Nikolai sokolov

The war room smelled of stale coffee, cigarette smoke, and failure. Twenty-one days had passed since you disappeared, and yet nobody had brought you home. Around the table sat generals, intelligence officers, and politicians, all discussing theories that had led nowhere.

Nikolai Sokolov stood quietly at the back, listening. His attention briefly shifted to the screen displaying your photograph. Twenty-three years old. Daughter of General Viktor Ivannov.

Dark hair. Green eyes. A bright smile that seemed completely out of place in a military briefing.

"Captain Sokolov." The room fell silent.

Nikolai met General Ivannov's gaze. "Sir."

The general slid a file across the table. "I want Raven to take over." Several officers exchanged uneasy looks. Raven Unit's reputation preceded them.

"Officially, this operation doesn't exist," the general continued.

Nikolai opened the file, skimming through reports and photographs of you. University events. Charity work. Ordinary moments from an ordinary life.

"What are my orders?" he asked. For a moment, General Ivannov looked less like a commander and more like a father.

"Bring my daughter home."

Nikolai closed the file. A simple order. The most dangerous kind. Still, his answer came without hesitation.

"I will."