Chapter 2

Ava felt her body grow weak as the effects of the poison took hold. She stumbled forward, barely able to keep her eyes open.

As Max helped her into a taxi, Ava's mind raced with questions. Who was behind this attack? And what did they want?

As they raced through the streets toward the hospital, Ava felt a sense of dread creeping over her. She knew that this was just the beginning of a much larger battle, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to face it. But one thing was clear: she couldn't do it alone. She needed Max by her side if she was going to make it out of this alive.

At the hospital, Ava was rushed into the emergency room, where a team of doctors and nurses worked frantically to save her life.

As she lay on the hospital bed, her mind wandered back to Alexander and the events that had led up to this moment. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was somehow behind the attack, but she had no proof.

Just then, the door to her room burst open, and a man dressed in black stepped inside. Ava's heart raced as she recognized the man from the coffee shop earlier.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice weak.

The man walked over to her bedside and leaned in close. "I just wanted to make sure that you're feeling better," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

Ava felt a chill run down her spine. She knew that this man was not here to offer her well wishes. He was here to finish the job.

As she opened her mouth to scream, the man reached out and placed a hand over her mouth, cutting off her air supply.

Ava's eyes widened in terror as she struggled to breathe. She knew that she was about to die, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Just then, the door burst open again, and Max rushed into the room, his gun drawn.

"Get away from her!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the hospital.

The man in black spun around, his eyes widening in surprise. He reached for his weapon, but it was too late. Max fired, and the man crumpled to the ground, dead.

Ava felt tears streaming down her face as Max rushed over to her side, his arms wrapping around her.

"It's okay," he whispered. "You're safe now."

But Ava knew that this was far from over. She had narrowly escaped death this time, but she knew that the real battle was just beginning.