Ava's life as a leading assassin takes a dramatic turn when she barely escapes a lethal mission, leading her to form a reluctant partnership with Victor, a merciless mafia heir with his own perilous plans. With a bounty on her head and enemies closing in, Ava is tasked with recovering a potent artifact that could solidify Victor's grip on the mafia-if she can stay alive long enough to hand it over. In a treacherous game of deceit and loyalty, Ava and Victor must navigate a shadowy world filled with betrayal, desire, and violence.
Chapter 1 The Chase
~ Ava ~
Gunfire rang out in the night as I raced down the alley, my heart pounding in my chest, my legs screaming with every frantic step.
My legs buckled. Blood slicked my fingers as I pressed against the the wound. Damn it.
I should have known they'd turn on me the second I took the job.
The sound of boots pounding the pavement behind me sent chills down my spine. The men who had once been my allies-trusted partners-were now hunting me like prey. Betrayed. Left for dead.
I pushed myself harder, my breath coming in ragged gasps, the sharp pain in my side only intensifying my urge to flee. They would kill for this package. And they would kill me to keep it secret.
The alley was narrowing, the walls closing in as I glanced back. A shadowy figure appeared in the distance, blocking the only way out. My heart raced.
I'm cornered.
I dove into a nearby dumpster, rolling into its filthy depths, praying they wouldn't spot me. They couldn't find out I was still breathing.
A loud bang echoed through the alley, followed by a sharp yelp as one of them got too close. They weren't just hunting me-they were relishing this.
I could barely make out their voices over the roaring in my ears. But then... another voice emerged. This one was deeper, colder. Commanding.
"Find her," the man said, his voice slicing through the chaos like a knife. "If she's not dead already, she will be soon."
Who the hell is that?
I didn't wait to find out. As the footsteps drew nearer, I gripped the edges of my jacket, pressing against the cold metal of the dumpster. I had one chance. One shot at escaping this.
And then-lights. Flashing lights.
Not sirens. Not the police.
A black SUV screeched to a halt at the end of the alley. Before I could react, a man stepped out, tall and imposing, dressed in black. The moonlight glinted off the sharp angles of his jawline as he scanned the alley with lethal precision.
I didn't have time to figure out who he was. I didn't have time to question anything.
I needed to move. I wasn't dying here. Not tonight.
I took a deep breath and bolted.
But the pain in my leg stopped me in my tracks. The bullet wound.
I collapsed. The world tilted. The ground beneath me spun as I gasped for air. My vision blurred, darkening.
The last thing I saw was the man from the SUV walking toward me, and then everything went black.
---
~ Victor ~
As soon as I stepped out of the car, I realized this was more than just "picking up a package."
The girl-Ava Winters-had found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. She'd crossed paths with the wrong people, and now I was left to clean up the aftermath.
The alley was deserted, the only sound being the echoes of my footsteps, until I spotted her.
There she was. Lying on the ground. She was bleeding out. And yet... She was fighting to breathe. Her body was limp, barely hanging on. I had anticipated more resistance, more fight, but I should have known better. Ava Winters was skilled at surviving. She didn't need to struggle; she needed to be rescued.
And I had found her.
I didn't hesitate. I knelt beside her, my gloves already on as I felt for her pulse. Weak. Faint. But it was still there.
She wasn't dead. Not yet.
"Dammit, Ava," I whispered to myself. "What kind of trouble did you get into?"
I quickly radioed my team. "Get her to the car. Now."
They arrived moments later, lifting her up and rushing her to the vehicle. I followed closely, my mind racing. If they recognized her, she was already dead. If anyone understood her worth-hell, if anyone realized how dangerous she was-they'd come for her.
And I couldn't afford to waste any time.
As the car sped away, my thoughts sharpened. She was going to survive. And when she woke up, she would be mine.
She has something I need. And she has no idea.
---
~ Ava ~
My heart slammed into my ribs. I was alive. But where?
What the hell happened?
The ache in my leg reminded me of the pain, but it was dull now. I tried to move, but something held me in place-an IV in my arm, the hum of machines beside me.
A voice. Male. Low and commanding.
"You're awake."
My heart raced as I turned toward the sound.
The man from the alley.
He stood at the edge of the room, tall and imposing, his dark eyes studying me with a strange mix of curiosity and calculation.
"Who are you?" I croaked, my voice rough from the drug-induced haze.
He didn't respond immediately. His eyes narrowed a bit, and I could sense the weight of his presence pressing down on me.
He smirked "I'm your savior" he said, his tone carrying an undertone I couldn't quite identify.
What the hell?
I attempted to sit up, but my body protested. The pain lingered, yet it felt more bearable now.
"Stay down," he urged, stepping closer, his voice softening just a touch. "You're not ready to be up yet."
There was something about him that sent a shiver down my spine-his cold, detached demeanor made me feel like I wasn't just a victim to him. I was something more.
"Who are you?" I asked again staring at him suspiciously.
"That's not what you should be asking" he added. " You belong to me now."