-ins. Efficient. Nervous. Not a threat. But possibly useful.
Then finally, Bella.
Stepping out like she owned the damn continent.
Cream trench coat. Designer heels. Large sunglasses, even though the sun was retreating. Her lipstick was deep red. Her scent, no doubt, expensive enough to have its own press release.
Krishna watched her without blinking.
Bella didn't know who was watching her.
Didn't know the suite three floors above was already tracking her every move. That her room assignment, security tags, and itinerary had been pulled hours ago.
Bella was confident. She thought this charity gala was hers to dominate.
She was wrong.
Krishna had already met with the CEO. Already seen the auction catalogue. Already adjusted it.
Bella still thought she was the first one here.
She didn't even know she was already late.
Krishna's eyes narrowed as she watched Bella move through the lobby. The girl had presence, she'd give her that. She walked like a woman used to being chased, admired, feared.
But confidence without information was just decoration.
Bella had no clue what room Krishna was in. Had no idea she wasn't alone here.
Krishna liked it that way.
Let her feel safe.
Let her play at being untouchable.
Because when the time came to meet, Krishna wouldn't knock.
She would open the door, walk in, and shift the air in the room like gravity had changed.
Until then,
Krishna turned away from the window and moved back into the shadows of the suite. She poured a drink, neat, quiet, untouched.
Till the auction tonight, she'll let her think Bella's ahead.