The alley was narrow, lined with the shadows of towering buildings. Derrick’s heart pounded in his chest as he cautiously made his way forward. He knew he was being followed, but he wasn’t sure by whom. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness. It was Ivana. She stood there, a vision of cold elegance, her piercing blue eyes locked onto his. Derrick’s breath caught in his throat. They had shared so much in those brief days—laughter, secrets, and a night that felt like a lifetime. “Ivana,” he whispered, taking a tentative step forward. “I didn’t expect to see you here.” For a moment, something flickered in her eyes. The cold, calculating look softened, and Derrick saw the woman he had come to care for. Her lips twitched into the ghost of a smile, and for a heartbeat, it felt like they were back in that safe house, wrapped in each other’s arms. But the moment passed. The warmth vanished, replaced by a steely resolve. Ivana’s hand slipped inside her coat, fingers curling around the cold metal of her gun. “I’m sorry, Derrick,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. He barely had time to register the words before the gunshot rang out. Pain exploded in his chest, and he stumbled back, his vision blurring. Ivana watched him, her expression unreadable, as he collapsed to the ground. As darkness closed in, Derrick’s last thought was of the brief, fleeting moments they had shared—moments that now felt like a cruel dream.