line of duty and desire

When you dance with the devil ever misstep could be your last

Gift and Brian exchanged a frantic glance. "Shhh" she whispered, placing a finger gently on her lips to signal the doctor and Toche to stay quiet.

She took cautious steps toward the window, her heart racing as she realized the gravity of the moment.

Nicolai had arrived!

As he stepped out of the car with hands folded behind him as usual headed for the entrance, her heart thudded violently against her ribcage, the sound ringing in her ears.

Turning to Brian, she murmured, "Jefe is here."

Brian's face paled, his anxiety palpable as he realized the weight of the situation. Nicolai rarely left the temple unless there was a serious problem to address or a f*ck up he has to treat, and today was no exception.

Before Brian could react, Nicolai barged into the room, his imposing height amplifying the tension that already hung thick in the air as his gaze swept over them all, making it clear that he was not here for casual conversation.

The doctor felt a surge of panic at the sight of their distress while Toché was nearly unconscious. Turning to identify the cause of their panic, her eyes met Nicolai's, and she shuddered at his commanding presence before returning to her tasks. However, her anxiety intensified as she realized there was a significant possibility they might eliminate her since she had seen his face without a mask, and he was likely be their leader.

Brian appeared utterly terrified, his face reflecting pure panic as he stood there in nothing but a singlet and boxers, the absurdity of his attire only amplifying his anxiety.

Nicolai's gaze finally locked onto Gift, and as he freed his hands from behind his back, she noticed the gun he held, complete with a silencer. Although her mind raced with panic, she refused to show it, she knows Nicolai can't hurt her not because she's special but rather it's against his principle, standing her ground and maintaining unwavering eye contact with him.

He kept his focus on her, swiftly and skillfully raising left his hand sideways without breaking his gaze and firing a shot at Toché. Gift didn't allow herself to panic;

she understood that vulnerability would not serve her well against Nicolai, with great effort she grounded the turmoil happening inside of her.

Breaking their eye contact, she watched in horror as the bullet struck Toché's forehead, perfectly aimed between his eyes— he wasn't left handed but that was too much of a clean shot fired without a moment's hesitation.

It was the doctor's turn to panic, her voice caught in her throat as she knelt in shock, blood dripping from the bed where Toché lay. Brian, too, remained vigilant, knowing better than to succumb to fear.

Nicolai, as lethal as ever, hummed softly, closing his eyes as the world around them stilled. Then, with chilling precision, he raised his hand again and shot Brian in the neck. Gift's eyes remained fixed on Toché, struggling to let go of the sight before her, even as she witnessed Brian crumple to the ground, clutching his neck as blood poured from the wound his body giving up to ghost.

The doctor was eerily quiet, sensing that Nicolai had little patience for pleas. Gift stood frozen, absorbing the weight of the moment while struggling against the lump in her throat that threatened to spill over.

"tan fácil como eso"

easy as that

Nicolai murmured too calmly for someone ghosted two souls, finally raising his hand to rub his face, closing his eyes in the process. He hummed again, trying to contain his anger.

"Que los desafíos que enfrentamos se deban a que no tenemos otra opción y no lo hacemos de buena gana"

Let it be that the challenges we face are because have no choice and not willingly

He exhaled and hummed again, attempting to rein in the anger that simmered just beneath the surface. He couldn't fathom how reckless she had been, failing to improvise when it could have worked in her favor.

In all this she still remained quiet her eyes glued back onto Toche's body, knowing with Nicolai words were something to carefully chew and consider before speaking.

" Su sangre estaba por toda la escena del crimen, y este bastardo dejó su identificación falsa"

his blood was all over the crime scene, and this b*st*rd left his fake id

he paused, the weight of his words hanging in the air.

"¡también podrías entregar mi cabeza en bandeja a los federales!"

you could as well hand my head on a platter to the feds!

he exclaimed, dramatically placing a hand on his head as if to take it off for her to hold.

"Jefe—" she barely managed to say before he interrupted her.

" Enumera los pasos que pensé"

List the steps I thought you

His tone was low but loaded with an authority that wanting to make it clear she had made a mistake. She swallowed hard, feeling the knot in her throat choking her as she took deep breaths, silently cursing the tightness in her chest.

" Entender—" she started to say, but her voice faltered, as he interrupted her.

"en voz alta, para que el fantasma de Toche pueda oír!"

Loudly, so Toche's ghost can heart his mistakes!

he spat with anger, his nostrils flaring, causing the doctor to flinch and tremble. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, stifling her sobs, while he didn't even spare a glance at her, he proceeded to clasped his hands behind his back as usual.

Gift swallowed hard against the knot, gathering all her courage. In that moment, she finally felt capable. With great determination and confidence she released

"entender el orden, elaborar estrategias, ejecutar, cubre tus huellas t, ejer tus cabos sueltos"

Understand the order, strategize, execute, cover your tracks, knit loose ends.

" Bueno, no estás tejiendo"

Well, i guess you're not done weaving.

he remarked, casting a pointed glance at the doctor, who was desperately still trying to muffle her cries with her hands still pressing against her mouth.

Nicolai spared her only because he had a twisted code that prevented him from inflicting harm on women—at least not in a direct manner.

"Hazlo en otro lado, no quiero que los cuerpos se unan,"

Do it elsewhere; I don't want the bodies to link.

he commanded,

his voice dripping with authority.

"Sí, jefe,"

Yes boss

she replied, her voice steady and filled with resolve, as she turned her attention to the doctor, who was now unable to contain her anguish and began to sob uncontrollably.

Frustration bubbled within Gift, and in a swift motion, she pulled her gun from the waistband of her pants and slammed it against the doctor's temple, causing her to slump to the side.

With a surge of urgency, she fitted her fingers in surgical gloves from the medical kit fulfilling the fourth rule ie covering your tracks.

She began to drag the doctor's limp body through Brian's blood out of the room. Just as she reached the threshold, Nicolai's voice cut through the tension.

"Enviaré a limpiar, pero Azzaria, esto está lejos de terminar,"

I'll send for cleanup, but know this is far from over.

he stated ominously.

A chill crept down Gift's spine but she continued to pull the doctor along the same back route that led to the garage, leaving big traces of blood.

She maneuvered her way through the dimly lit passage, finally tossing the doctor into the trunk of another spare van parked in the garage.

She sped off to carry out yet another directive from Nicolai, her resolve unwavering as she embraced the task ahead.