By evening, Ava started noticing something unsettling.
People were watching her.
Not obviously.
But enough to make her uneasy.
In the lobby…
In the elevator…
Across the street.
Lucien noticed it too.
His posture became tense.
"Stay close," he murmured.
Ava moved beside him as they walked through the parking garage.
Her heels echoed loudly against the concrete floor.
The shadows felt thicker down here.
Then she heard it.
Footsteps.
Behind them.
Lucien stopped instantly.
"Don't turn around," he said quietly.
Her heart pounded.
"What is it?"
"Trouble."
Three men stepped out from behind a row of parked cars.
All dressed in black.
All staring directly at Ava.
"Well," one of them said casually.
"There she is."
Ava's pulse exploded with fear.
Lucien stepped forward.
Positioning himself between her and the men.
His voice dropped into something dangerous.
"You're making a mistake."
The man laughed.
"Not really."
He pulled out a gun.
"We've been looking for her."
Everything happened fast.
Lucien grabbed Ava's arm.
"Run."
Gunshots echoed through the garage.
Ava screamed as Lucien pushed her behind a car.
Her heart felt like it would burst.
Lucien moved like lightning.
Disarming one attacker.
Punching another.
The third man aimed his gun again—
But Lucien slammed him against the concrete wall.
Hard.
The fight ended in seconds.
Ava stood frozen.
Breathing heavily.
Lucien walked back toward her.
His shirt slightly torn.
A small cut on his lip.
But his eyes were still calm.
"You see now," he said quietly.
"Why I told you to stay close."