PROLOGUE
Four Years Ago
The lights of Moscow glittered beneath the night sky as the Russo family's private jet soared through the clouds. Inside the luxurious cabin, laughter replaced the usual silence that accompanied business trips.
Viktor Russo loosened his tie and smiled warmly at his wife.
"I can't believe our little girl is sixteen already."
Elena Russo chuckled softly as she closed the file she had been reviewing.
"She'll never forgive us if we're late for her birthday."
"We'll make it," Viktor assured her. "She insisted we return tonight, remember? She said birthdays only come once a year."
Elena smiled, her eyes filled with affection.
"She's growing up too fast."
Back at the Russo estate, hundreds of miles away, balloons decorated the grand dining hall. The staff hurried from room to room making the final preparations.
Carissa stood by the large living-room window, still wearing the elegant dress her mother had chosen before leaving on the business trip.
"They'll be here soon," she whispered to herself, smiling.
She glanced at the clock for what felt like the hundredth time that evening.
Outside, the first snowflakes began to fall.
---
In a secluded office overlooking Moscow's skyline, another man watched the same snow in complete silence.
His fingers rested on a crystal glass filled with whiskey.
A phone vibrated on the desk.
"They've entered Russian airspace," a voice reported.
The man didn't even look up.
"Proceed."
"Sir... once we do this, there's no turning back."
His expression remained unreadable.
"They made their choice years ago."
The line went dead.
---
Thousands of feet above the ground...
A warning alarm suddenly echoed through the cockpit.
The pilots exchanged alarmed glances.
"Engine failure!"
"That's impossible!"
Another alarm screamed through the cabin.
Passengers gripped their seats.
The aircraft shook violently.
Elena reached for her husband's hand.
"Viktor..."
He held her tightly.
"It's going to be alright."
But even he no longer believed those words.
The cabin lights flickered.
Oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling.
The jet tilted sharply.
Screams filled the cabin.
Outside, flames spread across one wing.
Within seconds, the aircraft disappeared into the darkness.
---
The following morning...
BREAKING NEWS
A privately owned Russo International aircraft crashed late last night.
Authorities have confirmed that there were no survivors.
Business leaders around the world are mourning the tragic loss of Russo International founders Viktor and Elena Russo.
Investigators believe the crash was caused by mechanical failure.
---
Across the city, inside a modest house, a woman slowly folded the newspaper.
A faint smile crept onto her lips.
"So..."
she murmured.
"It begins."
Upstairs, sixteen-year-old Carissa sat on the edge of her bed, clutching her phone.
She had called her parents countless times.
Every call went unanswered.
A knock came at her bedroom door.
The woman entered with tears in her eyes.
"Oh, sweetheart..."
she whispered as she wrapped Carissa in a hug.
"I'm so sorry."
Carissa's knees gave way beneath her.
"No..."
Her voice cracked.
"No... they're coming home."
The woman held her tighter.
"They're gone."
Outside the bedroom window, snow continued to fall over Moscow.
Far away, hidden in the shadows of another city, a young man stared at the television broadcasting the same heartbreaking news.
His jaw tightened.
He didn't mourn because he knew the Russo family.
He mourned because he knew exactly who had ordered their deaths.
And from that moment on...
he hated the man even more.
