CHAPTER 8 — Protocol Black
CHAPTER 8 — Protocol Black
No one spoke.
The words "erase every person who now knows the truth" lingered in the room like a death sentence.
Sofia sat motionless.
Her hands still clutched the faded photograph of the woman smiling down at a newborn wrapped in a pink blanket.
Her mother.
The woman she had believed abandoned her.
The woman who, according to Evelyn, had spent her final days trying to save her.
A tear rolled silently down Sofia's cheek.
"I spent my whole life wondering why no one wanted me..."
she whispered.
Evelyn's voice was gentle.
"She wanted you more than anything."
Sofia looked up.
"Then why didn't she come back?"
Evelyn closed her eyes.
"Because she never had the chance."
Silence settled over the room once again.
---
Alexander slowly stood.
His face had changed.
The shock was gone.
Now there was only focus.
"If Protocol Black has been approved..."
he said quietly,
"...how much time do we have?"
Evelyn answered without hesitation.
"Not much."
"They always move within forty-eight hours."
Elena felt the blood drain from her face.
"They're coming here?"
Evelyn nodded.
"They already know where you are."
---
At that exact moment...
Nearly fifteen miles away...
A black SUV stopped outside Alexander's office building.
Three men stepped out.
Well dressed.
Professional.
Each carried a leather briefcase.
They looked more like executives than killers.
One pressed a small device against the security panel.
The lock clicked open.
Within seconds...
They disappeared inside.
---
Back at the house...
Alexander's phone vibrated.
Unknown Number.
He answered.
No one spoke.
For nearly ten seconds...
Only breathing.
Then a calm male voice said,
"Mr. Marino."
Alexander stiffened.
"Who is this?"
"We appreciate intelligent people."
A pause.
"We're offering you one opportunity."
Alexander remained silent.
"Leave the girl."
"Walk away."
"Your wife lives."
"Your children live."
"Your business survives."
Another pause.
"If you refuse..."
The voice became almost polite.
"You already know the alternative."
The line went dead.
---
Elena had heard enough.
"They threatened us."
Alexander nodded.
"They're confident."
Evelyn quietly added,
"That's how the Council works."
"They never raise their voices."
"They simply remove options."
---
Javier suddenly stood.
"No."
Everyone looked at him.
"I'm done running."
Alexander studied him carefully.
"What are you saying?"
Javier swallowed hard.
"There are things..."
"...things I never questioned."
He walked toward the fireplace.
Behind an old painting...
He removed a small metal key.
Everyone stared.
"What is that?" Sofia asked.
"My mother never knew I kept a copy."
He opened a hidden drawer.
Inside...
Lay a black leather notebook.
No title.
No markings.
Only a silver emblem embossed into the cover.
Evelyn's eyes widened instantly.
"Oh my God..."
Javier looked at her.
"You recognize it?"
She nodded slowly.
"The Council Ledger."
Alexander frowned.
"What's inside?"
Javier carefully opened the first page.
Every page contained names.
Dates.
Companies.
Properties.
Political donations.
Judges.
Police officials.
Hospital administrators.
Hundreds of entries.
Alexander felt his heart sink.
"This isn't a business network..."
Evelyn answered quietly.
"It's the entire system."
---
Sofia turned another page.
Then suddenly froze.
"What..."
Her voice barely came out.
"My name."
Everyone leaned closer.
There it was.
SOFIA MARINO
STATUS:
RECOVERABLE ASSET
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
MARITAL TRANSFER
SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:
PROPERTY ACQUISITION
FINAL OPTION:
PROTOCOL BLACK
Elena covered her mouth.
"They classified you like property..."
Sofia stared at the page in disbelief.
She wasn't a person.
Not to them.
She was an asset.
---
Alexander continued flipping through the ledger.
Then another familiar name appeared.
His own.
ALEXANDER MARINO
STATUS:
UNAFFILIATED
RISK LEVEL:
MODERATE
OBSERVATION ONLY
Then...
Someone had written across the page in red ink.
UPDATED:
HIGH PRIORITY THREAT
Alexander slowly looked up.
"They've already changed my file."
Evelyn nodded.
"Because now you've become dangerous."
---
Across the city...
Inside the Council chamber...
One of the members entered hurriedly.
"Chairwoman."
Carmen looked up.
"What is it?"
"The ledger."
A pause.
"We've lost it."
For the first time since the meeting began...
Carmen's calm expression cracked.
"Impossible."
The man swallowed.
"It was removed from Javier's residence years ago."
Silence.
Then Carmen slowly stood.
Her voice became colder than anyone in the room had ever heard.
"Cancel surveillance."
Every member looked confused.
She continued,
"They no longer need watching."
She looked directly at the oldest Council member.
"They need eliminating."
The old man nodded once.
"Authorize Phase Two."
Carmen didn't hesitate.
"Approved."
A red folder was placed onto the table.
Stamped across the front were only two words.
TOTAL SILENCE
---
Back at Alexander's home...
The security alarm suddenly activated.
A loud warning echoed through every room.
MOTION DETECTED.
PERIMETER BREACH.
Alexander rushed toward the monitor.
Three cameras had gone black.
Then four.
Then six.
One by one...
Every outdoor camera lost signal.
Until only one remained.
The front gate.
On the screen...
A single black sedan slowly rolled through the open entrance.
Its headlights shut off.
The engine stopped.
The driver's door opened.
A man wearing black gloves stepped out.
Then another.
Then another.
None of them carried visible weapons.
They simply walked toward the house...
Like men arriving for a scheduled appointment.
Evelyn's face turned white.
May you like
She whispered only three words.
"They're here."
