Headlight.
The second hit the hood.
The third—
The SUV swerved violently.
Lucien pulled himself back inside and grabbed the wheel again.
Ava stared at him in disbelief.
"You're insane."
Aurora laughed from the back seat.
"That was actually impressive."
But the chase wasn't over.
The SUV regained control quickly and accelerated again.
Lucien cursed softly.
"They're persistent."
Ava's heart sank.
"What do we do?"
Lucien's eyes scanned the road ahead.
Then he saw it.
A narrow exit ramp leading off the highway.
Without warning, he jerked the wheel sharply.
The car shot down the ramp.
The SUV followed immediately.
The road ahead grew darker.
Lonelier.
Tall trees lined both sides of the narrow road, their branches forming a shadowy tunnel.
Ava's chest tightened.
"Where are we?"
"Nowhere," Lucien replied.
Aurora leaned forward again, peering through the broken rear window.
"They're still coming."
The SUV's headlights appeared again behind them, cutting through the darkness.
Lucien slowed the car suddenly.
Ava blinked.
"Why are you slowing down?!"
Lucien pulled the car to the side of the road and stopped.
"What are you doing?" Ava demanded.
Lucien turned to her.
His expression was calm again.
Cold.
Controlled.
"Ending this."
Before Ava could react, he stepped out of the car.
"Lucien!" she shouted.
But he had already shut the door.
He stood alone in the middle of the road as the SUV raced toward him.
Aurora sighed dramatically.
"Oh this should be fun."
Ava's heart pounded violently as she watched through the windshield.
The SUV sped closer.
Closer.
The driver clearly hadn't expected Lucien to stop.
At the last possible second, the SUV slammed on the brakes.
The tires screeched loudly as the vehicle skidded sideways across the road.
Lucien didn't move.
The driver's door opened.
A large man stepped out.
He was tall, muscular, dressed in dark tactical clothing.
A rifle hung from his shoulder.
His face was expressionless.
Cold.
A professional killer.
The man studied Lucien carefully.
"You're the one protecting her."
Lucien nodded slightly.
"Yes."
The man shrugged.
"Step aside."
Lucien didn't move.
"No."
The hunter sighed.
"Ten million is a lot of money."
Lucien's voice dropped dangerously.
"You won't live long enough to collect it."
The hunter smiled faintly.
"We'll see."
In the car, Ava's hands trembled.
She realized something terrifying.
Lucien wasn't afraid.
Not even a little.
Aurora watched the scene with obvious interest.
Then she murmured softly.
"This is where things get interesting."
Outside, the hunter raised his rifle.
Lucien slowly lifted the pistol in his hand.
The night went completely silent.
And Ava suddenly understood one thing with terrifying clarity.
The man protecting her…
Was far more dangerous than the man hunting her.