Twisted Secrets

"What is that?" Mr. Francis stares at the document I threw at his desk.

"My resignation letter."

He laughs as I take a seat. "You're joking."

"Nope. I, Sofia Nina Volkov, am resigning from the royals."

"What?! Why? Is this about you going out in the field- because you don't ever have to again if it was-"

"It is that. Francis I got kidnapped and tortured by Luna Cortez. For the first time I was on the other end of the knife and I hated it. And I know it was a one time thing but... I can't do it anymore. The screams remind me too much of mine- the walls are too close a shade to the ones in the basement and the blood, fucking hell the blood- I can't. You know I respect you. So do me a once in a lifetime favor, respect my decision."

"What happened with her?"

"Excuse me?"

"Is she dead? In a cell? Getting tortured? Sofia you're one of my best tormentors, I wanna know."

"Well guess you'll have to live in curiosity for the rest of your life."

He chuckles. "You and your mind games. I'm guessing you didn't take out the target?"

"Nope."

"You are telling me the full story another day, but for now. You might as well go tell the office of your departure. Don't be a ghost."

Right as I'm about to head out the door I hear him yell from behind me. "Sofia!"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for everything you did for my company, I'll always owe you one."

"Expiration date?"

"The same day my body expires."

"So in a week or two?"

"I'm not that old."

"The grays are screaming otherwise."

He chuckles. "You know you'll never truly be free of this life don't you?"

"Yeah."

"But you can a handle it. And I know that you know."

"Good."

"Goodbye my protégé."

"Goodbye my mentor." I slightly curtsy see to him before making my exit.

I've thought about it day and night. It's time I leave this life behind before I'm in too deep to take a vacation.

"So you're leaving?" Carson asks, him, Carrie, Jack, and Maya at her desk.

"Yeah." I say with a small smile.

"We never finished training though?" Jack says with his boyish grin and his Australian accent.

"What am I? A dead roach?" Maya side-eyes him. He chuckles before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, making her scowl slowly melt.

"I know I won't be your coworker anymore, but I do expect to be at the wedding." I eye them both.

"Sure you can be the dog that carries the ring barrier." Carson shrugs.

"But I thought you already took that spot?"

He sends me a glare before his eyes turn into something softer. "If you ghost me I will hunt your family done until I secure your location. You hear me Volkov?"

"I'm not the one who takes weeks to respond to a simple text." I remind him.

"It was one time!... I'll miss you."