Reborn as a Surgeon: The Mafia Queen's Second Life

Alina's blood felt like ice in her veins.

"What do you want?" she hissed sharply, her eyes locked on Vasko, every muscle taut with caution.

Vasko stared back, as if weighing his options.

"I didn't come here to kill you ... at least, not yet."

Her heart pounded so hard it hurt. She fought to steady her breath, scanning for any chance to survive.

"Then why are you here?"

Vasko took a step closer. Too close. His breath brushed against her skin.

"Because someone wants to see you."

Alina's body froze. "Who?"

A thin, cruel smile curled on his lips, but his eyes stayed cold. "Marco."

The world shattered around her.

"No ... that's impossible," she whispered.

Vasko patted her cheek. Gentle—yet laced with menace.

"Believe it. I'm under orders to bring you to him. Alive."

Alina swallowed hard. If Marco truly wanted her ... this wasn't a warning. This was an execution.

---

Inside the storage facility, Leo arrived at the scene, only to be met by chaos. Supplies scattered. Blood pooled. Bodies littered the ground. The surviving soldiers fought with what little strength they had left.

Mijan rushed to a battered officer still standing despite the blood seeping through his uniform. "Report. Now!"

The officer wiped the blood from his mouth.

"They came in a small unit, but highly trained. It's like they knew exactly where to hit us."

Leo's gaze sharpened. "What did they take?"

The officer's face darkened. "Two things. Heavy weapons... and our intel documents."

Leo and Mijan exchanged glances.

"This wasn't just an attack," Mijan muttered.

"They're looking for something..." Leo clenched his fists. "Or someone."

Mijan scoffed. "And I've got a pretty damn good guess who."

Leo's eyes blazed. "Aileen."

Mijan barked out orders. "Secure the area. I'm sending backup to retrieve her."

But Leo barely heard him. His mind was spinning, his chest tight with dread. "Hold on, Aileen... I'm coming."

---

In the darkness, Alina knew she couldn't wait. If Marco got his hands on her, it was over. With lightning speed, she drove her knee into Vasko's gut.

"Ugh—!"

He stumbled back. Just enough. Alina lunged, pulling a dagger from beneath her clothes.

Vasko laughed, though tension coiled in his jaw.

"Still the same, huh, Aileen? Always choosing the hard way."

Alina didn't answer. Her focus was razor-sharp. Ready to fight. To kill, if she had to.

Vasko sighed theatrically.

"Fine, if that's how you want it—"

But then, gunfire echoed in the distance.

Vasko's eyes narrowed.

"Looks like we have uninvited guests."

Smoke drifted into the night sky. Alina's heart surged. 'Leo. He had to be close.'

Now the only question was: Could she survive long enough for him to reach her? As Vasko's attention wavered, Alina moved. Fast. Her strikes were unpredictable, sharp. Vasko staggered but wasn't so easily beaten. The moment she spotted an opening, she bolted.

"Damn it!" Vasko cursed, chasing after her. The chase began.

But Alina wasn't just running. She was leading him away. She refused to let anyone else get dragged into this nightmare.

Her breaths came quick. Her legs burned. But Vasko was falling behind. For a moment, hope flared. Until a voice shattered it.

"Hey, Aileen!" Vasko roared. "Look who I found!"

Alina glanced back—and her heart stopped.

"No. Lana! Why her? Why now?"

Still, Alina ran. She couldn't stop. Not until—

Bang!

A gunshot split the night. Followed by a scream.

"Ahh!"

Alina's feet halted. Her stomach dropped. Slowly, she turned.

"Lana?!" Panic tore through her as she spotted her friend on the ground, blood gushing from her leg.

"This can't be happening ... " she whispered, guilt clawing at her chest.

Vasko smirked like a predator who'd cornered his prey. Of course. He knew Alina's weakness.

"Let her go!" Alina shouted, her fury boiling over.

Vasko laughed coldly.

"You think I came all this way to play games? You wrecked my supply base, Aileen. I nearly died because of you."

His eyes glinted with long-buried rage. "And now? Now it's my turn."

Alina clenched her fists. Running was no longer an option. This was it. Lana couldn't be another victim.

Slowly, Alina stepped forward, one hand raised. "Okay. What do you want?"

Vasko never lowered his gun from Lana's head. He wore the grin of a man who thought he'd already won. Alina inched closer, eyes flicking to Lana, who was still conscious but pale, trembling from blood loss.

"Your life for hers," Vasko said without hesitation, his voice as sharp as a blade.

Lana shook her head frantically. "No, Aileen! Don't listen to him! Run! I'm fine! Just go!"

But those words only twisted the knife deeper. This was insane. Completely unfair. She was standing at the edge of hell, forced to choose between herself and an innocent friend.

If this were her real body, her old life. Maybe she would've run without a second thought. But this wasn't her life anymore. This was Aileen's body. And Aileen was the kind of person who'd rather die than let someone else suffer. And somehow ... that part of her was starting to take over.

"Damn it, Aileen ... why are you like this?" she cursed silently, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood.

But time was slipping away. Every second pulled the noose tighter. Vasko's patience snapped. His finger hovered on the trigger.

"Decide. Now!"

Lana squeezed her eyes shut, whispering prayers. Alina's mind spun, heart pounding like a war drum. Without thinking, the words shot from her mouth.

"Stop! I'll take her place!" Lana's eyes flew open, horrified. "Aileen... no!"

But Alina ignored her. The decision was made. It was the only way. She stood tall, glaring at Vasko. Waiting. Vasko's grin widened.

"Good. But ... too late. The bullet's already chambered."

Without warning, he shifted his aim straight to Alina's head. She closed her eyes, bracing for the end.

"Just get it over with ... " she thought bitterly. "If I have to die, don't make me wait."

Bang!

But... she was still standing. Still breathing. Why? She opened her eyes.

"Lana...?"

Lana had moved. Or rather ... she'd thrown herself in front of the bullet. For a heartbeat, Lana stood between them. Then she collapsed. Blood stained the dirt. The bullet hadn't been for Alina. Lana had taken it.

"No!" Alina screamed, falling to her knees, catching Lana's limp body as it crumpled into her arms.

Her chest burned. Tears blurred her vision. Vasko's cruel laugh echoed like thunder. And something inside Alina snapped. Not anger. Rage. Pure, unfiltered rage.

She laid Lana down gently. Then she moved. Fast. Deadly. Her fist slammed into Vasko's jaw with bone-breaking force. His head whipped to the side. Again. And again.

He coughed blood. Fell to the ground. Alina didn't stop. She grabbed his gun.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Every bullet avenged Lana. Every shot was justice. When the clip ran dry, Vasko wasn't moving anymore. And Alina stood there, shaking, staring at his body with ice-cold fury.

"You picked the wrong enemy," she whispered.