Shadows of the Puppeteer

The weight of Avery's comments hung heavily in Elena's office. As Avery's mind raced to piece together the puzzle, Lucas, Damien, and Elena exchanged worried glances.

"Avery, what do you mean?" Lucas asked, his voice tense with worry. "Who has been watching us?"

Avery shook her head, her brow furrowed with frustration. "I'm not sure exactly, but..." She showed them the text on her cell phone. "It's not Volkov's. The style and the chess reference make me think of someone else."

Damien's eyes widened in shock. "The Architect," he said softly. The name echoed around the room. The Architect had been a mysterious figure in Avery's life, a mentor who had shaped her skills as a professional assassin. But recently, his influence had seemed to wane as he took control of her fate.