The room became silent after the message appeared on the screen.
"That was only the beginning."
Isabella felt a cold shiver run down her back.
Alexander stared at the monitor, his expression turning darker with every second. His jaw tightened as if he already knew what the message meant.
"Who sent it?" Isabella asked quietly.
Alexander didn't answer immediately. His fingers moved across the keyboard, trying to trace the signal.
After a few seconds, he exhaled slowly.
"Blocked number," he said.
"That means?"
"It means whoever sent this doesn't want to be found."
Isabella wrapped her arms around herself.
"That's comforting," she muttered.
Alexander glanced at her.
"That was sarcasm."
"I noticed."
She looked toward the broken door. The cold night air was now entering the safe house through the damaged entrance.
"Well," she said nervously, "your expensive museum door is officially destroyed."
Alexander looked at the door.
"Yes."
"You said this place was safe."
"It was."
"Very convincing," she said, pointing at the broken wood. "Next time let's stay somewhere less… breakable."
Despite the tension, Alexander almost smiled again.
"You complain a lot for someone who just survived an attack."
"I think I deserve the right to complain."
"That's fair."
He walked toward the unconscious attacker and checked his pockets carefully.
Isabella followed him slowly.
"Do you think he works for Lara?" she asked.
Alexander searched the man's jacket.
"No identification."
"Great. Mystery man."
Then Alexander found something.
A small metal coin.
He looked at it carefully.
Isabella leaned closer.
"What is that?"
Alexander turned the coin toward the light.
A symbol was engraved on it.
A black wolf.
Alexander's expression instantly hardened.
"That's not good."
"What does it mean?"
He stood up slowly.
"It means this is bigger than Lara."
Isabella blinked.
"I'm sorry, bigger than the person who already tried to ruin our lives?"
"Yes."
"That's… not comforting."
Alexander walked back to the security panel.
"This symbol belongs to a private group."
"A gang?"
"Something worse."
She stared at him.
"What could be worse than a gang?"
"Professionals."
Her stomach dropped again.
"You mean… hired people?"
Alexander nodded.
"They don't attack unless someone pays them."
Silence filled the room.
Isabella whispered the question she was afraid to ask.
"Who would pay them to come after us?"
Alexander didn't answer.
But both of them already had the same thought.
Lara.
Isabella shook her head.
"No. I still don't believe she would go this far."
Alexander crossed his arms.
"You underestimate people."
"And you overestimate their evil."
"I've seen enough of the world to know better."
She walked closer to him, frustrated.
"You think everyone is a villain."
"I think everyone has a price."
"That's a terrible way to live."
"It keeps people alive."
Isabella sighed.
"You really need therapy."
Alexander looked confused.
"Therapy?"
"Yes."
"What would I say?"
She crossed her arms dramatically.
"Hello, my name is Alexander and I trust absolutely no one."
He tilted his head slightly.
"That sounds accurate."
She groaned.
"You're impossible."
"And you say that every day."
"That's because you give me new reasons every day!"
Alexander leaned slightly against the desk.
For a moment, the tension between them softened.
Then he looked serious again.
"We can't stay here."
"Again?"
"Yes."
She threw her hands in the air.
"This is the third safe house!"
"Which means someone keeps finding us."
"Very reassuring."
Alexander began collecting a few things quickly.
"We leave in ten minutes."
"Ten minutes?!" she exclaimed.
"I need at least thirty!"
"For what?"
She pointed at herself.
"Do you see the condition of my hair?"
Alexander stared at her blankly.
"You're worried about your hair?"
"Yes!"
"We were attacked."
"And I still have standards!"
He rubbed his forehead slightly.
"You're unbelievable."
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
He almost laughed again.
Almost.
Then Isabella looked toward the unconscious man.
"What about him?"
Alexander grabbed a small rope from a drawer and tied the attacker's hands.
"I'll call someone to collect him."
"You have people for that too?"
"Yes."
"Do you have people for everything?"
"Mostly."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Are you secretly running a spy agency?"
"No."
"Because that would explain a lot."
He ignored that comment.
Instead, he handed her a small flashlight.
"What's this for?"
"In case we lose power."
"Comforting again."
Then suddenly Isabella stopped.
"Wait."
Alexander looked at her.
"What?"
She pointed at the screen.
"The message."
"What about it?"
She stepped closer.
"It says 'That was only the beginning.'"
"Yes."
"That means…"
"They're coming again."
Her face turned pale.
Alexander looked toward the dark street outside.
"They won't stop now."
Isabella swallowed.
"Well… that's just fantastic."
He grabbed his jacket and walked toward her.
"Stay close to me."
She looked at him.
"I always do."
For a moment their eyes met.
There was fear in hers.
Determination in his.
But something else too.
Something softer.
Alexander gently touched her shoulder.
"I won't let anything happen to you."
She tried to joke again.
"You better not. I still haven't punched any villains yet."
"You'd use pillows."
"I will hit you again."
"That would prove my point."
She glared at him.
"You're very annoying for a bodyguard."
"You're very dramatic for a civilian."
"Excuse me?!"
Before their argument could continue
A faint sound came from outside.
A car engine.
Alexander froze.
Isabella whispered, "Tell me that's not another black car."
Alexander slowly looked at the screen.
It was worse.
Two black cars.
His voice became very calm.
"They're back."
Isabella stared at the monitor.
"Oh come on!"
Alexander grabbed her hand again.
"This time," he said quietly, "we don't fight."
"Then what do we do?"
He looked toward the hidden hallway behind the kitchen.
"We disappear."
Her eyes widened.
"You mean… run?"
"Yes."
She took a deep breath.
"Okay."
Then she added quietly,
"But next time I really am fighting someone."
Alexander smirked slightly.
"We'll see."
Outside, the car doors opened.
More shadows stepped onto the street.
Inside the safe house, Alexander pulled Isabella toward the hidden exit.
Because tonight was no longer just an attack.
It was the start of a hunt.
And someone powerful had just entered the game.