Chapter 49: Sofia Al-Azwar (Patreon)

"Mr. John Wick, it's been a long time since you graced our city," the bald man said with a smile as they walked.

John was about to speak when the bald man interrupted, "Ms. Al-Azwar is waiting for you."

Soon, the two arrived at the hotel's entrance, pushing open the doors. Inside, they entered a small plaza where a lively gathering was taking place, resembling a banquet.

"Mr. Wick, welcome to the Continental Hotel in Morocco. I hope this place suits your taste."

The bald man escorted John Wick through the crowd towards the hotel's interior.

"Right this way, Ms. Al-Azwar doesn't like to wait for anyone."

Eventually, the bald man led John into a room and said, "Wishing you good luck, Mr. Wick."

He emphasized once more, "Wishing you good luck!"

With a smile on his face, the bald man exited the room.

Seeing the bald man leaving, the room's lobby was now empty. John Wick walked a few steps further.

On a round table, he noticed several photographs. He picked up a small picture frame, and inside was a photo of Sofia Al-Azwar with her daughter.

As John Wick was looking at the photo, two Belgian Malinois dogs suddenly appeared in the room. They stared menacingly at him, baring their teeth as if ready to attack.

Just then, the sound of a gun being cocked came from the innermost part of the room, and a woman emerged, holding a pistol as she approached John Wick.

She simultaneously said, "Do you like dogs, John?"

John Wick turned to face the approaching figure, not entirely sure, and said, "Sofia?"

He then placed the photo frame back on the table and raised both hands, indicating that he posed no threat.

As John Wick watched, Sofia showed no mercy. She aimed her pistol directly at his abdomen and fired.

"Bang!"

The bullet hit John Wick, and the force and pain made him immediately fall to the ground.

Lying on the ground, John looked at Sofia and immediately said, "Sofia, you can't kill your blood marker holder."

Sofia aimed her pistol at John Wick while stepping closer, saying, "I didn't kill you; I just shot you."

Sofia glanced down at John and realized he wasn't injured; the bullet had simply fallen to the ground. This was due to the bulletproof suit that John Wick had custom-made at the Continental Hotel.

John Wick took a deep breath, shook off the suit, and the bullet fell to the ground. The suit had saved him from injury, but being shot at close range was still painful.

John Wick looked at Sofia and said, "It's good to see you."

Sofia, still pointing her gun at him, gritted her teeth and said, "I should have blown your head off immediately."

John Wick replied, "I know."

He then slowly sat up on the ground and reached into his suit pocket.

Sofia, watching John Wick's movements, cautioned, "Don't do anything."

However, what John Wick pulled from his pocket was not a gun but the Blood Oath Marker Sofia had given him.

Sofia, still pointing the gun at him, said, "You've been excommunicated, John."

"That Blood Oath has become meaningless," she said.

John Wick now held the Blood Oath Marker in his hand. He slowly got up, opened the Blood Oath Marker, and placed it in front of Sofia, saying:

"This is your blood."

"Your marker."

"When you needed help, I helped you."

At this moment, John Wick was repeating the same words he had heard from others to Sofia.

Hearing John Wick's words, Sofia sighed and then lowered the gun aimed at him. She looked at him helplessly and said, "Sit."

In the next moment, the two Belgian Malinois dogs immediately sat down obediently.

John Wick glanced at the dogs, still holding the Blood Oath Marker in his hand, not letting it go.

Sofia said, "I meant for you to sit down, John."

Sofia then turned and walked to a nearby sofa, sitting down slowly.

Seeing John Wick sitting, Sofia said, "Do you realize that I'm in charge of this hotel now?"

"I'm no longer providing services, John."

John Wick replied, "I'm not asking you to kill anyone."

"I just need you to take me to him."

Sofia asked, "To whom?"

John answered, "Your former boss, the overseer of the Continental Hotel in Morocco."

Sofia asked with a puzzled look, "You want to kill Berrada."

John Wick hurriedly said, "I won't kill him. I just want to talk to him."

Sofia looked at him in confusion and asked, "What can he offer you?"

John Wick sighed and seemed to remember something. He said, "Guidance!"

After hearing John's response, Sofia said, "Listen, when I agreed to take over this hotel, it came with an agreement."

"The agreement stated that I must abide by the High Table's rules."

"Even if you don't intend to kill him, he'll kill you."

"He probably will kill me as well because I brought you here."

Sofia looked serious and said, "If I make one mistake, make one enemy, someone might come after my daughter."

"I know what you did to try to save her."

"But I can't take that risk, I'm sorry."

John Wick lowered his head and said, "Do you want to know where she is?"

Sofia stared at John and said seriously, "No, I never want to know."

"Because I don't trust myself not to go looking for her."

"A part of me longs to see her, and I have to suppress that part every day."

"Just to keep her safe."

Sofia's voice sounded melancholic at this moment as she continued, "Because sometimes you have to forget what you love."

"That's why I gave you that blood marker in the first place."

"That's why I'm sitting here now, unable to break free."

John Wick looked at the Blood Oath Marker in his hand and said, "Consequences..."

Sofia nodded and said, "Yes, consequences."

Looking at Sofia in front of him, John Wick said, "I'm just asking you to give it a try."

"Whatever the result, you and I, we'll be even."

He then placed the Blood Oath Marker on the table and pushed it towards Sofia.