50. New Purpose?

Bastien

Niko and I step out into the cool evening, the manicured gardens of the mansion stretching out before us. The night air is crisp, a sharp contrast to the warmth of the house we’ve just left behind.

I break the silence first. “Niko, there’s something I need to tell you about Dmitry,” I say, my voice low. “He was Isla’s stepbrother.”

Niko stops in his tracks, turning to face me. “Isla’s stepbrother? That’s... complicated. How do you know it’s true?”

“I don't, but I'll be digging into it,” I admit. “He’s been a useful ally, but his ties to Isla... I do feel like it was a way to get me to go along with the plan. So, I can’t fully trust him.”

Niko nods, his face set in a stern line. “You think he could be a problem?”

“Possibly,” I reply. “We need to keep an eye on him.”

“We will,” Niko assures me. “Family complications or not, we can’t afford any loose ends.”

As we walk through the gardens, our conversation turns to the recent events. “With Popov out of the picture, it’s gonna stir