Chapter 25

“I can't continue like this,I have to do something about this now. I can't sit here doing nothing; what if Ethan goes there and gets a clue as the one behind this attack? He's definitely going to kill me without thinking twice. I have to do something about this right now.”

She immediately reaches for her phone. “I need to call this idiot because he caused this.if he had done a clean and good job for me as I have instructed, we won't be in this situation right now.”

*Meet me at our usual location right now.*

Sophia stormed out of her room, walking quietly out of the house making sure nobody saw her while leaving.

Sophia's palms were sweaty as she walked down the lonely and deserted street at midnight just to meet the hitman.as she turned a figure emerged from the shadows.

“You texted,” the hitman asked, his face covered with a black hoodie.

“We need to talk.”

Sophia spoke in haste and annoyance.

“How do we fix this? I can't risk getting caught by Ethan, that I am the one behind the Ayla attack that almost took her life.

The man replied, ”What do you suggest we do?"

The hitman's reply made Sophia really angry,she immediately got close to the hitman trying to slap him. but was stopped by him.

“Don't you ever think of repeating this particular mistake ever again or I promise that would be your last.”

Sophia's mind was racing, “I'm sorry I won't repeat it again,” she said immediately, shaking.

“Go back home, it's dangerous. If anyone notices you are not home by this time of the night, it will spell doom for you.”

She knew she had to take action, to protect herself and everything she held dearly. but how?

She nodded,”I shoould get going now.” As the hit man made a turn Sophia stopped him.

“Why should I be one thinking of how to get out of this mess? I paid a huge sum of money to you for this job, but what did I get in return?" she asked screaming. "You are a total disappointment I gave you a simple assignment to kill Ayla and leave no traces but you ended up ruining everything, and now you are asking me to go think of what next we should do. You must be kidding me right now!”

The hitman responded, "Like I said earlier, go home and think of what to do. If anyone starts to suspect you, trust me, you will have your head missing from your neck, I am sure by now you already know what your beloved Ethan would do to you if he finds out you are the one behind Ayla's attack.”

“Go now!” the hitman said angrily, Sophia got really scared as she ran through the lonely and deserted street back to the house.

Immediately she got back to her room and started thinking of a way to save herself.

********

It was a new day. Sophia's eyes were swollen. It's obvious she didn't sleep at all. Her mind was restless as she was having different thoughts and making plans in her mind, she stepped out to get fresh air only to enter the room and meet Ethan, standing next to the bed.

Ethan came home to shower and also to take fresh clothes back to the hospital for Ayla.

Sophia walked in, shocked to see Ethan in the house; fear was seen all over her, it was so obvious that her phone slipped and fell from her hands in fear.

Ethan moved close to her,

“Sophia,I need to ask you something,” Ethan said, his eyes intense.

Sophia's heart skipped a beat, had she been caught, how did he discover her secret?

“What is it,” Sophia asked, snapping out of her own thoughts and trying to sound calm.

“I've been investigating Ayla's attack," Ethan said. ”And I think I'm getting close to finding out who the person behind the attack is," he said looking into Sophia's eyes.

Sophia's mind raced, as she wondered if Ethan suspected her or found a clue.

She decided to act ignorant,Sophia asked how close are you from finding out the truth, pretending to be interested.

Ethan hesitated.

“I found a witness who saw someone suspicious hovering over the scene the attack took place a day before that night.”

Sophia's palms became very sweaty, ‘did this witness see her?

“Who was it?” Sophia asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Ethan's eyes narrowed. “That's the thing, the witness didn't get a good look.but they did mention something strange.”

Sophia's heart pounded. “What was it ?"

“The witness said the person came with a female.”

Sophia's eyes widened, had she been caught?

“That's weird,” Sophia said, trying to sound puzzled.

“I think it's more than just a coincidence,” Ethan said.”I think whoever attacked Ayla is connected to the kidnapping of the missing pups.”

Sophia was sweating. Ethan was getting close, but he didn't still suspect her.

“I'll help you fix something to eat," Sophia offered, trying to sound sincere.

Ethan's expression softened.

“Thanks, Sophia.I appreciate it.”

Sophia smiled, relief washing over her Abit.

For now, her secret was safe.

But as Ethan walked away, Sophia's smile faded.

She knew she couldn't keep her secret hidden forever, so she needed to clear all traces leading to her.

As Ethan made his way to the bathroom to shower his phone rang,

“Ethan, we found something,” his Delta said.

“What is it?" Ethan asked.

“Someone caught a glimpse of the attack when it happened, she's right here with me and I'm about to investigate it now.”

Sophia's heart skipped a beat. ‘Did this person see her.’

“I'll meet you at the hospital very soon,” Ethan said over the phone to the person on the other end, trying to sound calm

“Okay, see you soon,” the delta replied, already distracted by the new lead.

Ethan rushed out of the house, driving straight to the hospital.

Immediately Sophia noticed Ethan was out of the house, she immediately pulled out her phone and called her accomplice.

“I think they found a clue, someone saw us, what are we going to do?" she asked.

“Let's meet now.”

Sophia's heart kept banging hard, she paced her room restlessly.

Did the witness see her?

She couldn't let the witness reveal whatever he or she saw, “who could this witness be?” she muttered to herself.

Sophia stopped pacing and gazed out the window.

She needed a plan. And fast.

Sophia's thoughts turned to her accomplice.

She dialed his number.

“Have you found anything yet?" she asked immediately he answered the phone.

His voice was calm. “About what?”

“Ethan,” Sophia replied. “He's going to talk to the witness tomorrow.”

The hitman's voice tone turned serious.

“We need to take care of this witness,” he said.

“But how?” She asked

“Don't worry I will fix this. I will get back to you in a few hours from now.” He said before hanging up.

Sophia dropped her phone frustrated and angry. How would he fix this? He doesn't even know who this witness is. Is this person a male or female?

“I need to do something about this, I can't rely on this good-for-nothing accomplice and remain in this mess because of his incompetence.”

Sophia was seen going back and forth in the room thinking of what to do. I have to resolve this and now. I can't be traced to this not now.

She began to plan her moves. “Firstly I have to make sure I clear all doubt Ethan has that I may be behind this attack. What can I do?” Sophia asked herself aloud.

“Should I go to the hospital and see Ayla, that way Ethan might be convinced am innocent she thought. No, Sophia you can't go there, it's too risky,” she said to herself.

She got distracted by the noise she heard from outside.

“Who's there?” she asked but nobody answered, immediately everywhere was silent,

“Who is that?” she asked again but nobody responded.

Fear gripped her as she stepped outside to find out who was making the noise outside, as she got to the door her phone rang.

She turned to pick up her call.

She looked at her phone her hitman was the caller, she sighed before she picked up, her heart beating fast

“Any news,” she asked. The hitman was silent for a few seconds before he finally spoke.

“I have taken care of the witness and any trace leading to you, " her hitman replied, "but there's a slight problem," he said.

“Again!” Sophia said, scared of what might have gone wrong again.

“On my way out of the scene, I noticed someone was following me so I lured the person to a lonely road and I killed him. He was a witness so you don't have anything to worry about again.”