Phoenix Gunnar, an assassin with no conscience, is forced to take on a mission she never wanted-to kill August Grey, the secret boss of a powerful underground faction. But when her target turns the tables and captures her instead, Phoenix is thrust into a world of power, dominance, and twisted lust. She may have been sent to kill him, but now she's trapped in his arms, torn between duty, vengeance, and a passion that's impossible to resist.
Chapter 1 The hunt.
The echo of gunshots tore through the night air, followed by the frantic clamor of men shouting in unison, their rage palpable as they screamed, "There's an assassin!" The sound reverberated off the crumbling walls of the dark alley, a tight labyrinth of forgotten streets in the city's underbelly. Amid the chaos, a stealthy figure darted like a shadow, seamlessly blending into the darkness.
The assassin moved without a whisper, each step calculated, her breath steady despite the adrenaline that threatened to overtake her.
The men were fast, but she was faster. She weaved through narrow passageways, gliding across damp streets slick with grime and rain. Her pulse thrummed in her ears as she bolted around corners, expertly slipping into the deepest pockets of shadow. For now, she had the upper hand. But she could hear them-relentless, relentless like dogs on the scent of blood.
After what felt like an eternity of running, she slowed down, her senses honed on the sound of her pursuers. The voices-once dangerously close-were now distant, fading. The hunt had lost its heat.
She stopped. Her chest rose and fell with controlled, practiced breaths as she scanned her surroundings, making sure she was truly alone. A nearby shed offered sanctuary. She hurried inside, slamming the door behind her, her heart still pounding. She ripped off her strange mask-an eerie, stylized skull that concealed her identity. Her hands trembled slightly as the mask dropped to the floor, revealing the round, smooth face beneath. She wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand, feeling the ache of tension in her shoulders. The mask fell to the floor with a dull thud as she peeled off her skin-tight suit and tossed it aside. A simple shirt and skirt, hanging from a rusty nail, were hastily pulled on. Her heartbeat slowed, but her mind remained sharp. Just when she thought she'd shaken them- A sudden shout pierced the silence.
"There she is!" a voice bellowed from the distance, and the furious pounding of footsteps began again. Phoenix spun around, fear flashing briefly across her face. Her breath caught, but she didn't panic. Instead, she pointed in the opposite direction, her hand trembling with just the right amount of convincing terror. "They went that way!" she gasped, her eyes wide with false fear. The men exchanged a glance, their desperation overriding logic. Without a second thought, they sprinted in the direction she pointed.
Phoenix's lips curled into a smirk. "Idiots," she muttered under her breath, turning away from the shed. She slipped out, her movements smooth and unhurried now. A battered scooter lay hidden behind a pile of discarded boxes. She mounted it, kicked it to life, and sped off, the engine humming softly as she disappeared into the night. By the time she reached her luxurious apartment, the adrenaline had worn off, replaced by an insidious pain creeping up her spine. She stumbled through the front door, her vision blurring momentarily. She barely made it to the bathroom before she was violently coughing. The sharp taste of metallic blood filled her mouth. Her body lurched as the fit overtook her, and she collapsed to her knees in front of the sink, one hand clutching the cold porcelain, the other pressed to her stomach.
Blood spattered across the white countertop, the dark red streaks a horrifying contrast against the sterile surroundings. "D*mn you, Gavin!" she spat, glaring at her reflection in the mirror. The face staring back was pale, haunted, and twisted with fury. Gavin, her ex-boyfriend, had done this to her. Poisoned her. And now she was nothing more than his puppet, dancing to his tune in exchange for the antidote. The only way to live was to continue doing his bidding, executing targets for him as if she were a mere tool.
Phoenix grabbed a towel, angrily wiping the blood from her lips. Her hands shook-not from fear, but from the rage bubbling inside her.
She couldn't do this anymore. Her fingers clenched around her phone as she dialed Gavin's number, barely keeping herself from smashing the device against the wall. The phone rang twice before his lazy, smug voice answered. "Phoenix, darling," Gavin drawled, his voice thick with amusement. In the background, she could hear the flirtatious laughter of women-multiple women-wrapped around him like the poisonous snake he was. "Miss me already? Shouldn't you be out doing what you do best?"
"I need the antidote, Gavin. Now," Phoenix's voice was cold, her fury barely restrained. "I did what you asked. The job is done." Gavin chuckled, the sound grating in her ears.
"Oh, Phoenix. You know how this works. You get your dose when I say so. You don't make demands here."
Her grip tightened on the phone. "I'm not your slave. I did what you asked. The target is dead. Give me the antidote."
There was a pause, followed by a mocking hum. "Tsk, tsk. I wouldn't call you a slave, Phoenix. I think of you more as... a very expensive pet. One that knows her place." She could practically hear the smirk in his voice. A wave of nausea washed over her, but it wasn't from the poison-it was from the sheer hatred coursing through her veins.
"Gavin," she hissed, "I'm not playing this game anymore."
"Oh, but you are." His voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "Unless, of course, you want the poison to eat through your body. I wonder, how long do you think you'll last without your weekly dose?"
Phoenix clenched her jaw, swallowing the venomous retort that threatened to spill out. He was right. She needed the antidote. The pain was already creeping back, her muscles tightening, her vision swimming. She couldn't risk losing control. "What's next, then?" she finally groaned out, her voice low and full of hate.
"Oh, I thought you'd never ask." Gavin's voice brightened with cruel delight. "There's one more target. And this one is going to be fun. Very fun."
Chapter 1 The hunt.
03/01/2025
Chapter 2 Just a hobby.
03/01/2025
Chapter 3 One bullet, one chance.
03/01/2025
Chapter 4 Champagne
03/01/2025
Chapter 5 Not interested.
03/01/2025
Chapter 6 I have been waiting for you.
03/01/2025
Chapter 7 Game on.
03/01/2025
Chapter 8 Going somewhere, Phoenix
03/01/2025
Chapter 9 Welcome to your new life.
03/01/2025
Chapter 10 First mission.
03/01/2025
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