Chapter 4

Ava's heart pounded in her chest as she faced off against Alexander and his men. She had known this confrontation was coming, but she hadn't expected it to be so soon.

"What do you want, Alexander?" Ava spat, her fists clenched at her sides.

Alexander laughed cruelly. "Isn't it obvious? I want you dead. And I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen."

Ava took a step back, trying to keep her distance from the dangerous man. She could feel Max and the woman standing protectively behind her.

But then, to Ava's surprise, the woman stepped forward. "Alexander, wait!" she called out.

Alexander turned to look at her, a sneer on his face. "Who are you?" he demanded.

The woman swallowed nervously. "My name is Caroline. I used to work for you."

Alexander's expression turned icy. "What are you doing here?" he growled.

Caroline took a deep breath. "I want to help you," she said, her eyes flickering over to Ava.

Ava's heart skipped a beat. What was Caroline playing at?

Alexander's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What do you mean, help me?" he asked.

Caroline took a step closer, her voice low and urgent. "I know Ava's weakness. And I know how to exploit it."

Ava felt a cold wave of fear wash over her. What could Caroline possibly know that could hurt her?

But before she could say anything, Max stepped forward. "What are you talking about?" he demanded.

Caroline turned to him, her eyes pleading. "I can't say too much here. But I have information that could change everything. If you meet me tomorrow, I'll tell you everything I know."

Ava's mind raced as she watched the exchange between Caroline and Max. Could this woman be trusted? Or was she playing a dangerous game?

As Alexander and his men started to close in, Ava knew they had to make a decision fast. Would they trust Caroline and risk everything? Or would they try to take down Alexander alone, with no help and no guarantees?

Ava could feel the weight of the decision bearing down on her. She knew that if they chose to trust Caroline, it could lead them into a trap. But if they didn't, they would be left vulnerable to Alexander's next move.

Max looked at Ava, silently asking for her input. She could see the determination in his eyes and knew that he was ready for whatever came their way.

"Okay," Ava said finally, her voice steady despite the nervousness she felt inside. "We'll meet you tomorrow. But it's just going to be me and Max."

Caroline nodded, relief flooding her features. "Thank you," she whispered.

As Alexander and his men retreated, Ava and Max made their way back to their hideout. The tension between them was palpable, and Ava knew they were both thinking about the risks they were taking.

When they finally arrived back at their safe house, Max turned to Ava. "Are you sure about this?" he asked.

Ava nodded resolutely. "We have to try. We can't keep fighting this alone."

Max's eyes softened, and he reached out to take her hand. "I'm with you, no matter what happens," he said.

Ava felt her heart swell with gratitude. Despite everything they had been through, Max was still by her side.

As they settled in for the night, Ava couldn't help but think about the dangers they would face tomorrow. She knew that whatever happened, they would face it together. And with Max by her side, she felt like they could take on the world.

As Ava and Max prepared for their meeting with Caroline, their thoughts kept drifting back to each other. They had been through so much together, and despite the danger they were facing, Ava couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest at the thought of Max.

When they finally arrived at the designated meeting spot, Caroline was waiting for them. Ava could see the relief in her eyes as they approached, and she knew they had made the right decision in trusting her.

But as they sat down to discuss their plan, Ava found her attention drifting to Max. She couldn't help but notice the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, or the way his hand would brush against hers as they spoke.

Suddenly, Caroline's voice broke through Ava's thoughts. "So, are we ready to do this?" she asked, looking between Ava and Max.

Ava snapped back to attention, nodding resolutely. "Yes, we're ready," she said, glancing over at Max for reassurance.

Max gave her a small smile, his hand still resting on hers. "Let's do this," he said.

As they prepared to move out, Ava couldn't help but feel a rush of adrenaline. They were in this together, and no matter what happened, she knew she could count on Max.

But as they made their way through the darkened streets, their plan suddenly went awry. Alexander's men seemed to appear out of nowhere, and before Ava could react, she found herself surrounded.

"Looks like we've got you now," Alexander sneered, stepping forward.

Ava could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she braced herself for what was to come. But as she looked over at Max, she knew they would face it together.

"We're not done yet," Max growled, his eyes never leaving Alexander's.

The sound of a gunshot echoed through the night, and everything went black.