Codename Black: Rise of the Fallen Commander

National Security Crisis

Victoria sat at the edge of the bed, staring at her phone in disbelief. The call she had just received was the last thing she had expected.

The phone buzzed again in her hand, signaling the incoming call. With a deep breath, she swiped to answer, hoping it was not Dorian Blackwood.

“Hello?”

"Victoria Hale," came a clear, poised voice on the other end. "This is Isabella Lancastriel."

Victoria swallowed, suddenly aware of the weight this conversation carried. "Yes, I— I’m here. To what do I owe this call, Miss Lancastriel?"

Isabella’s tone remained calm. "Let’s skip the formalities, Victoria. Heinrich, my father, has sent me to discuss potential business opportunities. He has reason to believe you’re in need of a solid financial backer, especially considering your… recent circumstances."

Victoria’s heart pounded in her chest. Heinrich’s daughter? Why now? Why me?

She struggled to find the right words. "I don’t understand," she finally said. "Why would your father want to back me? What exactly are you offering?"

There was a brief pause on the other line before Isabella continued. "What my father is offering is simple. Discreet financial support for any business ventures you decide to pursue. He believes in you, Victoria. In fact, we believe the Hale family’s position can be turned around with the right investments and decisions. The Lancastriels will quietly finance all of it."

The words hung in the air for a moment, too good to be true.

Why would Heinrich Lancastriel, a man as secretive as he is powerful, care about saving me?

Victoria couldn’t hide the skepticism in her voice. "This is… incredibly generous. But why? What does your family gain from this?"

Isabella’s voice didn’t waver, but there was something almost cryptic in her reply. "Sometimes, family helps family, Victoria. No strings attached. Consider this an opportunity to turn things around before it’s too late."

"Family?" Victoria’s confusion deepened. "You and I… we’re not related. At least not in any way that would explain why you’d make this offer."

A small, almost amused chuckle came from Isabella’s side. "Are you sure about that?"

Victoria blinked, her grip tightening around the phone. "What are you implying?"

There was a pause before Isabella responded. "Let’s just say, Victoria, that things are not always as they appear. Some connections run deeper than bloodlines on paper."

Victoria’s mind raced. Could this be true? No, it seemed impossible…

She bit her lip, unsure if she wanted to dig deeper.

“I appreciate the offer, but I need the truth,” Victoria said firmly. “Why now? Why would your family suddenly want to help me and fund my business?”

Isabella sighed, her tone softening a bit. “I know this is a lot to take in, but my father believes in you. We’ve been watching your situation, and we don’t want to see the Hale family fall apart. This is our way of giving you a fighting chance. Trust is crucial in business, and sometimes you have to accept help from unexpected sources.”

“But why me?” Victoria asked, her voice quieter. “I’m nobody.”

Isabella replied quickly and confidently, “You’re not a nobody. You have drive, and you haven’t let the challenges completely break you. That matters to us. And as for why now—timing is key. We want to step in before it’s too late.”

Victoria took a shaky breath, her thoughts swirling.

Family helps family…

Those words echoed in her mind. If this was real, if the Lancastriels truly wanted to help, it could be her way out.

But was it a trap? Could she trust them?

Before she could respond, Isabella continued, “I don’t expect you to trust me right away. But think about it—what other options do you have? Your family’s reputation is crumbling, and waiting will only make it worse. I’m offering you a chance to take control...”

That struck a chord. Victoria clenched her jaw, feeling the weight of the decision before her.

That’s exactly how Victoria felt—used, manipulated, trapped by forces beyond her control.

After a long pause, she finally spoke. “And what about the Blackwoods? They're not going to stop coming after me. What happens when they find out the Lancastriels are backing me?”

“Let them come. They're nothing compared to the enemies we’ve faced before. My father and I have dealt with much worse than them. Taking down someone who thinks they’re gods? That’s what we do,” Isabella replied confidently.

The ease with which she dismissed Dorian's family sent a shiver down Victoria’s spine. It felt unsettling, like dismantling someone was just part of Isabella’s everyday life.

“Okay,” Victoria said slowly, still processing everything. “But I need time to think. This is a huge decision.”

Isabella didn’t push her. “Take your time, but don’t take too long. Opportunities like this don’t wait. Call me when you’re ready, and we’ll get everything in place.”

Before Victoria could respond, Isabella added, “And remember, Victoria—the Lancastriels don’t make empty promises. When we say family helps family, we mean it. Think about that before you decide.”

The line went dead, leaving Victoria in stunned silence. She stared at her phone as if in a trance.

Just then, Alexander walked into the room. “What happened?”

Victoria blinked, trying to regain her composure. “I just… got a call. From Isabella Lancastriel.”

Alexander’s brow furrowed, but a discreet smile appeared. “And what did she want?”

“She wants to help,” Victoria said, her voice barely a whisper. “She said… family helps family.”

Alexander’s eyes narrowed. “And what do you think that means?”

Victoria shook her head. “I don’t know. But whatever it is… it’s big.”

***

Alexander leaned back in his chair, squinting at the secret message that had just come in on his laptop. It was from his trusted intel officer. As soon as the message was readable, Alexander focused on the details, absorbing a lot of information about Dorian Blackwood and his criminal group.

He hovered his fingers over the keyboard, reading through the report carefully. The Blackwoods were involved in serious crimes, including money laundering and political corruption, but they were also planning something much worse.

A terrorist attack in the nation’s capital.

Alexander felt a knot in his stomach. This changed everything.

Just then, his phone buzzed. It was Marcus Devereux.

"I see you got the intel," Marcus said, his tone calm.

"Yeah, I read it," Alexander replied, his voice tense. "Dorian and the Blackwoods are up to something big. How serious is it?"

Marcus lowered his voice, sounding worried. "It’s really bad. The Blackwoods are linked to extremist groups. This attack isn’t just about taking out rivals. They want to create enough chaos to take control while the government is weak. If it goes as planned, we’ll face a national security crisis."

Alexander’s jaw tightened. He had planned to confront Dorian to protect Victoria, but this was much bigger than he expected. "What’s the timeline? How much time do we have?"

"Not much. The event they’re targeting is in less than a week," Marcus said. "Dorian isn’t the mastermind. He’s involved, yes, but someone else is in charge. We haven’t figured out who yet, but if we start pressing Dorian, that puppet master might show themselves."

Alexander’s mind raced. Less than a week. He needed to stop Dorian and dismantle a whole network of crime and manipulation connected to the Blackwoods as soon as possible.

"We need to act quickly." Marcus kept his tone serious. "I have resources ready."

Alexander nodded, already thinking about his next moves. "Send me everything you have on the Blackwood network—who they work with, their finances, their weaknesses. We need to take them down from the inside. If they want chaos, we’ll give them a fight."

There was a brief pause before Marcus replied. "Alex… be careful. You’re up against some powerful people."

Alexander managed a tight smile. "I’ve been dealing with tough situations my whole life. This is just another challenge."

"Alright, I’ll keep you updated."

As the call ended, Alexander leaned back in his chair, focusing on the information on the screen. Dorian’s arrogant face flashed in his mind, fueling his determination. "You have no idea what’s coming for you, Dorian."

He shut the laptop and began to pace the small room. He needed to act fast, but keeping Victoria safe was his priority. She was already struggling with her own issues. But how long could he keep her in the dark?

Victoria stepped out of the bedroom just as Alexander was deep in thought. Their eyes met, and she spoke softly, her voice tinged with fatigue. "You’re pacing again. What’s going on?"

He paused, taking in her weary expression. She deserved to know some of the truth, but how much could he share?

"I’ve got some new intel," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Dorian is more involved in this mess than we thought."

She frowned and crossed her arms. "I’m not surprised. What’s he planning now?"

Alexander hesitated. He didn’t want to alarm her, but she needed to grasp the seriousness of the situation. "Let’s just say he’s aiming higher than we anticipated. It’s not just about us or your family anymore. There are bigger forces at play."

Her face paled slightly, but she held his gaze. "What kind of forces?"

"I can’t share all the details right now," he said, stepping closer. "But I need your trust. Things are going to move quickly, and it could get dangerous. You might hear things that make you question everything, but I’m doing this to protect you and to stop Dorian before it’s too late."