Chapter 56 “THE COST OF WAR”
Chapter 56 “THE COST OF WAR”
The morning light barely touched the Veritas office when the alert came. An email flagged by Marcus’ system. Camila… injured.
Sonia froze, hands mid-air over her keyboard. Her stomach dropped, a cold weight settling into her chest. How?
Lara appeared behind her almost immediately. “Sonia… it’s not life-threatening, but she’s in the hospital. Car accident. Driver lost control. The police are investigating. But it is quite suspicious, it feels planned."
Sonia’s eyes narrowed. She had been careful. Every move she’d made against the Mendez empire had been precise, surgical. Camila wasn’t supposed to be collateral.
“Collateral?” Sonia whispered. The word felt foreign and bitter on her tongue. I didn’t want this. I didn’t touch her… and yet here she is, hurt, because I exist. Because I fight. Helena would not hesitate to hurt Camila, her own child, though adopted since birth, if it will get to me. She is crazy!"
Her mind raced back to the last time she’d spoken with Camila, the way the young woman’s innocence had unsettled her. Helena’s machinations were far-reaching, and Camila—sweet, naive Camila—was now in the crossfire.
“Is this… my fault?” Sonia asked aloud her voice trembling. She didn’t want to admit it, didn’t want to feel the guilt, but it was there, heavy and raw.
Lara put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s not your fault, Sonia. You didn’t put her in that car. But… the Mendez Group’s influence stretches far. They’re watching, waiting. Camila was in the wrong place at the wrong time., and we could never have predicted that Helena would hurt her child if it will aid her plans. Even the devil does not hurt his own, yet she manages to prove how terribly, terrible she truly is, time and again.”
Sonia paced the floor, fingers clenching into fists. Her heart pounded in her ears. My war was supposed to be clean. Strategic. Controlled. I never wanted anyone to get hurt.
But the reality hit her like a brick. Every revenge, every corporate move, every legal probe—each risk had ripple effects. She had built an empire of consequences, and someone had paid the price.
Sonia leaned back against the window, staring at the city below. She could see every avenue, every street, every possibility—but she couldn’t undo this. Not this. Not the sharp, fragile edge of human vulnerability.
Am I still human? The thought whispered in her mind. Or have I become the thing I swore I’d destroy? Unfeeling, like the very people I fight against?
Her phone buzzed. It was a message from Marcus:
“I’ve got eyes on the hospital. Security protocols are up. No further threats. She’s stable. You can choose to come here.”
Sonia grabbed her coat, moving with a fury that was both calculated and chaotic. She couldn’t allow emotion to paralyze her—but the tension between her humanity and vengeance tightened in her chest.
Camila lay in a pristine, white room, bandages neatly placed over minor fractures. Her eyes opened slowly as Sonia entered.
“Sonia… You came!” Camila’s voice was weak but filled with warmth. She attempted to sit up, but ended up groaning, and falling back. “I’m… okay. Don’t… worry, you did not have to come, I did not expect you to. I have missed you so much Sonia,” Camila said as tears seeped from her eyes, “I am so glad you are alive; I saw the news, I thought you died!”
Sonia swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her guilt. “You shouldn’t be here, in a hospital,” she whispered, stepping closer. Her hands hovered near Camila, unsure if she could even touch her.
Camila smiled faintly. “Its fine. Don't worry. It’s not your fault. You fight for the truth. I’ve seen it. And I trust you. I am not sure of the specifics, but I guess something must be going on if you are digging this deeply, and the proofs I saw you post online, were truly shocking!”
Trust. The word was like a dagger and a balm all at once. Sonia’s lips trembled. I can’t protect everyone. But I can try. And I must.
She turned away slightly, biting back the tears she didn’t want anyone to see. This ongoing revenge plan… it changes people. I have to remember that. I have to… not lose myself completely.
Sonia stepped onto the balcony, the city skyline stretching into twilight. Camila’s steady breathing inside reminded her that innocence still existed, fragile but real.
How many more will suffer because of me? The question gnawed at her, sharper than any corporate battle, more cutting than any legal maneuver.
But she could not stop. Not now. Not when the Mendez empire still loomed, still plotted, still threatened everything she had rebuilt.
She looked at her reflection in the glass doors: sharp jawline, dark eyes, poised—but haunted. I am the Grim Reaper of my own making. And yet… I still feel. I still care. And that might be the one weakness I cannot afford.
Her phone buzzed again.
“Did you enjoy my gift? She has always had a soft spot for you, that little piece of shit, and how was my last gift item? What a pity my men could not enjoy assaulting her sexually, I guess it will have to wait till another time. Say hi to Lara, I like her Range Rover car, it will make a beautiful picture when bashed in, lots of fun, from your game partner, T."
It was sent from an unregistered IP address. Sonia’s heart turned cold, this sounded like Tessa, but could she maybe have ignored another person? Could there be a hidden hand in the dark playing her at her own game of chess? Or was she playing in the person’s game.
Unwilling to let fear govern her, she sent an SOS message to Marcus to arrange more security for Lara, Lena, Camila, and himself. They were very important to her.
Looking ahead, it hit her then.
She had not heard from Greg in a while, this was the longest he had stayed awfully quiet.
Not a call, a text, or a voice note. What if something happened? She pondered, but the silly, innocent girl in her was truly dead, because even now, she was sure Greg was fine.
She already knew of his involvement in the mafia for years!
But she just allowed him believe she was in the dark about it. Pretended not to notice.
“More people will get caught in the cross fire, the sooner I come to terms with this truth, the better,” she whispered softly to the wind.
Her heart throbbing, her eyes closed. Letting the wind blow around her, it's soft touch soothing.