LURKING DANGER

For a moment, they just stood there, the sounds of gunfire fading into the background.

Then, suddenly—

Leonardo smirked.

“You should look behind you.”

Marko barely had time to react before something heavy slammed into the back of his skull.

The world spun.

His grip on Leonardo loosened, the pain in his head blinding.

He stumbled forward—

And then everything went dark.

MARIA

Maria’s breath came fast as she ran through the empty streets, her pulse pounding in her ears.

Marko had told her to go. She should have kept running.

But something felt wrong.

She had heard the gunshot.

And now, there was only silence.

Her chest tightened. Every instinct screamed at her to go back.

She couldn’t just leave him.

Taking a shaky breath, she turned around, her heart hammering. She had no weapons, no plan—only sheer desperation.

But she didn’t care,all she could think of was... marko

Marko was still in there.

And she was going to get him back.

Maria crept toward the estate, slipping through the shadows passing the guards all heavily armed.

Then she saw it.

A black car, its engine running.

And inside?

Marko. Unconscious.

Leonardo stood beside the vehicle, his smirk visible even from a distance.

Then, without hesitation, he got in—

And the car sped off into the night.

Maria’s heart beat quickened as the black car disappeared into the night, taillights glowing like the devil’s eyes.

Her breath caught in her throat. No, no, no.

Marko was in that car. Bleeding. Helpless.

She clutched the wall beside her, nails scraping against the cold stone as panic threatened to choke her. Every instinct screamed at her to run but she couldn’t. Not now. She had to save Marko

Her mind raced.

Leonardo wouldn’t kill Marko right away. No, he was too cruel for that. He wanted Marko to suffer. He wanted control ,power.

Maria swallowed hard, forcing herself to think.

There had to be a way to follow them.

She scanned the street, heart beating so fast until her eyes locked on a rusted old motorcycle tucked in the shadows.

It wasn’t much. But it would have to do.

Maria darted toward it, her hands fumbling to hotwire the ignition. The engine sputtered to life, loud and shaky, but she didn’t care.

She swung one leg over the seat, gripping the handlebars tight.

“Hold on, Marko.”

Then she gunned the engine and tore into the night.

MARKO

The world spinning  around him.

Pain gribbed through Marko’s body, dragging him back to consciousness. His head throbbed, and the bullet wound in his side pulsed with every breath.

Cold metal bit into his wrists zip ties. His arms were pinned behind him, the sharp scent of leather and gasoline filling his nostrils.

He was in the trunk.

Marko clenched his teeth, forcing his breathing to steady. The car rumbled beneath him, tires humming against asphalt. He had no idea how long he’d been out or where they were taking him.

But one thing was certain.

Leonardo wasn’t done with him.

Marko shifted, testing the strength of the ties. They were tight too tight to break easily.

Still, he kept pulling, ignoring the sharp bite of plastic against his skin. He had to get out. Had to get back to Maria.

He squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to focus through the pain.

He wasn’t dying in the trunk of a car.

Not tonight.

MARIA

Maria’s fingers clenched the throttle as she sped through the winding streets, the cold night air whipping against her face.

The black car was just a faint speck of light in the distance, but she refused to let it out of her sight.

Her heart pounded as she leaned into each turn, pushing the old bike harder than it was ever meant to go.

Marko was out there alone, hurt because of her.

She wouldn’t lose him.

Not after everything they’d been through.

As she closed the distance, her mind raced.

What would she do when she caught up? She had no weapon, no plan just blind desperation.

But none of that mattered.

All she needed was one chance.

The car scurried down a narrow dirt road, disappearing into the woods.

Maria’s stomach clenched.

Leonardo was taking him somewhere isolated. Somewhere no one would hear the gunshots.

Her heart pounded harder.

She followed, the roar of the bike echoing through the trees.

Branches lashed against her arms, but she didn’t slow down. She could feel it she was getting closer.

Finally, the car skidded to a stop in a clearing.

Maria killed the engine, heart in her throat, watching from the shadows.

Leonardo stepped out first, flicking a cigarette to the ground.

Two of his men dragged Marko from the trunk, his head hanging low, blood staining his shirt.

Maria’s chest squeezed.

He was alive but barely.

Leonardo’s voice echoed through the clearing. “Welcome back, Marko. Did you really think I’d let you walk away so easily?”

Marko grunted, lifting his head just enough to meet Leonardo’s gaze. Even through the pain, his eyes burned with defiance.

“Go to hell.”

Leonardo chuckled. “Oh, I intend to. But not before you.”

Maria’s pulse hammered in her ears.

She had to act now.

Her eyes darted around, searching for something anything she could use.

Then she saw it.

One of the guards had left a gun tucked into his waistband.

It was a long shot.

But it was all she had.

Maria’s hands trembled as she crept closer, every step agonizingly slow. The men were too focused on Marko to notice her.

Ten feet.

Five.

Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure they could hear it.

Finally, she lunged.

Her fingers closed around the gun, yanking it free.

“Let him go!”

The clearing fell silent.

Leonardo turned, amusement flickering in his eyes.

“Well, well. The little bird found her wings.”

Maria’s hands shook, but she kept the gun steady, aiming it at Leonardo’s chest.

“I said let him go.”

Leonardo smirked, stepping closer.

“Do you even know how to use that, sweetheart?”

Maria’s heart slammed against her ribs.

“No,” she admitted, voice shaking. “But I’m willing to find out.”

Leonardo’s smirk faltered.

Behind him, Marko’s lips curved into the faintest grin.

That’s my girl.

Leonardo’s fingers twitched toward his gun.

Maria’s breath caught in her throat.

Then

A single gunshot echoed through the trees.

Someone fell.

But in the dark, no one could tell who had pulled the trigger or who had hit the ground.