The rain had stopped, but the city still smelled of thunder. A faint chill lingered in the air, the kind that carried warnings.
Ava sat by her apartment window, hair damp from the shower, staring at the dark skyline. Her reflection in the glass looked like a stranger — the assassin who once followed orders without hesitation was gone, replaced by a woman whose heart refused to obey.
Her phone vibrated. The name on the screen froze her blood.
Marcus Kane.
Her mentor. Her handler. The Serpents' "cleaner."
She answered after a pause. "You shouldn't be calling me directly."
His voice came through, low and steady. "You shouldn't be hesitating."
Ava gripped the phone tighter. "You said I had time."
"You had time. Now you're out of it."
"Marcus—"
"No excuses. You were supposed to end this before he dug too deep. Instead, you're protecting him."
"I'm not—"
"Save it. I'm already in the city."
Her heart stopped. "What?"
He continued calmly. "Headquarters wants results. I've been authorized to clean the mess you made."
"Marcus, don't—"
Click.
The line went dead.
Ava stared at the screen, pulse racing. If Marcus was here, Ethan's life was in immediate danger — and the Serpents never failed twice.
---
By the time she reached VossTech, the sun was rising. Ethan was in the lobby, talking to security. He turned when he saw her.
"You look pale," he said. "Bad night?"
"You could say that." She tried to sound normal, but her voice shook slightly.
He frowned. "You sure you're okay?"
"I just… didn't sleep well."
He gave her a small smile. "Join the club."
She forced one back. "Any updates on the breach?"
"I think I'm close to tracing the origin. I'll need to test the firewall again tonight, though. Might take a while."
Tonight. The word hit her like a strike. Tonight was exactly when Marcus would make his move.
She needed to get Ethan away from here — somehow.
---
By noon, she'd already checked every security angle, every exit, every camera blind spot. Years of training helped her move like a ghost, unnoticed but observant.
In the afternoon, she slipped into the surveillance room. The guards barely glanced up as she entered. She scanned the feeds until one made her breath hitch — a tall figure in a black coat entering the building, moving with precision.
Marcus.
Even in disguise, she knew that stance — calm, controlled, predatory.
Her chest tightened. He's early.
Ava left the room quietly, phone in hand.
Ava: Marcus, stop. Don't do this. Let me handle it.
Marcus: You already had your chance.
She pocketed the phone and headed for Ethan's office.
---
Ethan was typing something furiously when she burst in.
He looked up, startled. "Ava?"
"We need to leave. Now."
"What?"
She crossed to his desk, lowering her voice. "There's someone here. Someone dangerous. You have to trust me."
He blinked, confusion shadowing his face. "Who's here?"
"No time to explain. Please, Ethan."
He studied her for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "All right. Where are we going?"
She grabbed his car keys. "Parking garage. I'll explain everything on the way."
They moved quickly through the side corridor, avoiding main halls. But when they reached the elevator, it dinged open before they could press the button.
Marcus stepped out.
His dark suit blended perfectly with the shadows. His eyes, calm and unreadable, met Ava's first, then drifted to Ethan.
"So," he said softly, "this is the reason for your hesitation."
Ethan frowned. "Who the hell—"
"Run," Ava hissed.
Ethan hesitated only a second before obeying. Ava drew the small pistol hidden beneath her jacket and aimed at Marcus.
He raised an eyebrow. "You're pointing that at the wrong person, kid."
"Don't call me that."
"I trained you to follow orders."
"I'm done following."
He smiled faintly, like a teacher amused by a defiant student. "You've gone soft."
"Maybe," she said, steadying her hand. "But not stupid."
He moved first — lightning fast. She fired once, grazing his arm, but he was already ducking behind the concrete pillar.
Ethan's voice echoed from down the hall. "Ava!"
She turned to shout back, and Marcus seized the opening, kicking the gun from her hand. It skidded across the floor.
He caught her wrist and slammed her against the wall, grip like iron.
"Do you have any idea what you've done?" he hissed. "You compromised everything!"
"Let him go, Marcus!" she spat.
He leaned closer, eyes cold. "You fell in love with your target. That's your fatal flaw."
Ava twisted, elbowed him hard in the ribs, and broke free. She dove for the gun — but Marcus was faster, kicking it away again.
Ethan appeared at the corridor's end, holding a fire extinguisher. "Hey!"
Marcus turned just as Ethan hurled it. The impact wasn't perfect, but enough to throw him off balance. Ava tackled him hard, both hitting the floor.
"Run!" she screamed again.
This time Ethan obeyed.
She scrambled up, panting. Marcus was already recovering, smirking despite the blood on his lip. "You think you can protect him? You think they'll let you walk away after this?"
"I'll take my chances."
He tilted his head. "Then you'd better kill me now."
Ava hesitated — gun in hand, heart pounding.
He saw it. "You can't, can you?"
Her hands trembled. "I don't want to."
"That's what makes you weak."
He lunged again — but she didn't hesitate this time. She fired.
The bullet hit his shoulder. He staggered back, eyes wide with shock and something like pride.
"Finally grew a spine," he muttered, clutching the wound.
She didn't wait to see if he'd follow. She ran.
---
They reached Ethan's penthouse thirty minutes later. He was pacing when she locked the door behind them.
"Start talking," he demanded.
Ava hesitated, breathing hard. "You wouldn't believe me."
"Try me."
She met his gaze. "You were right — someone's been after you. A group called the Serpents. They manipulate global markets through tech companies. I was sent to watch you… and if necessary, eliminate you."
His face went pale. "You were sent to kill me?"
"Yes," she whispered. "But I didn't."
"Why?"
"Because I realized you weren't the man they thought you were. And because I—"
She stopped. Words hung between them, unspoken but heavy.
Ethan looked away, jaw tight. "So everything you said, everything you did — it was all fake?"
"No!" she stepped closer. "At first, maybe. But not anymore."
He laughed bitterly. "You expect me to believe that? You just admitted you're a trained assassin."
"I was. Not anymore."
He turned away, fists clenched. "Get out."
Ava's throat burned. "Ethan, please—"
"Get. Out."
Tears stung her eyes, but she obeyed. She walked to the door, pausing once to whisper, "I didn't choose this life. But I chose you."
Then she was gone.
---
Marcus sat in a dim motel room across town, pressing gauze to his shoulder. The phone on the table buzzed.
Unknown Caller: Status?
He answered, voice steady despite the blood. "Target still alive. But not for long."
"Do not fail again."
He smirked faintly. "I won't. She'll lead me right to him."
He hung up and looked out the window, the storm clouds rolling in again.
"She's in love," he murmured to himself. "That'll make her predictable."
---
Meanwhile, Ava drove aimlessly through the city, headlights cutting through the mist. Every part of her body ached, but her heart hurt most.
She'd broken the one rule of survival: never get attached.
Her phone buzzed again — a new message from an encrypted channel.
Marcus: Enjoy your last night. Tomorrow, he dies.
Ava's grip tightened on the steering wheel.
She whispered to herself, "Not if I can stop you."