CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY NINE – DEATH OF A LOVER

Back at the compound, Sergei was waiting for them. His face was grim as he took in their battered appearance. "Report," he said simply. Cassie stepped forward, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. "Mission accomplished, sir. We secured the intel and dealt a significant blow to the Vory's operations. However, we encountered heavier resistance than expected. There were... casualties on our side." Sergei nodded, his expression unreadable. "The intel?" Cassie handed over the documents and hard drives they'd retrieved. Sergei examined them briefly before looking back at Cassie. "Well done," he said. "You made some tough calls out there, but you got the job done. Get cleaned up and rested. We'll debrief fully tomorrow." As the team dispersed, Alissa approached Cassie. "You did good out there," she said softly. "How are you holding up?" Cassie sighed, the weight of the night's events settling on her shoulders. "I'm... I don't know," she admitted. "It was intense. I've never been res