The warehouse fire glowed against the night sky, a furious orange blaze that painted the air with smoke and heat.
From the safety of the SUV, Isabella watched it burn, her jaw set, her knuckles white around the handle of the door.
Alexander sat beside her, calm as ever, though his sharp grey eyes stayed fixed on the building.
"She's daring you to come in," he said evenly.
"She wants you desperate."
Isabella glanced at him, her voice low and cold.
"Then let her think she's won."
For the first time that night, his mouth curved faintly — approval, or amusement, or both.
"That's my girl," he murmured.
They didn't wait for backup this time.
The two of them slipped through the shadows toward the burning building, the air growing hotter with every step.
Around them, Katerina's men moved like ghosts — dark shapes against the flames — but they didn't engage. Not yet.
Because Katerina wanted Isabella alive.
At least, for now.
Inside, the air was thick with smoke and heat, the walls groaning as fire chewed through wood and steel alike.
But Isabella kept moving, her eyes sharp and focused.
Every instinct screamed that Katerina was close.
And then — she saw her.
At the far end of the warehouse, framed by flames and shadows, stood Katerina Volkov.
She wore black again, her hair swept back, her lips painted red like blood.
She looked every inch the queen of ashes — calm, untouchable.
And beside her… Emilia.
Her sister's dress was torn now, her eyes wide and uncertain, but she stood at Katerina's side all the same, as if she didn't know where else to go.
"Isabella," Katerina called, her voice carrying easily over the roar of fire.
"You're even more stubborn than I thought."
Isabella stepped closer, ignoring the heat, ignoring the smoke.
"I told you," she said evenly, her voice cutting through the noise.
"This ends tonight."
Katerina laughed — a dark, low sound that sent a chill through the air despite the heat.
"Oh, darling," she purred.
"I'm counting on it."
The next few seconds happened fast.
One of Katerina's men lunged at Isabella from the shadows, but she was ready.
She ducked, swung the butt of her gun into his ribs, and sent him crashing into a stack of crates.
Alexander was already moving — a blur of precision and violence as he took down another two men with brutal efficiency.
But then Katerina moved, too — catching Emilia's wrist and pulling her deeper into the flames.
"Emilia!" Isabella shouted, starting after them — but Alexander grabbed her arm, pulling her back just as a beam overhead groaned and crashed to the ground where she'd been standing.
"Careful," he growled.
"She wants you rattled. Don't give her the satisfaction."
But Isabella wrenched free, her eyes locked on her sister's retreating form.
"I'm not leaving her," she hissed.
Alexander's jaw tightened, but he only nodded.
"Then don't get yourself killed."
The warehouse was falling apart now, the air choking and hot, pieces of ceiling raining down around them.
But Isabella kept moving, following the sound of Katerina's laughter through the smoke and fire.
Finally, she burst through a doorway into a smaller room — and froze.
Katerina stood at the far end, one arm wrapped around Emilia's shoulders, her other hand holding a gleaming knife pressed to her sister's throat.
"You're persistent," Katerina purred.
"I admire that. But this little game ends here."
Emilia's eyes were wide with panic now, her breath coming fast and shallow.
Isabella raised her gun slowly, her voice low and steady.
"Let her go."
Katerina's smile widened — dark and mocking.
"Oh, Isabella. Always so noble. Always so predictable."
The blade pressed closer against Emilia's skin, a thin line of blood appearing.
"You can have her," Katerina murmured, her eyes gleaming with malice.
"But you'll have to come take her."
For a moment, the world narrowed to just the three of them — the fire, the heat, the roar of collapsing walls all fading away.
And then Isabella moved.
She fired.
The shot hit the beam above Katerina's head, sending it crashing down between them in a shower of sparks and debris.
The knife clattered to the floor as Katerina stumbled back, coughing, her eyes blazing with fury.
Isabella lunged forward, grabbing Emilia's arm and yanking her away from the flames just as the ceiling behind them gave way.
They tumbled through the doorway and into Alexander's waiting arms.
But when Isabella turned back — Katerina was gone.
Once again.
Only her laughter remained, echoing through the collapsing building.
"You're learning," her voice called from somewhere unseen.
"But not fast enough."
And then the room behind them caved in completely.
Outside, Isabella stood in the cold night air, her chest heaving, her sister clinging weakly to her sleeve.
She stared at the burning warehouse, her jaw tight, her hands still steady.
Alexander stepped up beside her, his expression unreadable.
"She slipped away again," he said quietly.
Isabella's lips curled into a faint, dangerous smile.
"Not for long," she murmured.
"She thinks she's teaching me how to play."
She turned her head, her eyes cold and sharp.
"But what she doesn't know… is that I'm already winning."