Chapter 33 The puppet master
Rafael
My hand connected with Marco's face before I could think.
The slap echoed through the basement.
Marco's head snapped to the side.
Blood dripped from his split lip.
"Are you out of your fucking mind?!" I roared. "Kill Flora? Kill her?!"
"Boss, wait…"
"No!" I grabbed him by his torn shirt and pulled him close. "I don't care how injured you are. I don't care what they did to you. You do not suggest killing her!"
"Rafael, stop!" Flora grabbed my arm. "Let him explain!"
"There's nothing to explain! He just said we should kill you!"
"That's not what I meant!" Marco coughed, wincing in pain. "Jesus, boss. Let me finish!"
I shoved him back into the chair. "You have ten seconds."
Marco wiped the blood from his mouth and looked me dead in the eye. "I said we should kill her. But I meant to fake it."
The words took a moment to register.
"What?"
"We would fake her death," Marco repeated. "Make the Architect think Flora is dead. Then they'll stop hunting her. They'll think they've won."
I stared at him. "You couldn't have led with that?"
"I was getting there before you assaulted me." Marco touched his swelling jaw. "You hit hard for someone who supposedly cares about me."
"Don't test me right now."
Flora stepped between us. "Wait. Fake my death? How would that even work?"
Marco leaned back, breathing hard. "Think about it. The Architect wants you dead. They've sent people after you. Blown up the house. They won't stop until they think you're gone. So we give them what they want."
"But how do we fake a death convincingly?" I asked.
"We stage it," Marco said. "Make it public. Make it bloody and make it impossible to question."
"And then what?" Flora asked. "I just... disappear?"
"Exactly." Marco nodded. "You disappear. Go underground with a new identity, a new life. While Rafael and I hunt down the Architect without them knowing you're alive."
I ran my hands through my hair. "That's insane."
"Is it?" Marco challenged. "Or is it the only way to keep her alive?"
Flora was quiet.
I looked at her. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking..." She took a deep breath. "I'm thinking he might be right."
"Flora, no…"
"Rafael, listen to me." She took my hands. "They're not going to stop. You said it yourself. They'll keep coming. Keep killing anyone in their way. How many more people have to die?"
"Not you," I said firmly. "You are not dying. Not even fake dying."
"Why not?"
"Because…" I couldn't find the words. "Because I can't lose you again."
I looked into her eyes. Seeing those green eyes that were supposed to be brown.
I was falling for her. There was no denying it.
"You won't lose me. I'll just be... somewhere else. Somewhere safe."
"And what about me?" The words came out broken. "What about us?"
Flora's eyes filled with tears. "There was no us, Rafael. Not really. I'm a replacement for your dead wife. A science experiment."
"Don't say that."
"It's true." She pulled her hands away. "And maybe this is how it's supposed to end. Maybe I was never meant to exist in your world."
"That's not…"
A voice from the doorway cut me off. "Well, isn't this touching?"
We all spun around.
A woman stood there. Mid-forties, maybe, elegantly dressed in a blood-red dress despite the chaos outside. Her dark hair was pulled back severely. Her smile was cold.
And she was pointing a gun at us.
"Who the hell are you?" I demanded.
"Don't you recognize me, Rafael?" The woman tilted her head. "I'm hurt. We've met before. Several times, actually."
I studied her face. Something about her eyes was familiar. But I couldn't place it.
"Dr. Sophia Russo," Marco said quietly. "Eva's special therapist."
The name hit me like a punch. Dr. Russo. Eva had seen her for just three years before she changed to Dr. Helena. Eva had said she wasn't comfortable with her.
"Very good, Marco," Dr. Russo said. "I'm impressed you remember me."
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"I'm here for her." Dr. Russo gestured with the gun at Flora. "She's caused enough trouble. Time to clean up the mess."
Flora stepped back. "You're working for the Architect."
"Working for?" Dr. Russo laughed.
"Oh, sweet child. I don't work for anyone. But I do have... interests that align with certain parties."
"You knew about Flora," I said.
"Of course I knew." Dr. Russo moved further into the room. "I knew everything. Eva told me everything in our sessions. Her dreams. Her fears. Her suspicions about having a sister."
My blood ran cold. "You're the one who told the Architect Eva was getting too close."
"I provided information, yes. Eva was becoming a liability. All that talk about finding her sister. About exposing the truth. She had to be stopped."
"You killed her," Flora whispered.
"I didn't pull any triggers. But I made sure the right people knew what needed to be done. They offered good money. My hands were tied." Dr. Russo's smile widened. "Eva died. Rafael spiraled into grief. And little Flora here was activated right on schedule. Perfect timing."
"You're insane," I said.
"I'm practical." Dr. Russo cocked the gun. "And right now, the practical thing is to eliminate Flora before she causes more problems."
"You'll have to go through me first," I stepped in front of Flora.
"How romantic." Dr. Russo's eyes gleamed. "But unnecessary. I don't need to kill you, Rafael. You're more useful alive. Broken, grieving, and easy to control."
"I'll never work for you."
"You already have. For five years." She laughed. "Every decision you've made. Every move were all influenced by careful manipulation. You're the perfect puppet."
Marco tried to stand. "Boss, she's stalling. There are more people coming."
"Smart man," Dr. Russo said. "Yes, my associates should be arriving any moment. We'll take Flora quietly. Stage a tragic accident. And Rafael, you'll be devastated all over again. The cycle continues."
"Like hell it does." I pulled my gun.
But Dr. Russo was faster. She fired.
The bullet hit the wall behind us.
"Next one goes through Flora's pretty face," Dr. Russo said calmly. "Now, put the gun down."
I hesitated.
"Rafael, don't…" Flora started.
"Put. It. Down." Dr. Russo said coldly.
Slowly, I lowered my gun to the floor.
"Good boy." Dr. Russo smiled. "Now kick it over here."
I kicked the gun across the floor. It slid to her feet.
"Excellent. Now we wait for…"
A gunshot rang out.
Dr. Russo's eyes went wide. She looked down at the blood spreading across her dress.
Then she fell.
Behind her stood Isabella, holding a smoking gun.
"Sorry I'm late," Isabella said. "Traffic was hell."