Noah's POVAs I drove from the warehouse, I glanced back in the rear-view, expecting to see one of Lisa's henchmen hot on our tail. The car was so tense you could practically coat it with black oil and Avery sat in silence looking at the window blankly.Her hands were clutched in her lap as I could tell that the whites of each were white-knuckling.“I feel like I’m losing it,” I finally told her, breaking the silenceShe blinked like coming out of a daze. “I don’t know,” she said. Well, it's like… “ALL OF THIS. I can't DO this. Lisa… this drive… that blackmail…” She choked up.My hand landed on hers where I was grounding her—I reached over. “We can get through this,” I said firmly. “We have all we require now. This week is ours to turn the other cheek.Avery turned back to me only to look absolutely skeptical. But what if it isn’t nearly enough? What if she gets pissed, finds out we have it and hunts us down before we can get it over with? What if—we—“Avery.” I tone was even but firm
Avery's POVMorning sunlight filtered into the room through these blinds, creating gold streaks on the walls. I momentarily lost myself for a second. And I virtually recollected the jungle, the terror, the perpetual edict of danger. But then the full strength of it hit, crashing me like a boulder in choppy waters.Noah had already rolled out of bed, laptop on the small kitchen table. He was intently focused, his hands darting across the keyboard. He didn't see me yet, and I hesitated to look at him.“Morning,” I whispered through the clumps.He raised his head, startled, gave me a quick smile. Morning?I shrugged. “Pardon, I was as capable as one might assume for my circumstances.He nodded, got the hang of it. “Well, I have been thinking about our choices,” he said, pointing at the laptop. On the information from that USB drive — not a whole lot, but enough to turn the situation on it’s head. If we could just get it to the right people then maybe this could be enough to stop her.“ B
Noah’s POVFinally, “We need a plan” Avery said her voice even but firm.“I do,” I said, white knuckling the steering wheel. “First we shall wait for Dimitri to tell us the data has been disseminated. After that we will be set in reality and you can start timing it. Until then, you continue to blend in.“And then? ” she prompt, moving over to me. They were wide, full of fear and bravery.‘After?’ I exhaled slowly “Then we protect you in the endHer eyes browed thinned. “Ok, you too? Can you not just play the god for me Noah? Lisa will hunt us both.“You think she targets you first,” I purred bluntly, pointing at her. You are number 1 She WILL try to hurt you for my sake. My focus is to prevent that.She turned away, mouth pursed to a thin line. “I hate this,” she stated, almost to herself. She hated being this way.“Not helpless, you’re not,” I stated. You’re surviving. That is not nothing Avery; That shits will take power.She did not answer, and I let the silence reassert itself. We
Avery’s POVIn the morning when the sun filtered in through the thick curtains and lit up small room with soft golden light. Sweet but the heat in my palms distracted me from the never ending cycle on thoughts busy inside my brain.Noah was by the window looking for movement in the treeline, he hadn't said much since we got here last night but the mere fact that he was there put me a little more at ease even as the edge of sanity started to get gnawed open.“Trouble?” I sounded, my voice piercing what little silence there was.“Nope – but again, not in the morning. Still it does not stop it from arriving.I swallowed hard and looked at the opaque in my mug “Do you think they are already hunting her?”“Never did,” Noah said eventually turning to me. But his eyes were so very tired “Lisa does not hang up.“And what does she want?” I pressed, this time confident with my guess.You are,” Noah said bluntly.Those words made a deep fog descend over me. I put the mug down, the coffee taste m
Noah’s POVI woke up to the sound of Avery pacing. Her steps were light but restless, echoing faintly in the quiet cabin. I opened my eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall—it was just past 4 a.m. The sky outside was still cloaked in darkness, but the faintest traces of dawn were beginning to bleed into the horizon.“Avery,” I said, my voice groggy. She stopped in her tracks and turned toward me, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the wood-burning stove.“Did I wake you?” she asked, guilt written all over her expression.“No,” I lied, sitting up and running a hand through my hair. “What’s wrong?”She hesitated, hugging her arms to her chest. “I couldn’t sleep. I keep thinking… what if we’re wasting time sitting here? What if Lisa’s already moving against us?”I stood and crossed the room to her, placing a steady hand on her shoulder. “We’re not wasting time. We’re regrouping, preparing. If we rush in without a plan, we’ll be playing right into her hands.”Avery nodded, but I
Avery’s POVThe weight of Dimitri’s words sat heavy in the room even after he left. Noah had escorted him out, scanning the woods as if expecting Lisa’s mercenaries to materialize out of thin air. When he returned, his face was set like stone, his jaw tight.“Noah,” I started, unsure of what to even say. “Do you really think Lisa will find us here?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he placed his gun on the table and ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. “I don’t know, Avery. But we can’t take any chances.”I hated this feeling—the constant fear, the anticipation of the worst. It felt like Lisa’s shadow was looming over us, always one step closer no matter what we did.“We need to leave, don’t we?” I asked softly.Noah sighed and leaned against the table. “Yes. Dimitri’s warning wasn’t for nothing. If Lisa has people sniffing around, it’s only a matter of time before someone points her in our direction. We’ll pack up and move at dawn.”I nodded, even though my ches
Avery’s POVShe was already in quick typing mode, eyes focused on the screen. Laser-like, the glow of the laptop reflected on her sharp and assessing gaze. She was younger than I expected, early twenties maybe, but she exuded confidence, as if she were sure that she was the smartest one in the room.The way I was staring at her had my stomach in knots. I wasn't sure if it was nerves from the meeting or something else weighing on my mind, but this just felt wrong. Finally, she leaned back and drummed her fingers on the table while speaking. "Okay," she turned her head toward Dominic. "You weren't lying. Lisa's network is tight but not tight enough. I can get in."Dominic nodded, unaffected. "How long will it take?""Depends," the hacker said, flicking her eyes at me and Noah. "On how much risk you're ready to run." I stiffened. "What is that supposed to mean?"She sighed and closed her laptop with a snap. "Look, I can siphon her accounts, reroute funds, and create chaos on her system
Avery’s POVDominic pocketed his phone, concealing his expression. “We prepare.”“Prepare for what? What are you preparing for?” I pressed. “Lisa isn’t the type to take a hit and walk away: she's going to come after us with everything she's got.”His face remained steady while holding my stare, stirring my anxiety. “Exactly.”Noah's hands tightened at his sides. "You wanted this all along, didn't you?" His voice was low and controlled, but a razor's edge of anger lay beneath it. "You never meant to run. You wanted Lisa to come for us."There was no denial from Dominic.I drew in a shaky breath, the realization settling. This was more than just taking her money, it was a trap."You planned it all," I said, dragging each word out.Dominic's silence answered for him.Noah stepped up, his voice raised. "You used us for bait.""I used all of us," Dominic corrected. "Because Lisa won't stop until we're dead. There is no running and hiding. It was the only way."I hated how right he was.A h
Noah stood beside me, his body tense but composed. Across from us, Dominic checked his gun, his expression unreadable.Raven’s voice crackled through the comms. “Security is heavier than expected. She knows something’s coming.”Dominic didn’t flinch. “Doesn’t matter.”He motioned for his men to move.I exhaled slowly, steadying myself.And then, we went in.---The first thing that hit me was the smell.Oil. Dust. Gunpowder.The warehouse was massive, stretching into darkness, illuminated only by flickering industrial lights overhead. Crates were stacked high, some sealed, others cracked open to reveal weapons, cash, documents.Lisa had been preparing for war.And we had just walked straight into it.A guard rounded the corner, rifle raised.Noah moved before I could react.A single shot. The man crumpled.No hesitation. No wasted movement.The others followed. Dominic’s team swept through the warehouse like a shadow, taking down guards with brutal efficiency.We advanced quickly, clea
The city never slept, but for once, I wished it would.I sat by the window, watching headlights streak past on the rain-slicked streets below. The low hum of traffic and the distant wail of sirens blended together, forming an eerie symphony that filled the silence in my head.Behind me, Noah was still asleep.His breathing was slow and steady, the rise and fall of his chest almost hypnotic. He hadn’t gotten real rest in days—none of us had—but exhaustion had finally caught up to him. I knew he needed the sleep.And yet, I couldn’t close my eyes.I reached for the passport again, flipping it open under the dim glow of the city lights.A new name. A new identity.A way out.Dominic had left it for me before disappearing into the night, his expression unreadable as he’d placed it on the table between us.“No strings. No pressure. If you want to disappear, I’ll make sure no one finds you.”No one.Not Lisa. Not her people. Not even Noah.The thought sent a hollow ache through my chest.I s
Avery’s POVThe weight of it all didn’t hit me until I stepped outside.The cool night air rushed against my face, mixing with the distant scent of smoke and gunpowder. The mansion—Lisa’s fortress—was a mess of flashing red and blue lights, agents moving in and out like a swarm.Lisa Monroe was in custody.It was over.I wanted to feel relief. I wanted to let out the breath I’d been holding for what felt like years.But all I felt was exhaustion.“Avery!”I turned just in time to see Noah pushing through the crowd, eyes wild with panic.Before I could say a word, his hands were on my face, his touch firm but careful, like he was checking to make sure I was real.“You’re bleeding.” His voice was sharp, urgent.I blinked, and that’s when I felt it. The dull ache in my shoulder had sharpened into something burning and raw. The bullet wound.“I’m fine,” I managed, even as my knees threatened to buckle.Noah didn’t believe me for a second.His arm wrapped around my waist, holding me upright
Avery’s POVThe gunshot cracked through the hallway, sharp and deafening.Instinct took over.I dove to the side, barely registering the blur of motion as Noah grabbed my arm and yanked me behind cover. The bullet struck the wall where I had been standing a second ago, sending a spray of plaster into the air."Move!" Dominic barked, already drawing his own weapon.Noah shoved me behind a marble pillar, pressing his back against it as Lisa took another shot. The bullet embedded itself in the wood of a nearby door.I gasped for breath, my pulse hammering. Lisa’s footsteps clicked against the floor as she advanced, slow and deliberate."You never should have come here," she called out, her voice eerily calm. "You had your chance to walk away."Noah shot me a look—silent communication. He was going to flank her.I nodded, gripping my pistol so tightly my fingers ached. My whole body was screaming at me to run, to escape, but I forced the fear down.Not this time.Lisa had hunted me for to
Avery’s POVThe night dragged on in silence, thick and suffocating. Sleep wasn’t an option, not when my mind wouldn’t stop racing. Lisa was out there, hunting us. We had barely escaped the warehouse, and now we were holed up in a safe house that felt more like a waiting room before a battle.I sat by the cracked window, watching the city beyond the darkness. A few flickering streetlights cast long, distorted shadows across the empty road. The world kept moving, oblivious to the war we were about to start.Behind me, the soft click of a keyboard filled the room. Raven was still working, hunched over her laptop, eyes flickering across the multiple screens in front of her. Dominic had disappeared into one of the back rooms, probably getting whatever sleep he could manage. Noah was standing near the doorway, arms crossed, his entire body rigid with tension.“We should be doing more,” he muttered, barely loud enough for me to hear.I turned to him. “Raven’s doing everything she can. We hav
Avery’s POVThe tension in the air turned thicker as it pressed against me while we moved through the alley way. The sound of our footsteps against the wet pavement was an indelible reminder of how exposed we were. Every threat is in form of shadow, each sound outside seems to promise danger.I kept my head down, fingers wrapped tightly around the strap of my bag. Noah walked beside me, scanning the surroundings with his eyes, muscles tense under the coat. Caught behind were Dominic moving as carefully as we were, presence that stood silently as his assurance. Raven had given us a safe house, which it turned out was across the city and far from where we could get caught before reaching. "We need a car," Dominic muttered with his voice barely above a whisper.Noah gave a sharp nod. "We can't risk public transport. Lisa's people will be watching every terminal, every bus station." Swallow hard-groomed nervously, trying not to let it win me. Only hours before, the explosion at the ware
Avery’s POVLisa grunted as we fell down, her haggard hair disarrayed in perfect arrangements; her face sculping great twists of frustration. I didn't allow her even a second of respite. I straddled her, took the front of her pricey silk blouse and slammed her head against the marble floor.She gasped, but I could barely hear it over the chaos that erupted around us. Gunfire cracked through the air, and Dominic's deep curses mixed with the sharp clicks of Raven's tech. Noah was shouting my name, but I couldn't focus on him right now.To put it another way, Lisa has been tearing my life apart over many years. If I did not end this thing now, she would never stop.She recovered quickly, raising her knee into my ribs to knock the breath from my lungs. I rolled away instantly to just slide out of the way of her next attack when she lunged at me.Well, she was not some pampered socialite-she was trained and ready for situations like this. Her punches are controlled, deliberate, but mine ar
Avery’s POVThe alarms screamed so loud, they had me rattling through my bones. Red warning lights flashed on in the estate halls, sending spooky shadows down the marble floors. My heart hammered in my ears as Raven seized my wrist and pulled me across a tall display cabinet, just before a couple of guards sped past."They know we're here," came Raven's angry whisper, tightening her fingers on my arm. "We've got to move." I swallowed. I nodded. There was no time to digest what we had just heard in that meeting room-the cold, calculating voice of Lisa, condemning me like another obstacle in her way. The weight was heavy on my chest, but there was no way fear would help me. Action would.Outside were Noah and Dominic. If the alarm had reached them, they surely were racing to get to us. Or were they? I turned to Raven. "What's the exit plan?" Her gaze flicked across the hallway, darting from door to door. "We have to make it to the southern wing; that's where the utility tunnel is-it
Avery's POV The SUV sped through the darkened roads, a whiff of burnt rubber still hanging in the air. The sound of gunfire had finally faded away behind us, while inside the vehicle, the tension was all-consuming. Nobody said anything, but the unspoken truth was palpable—we had barely managed to escape, and Lisa would not let us go that easily.I leaned my head against the cool window, while my body rattled with tremors from blood loss and an adrenaline crash. Every now and again, I would slip in and out of consciousness as Noah clutched me tighter into him to keep me propped upright. His face hard with concern. He held my hand as though he were afraid to let go, his eyes on my face."Stay with me," he said roughly.Dominic was still gripping the gun in the front seat, still glancing intently between the side mirror and the road ahead. "How bad is she?"Noah bit out, "She needs a hospital. She's losing too much blood."I tried to speak, to soothe them, to say I was okay, but my tong