The Final Spark

's

ent years trying to bury. Every instinct screamed at her to run, but Jaxon's

," Jaxon said, his voic

hat's not important. What is important is the

tween them. "You

unimpressed. "And you're play

r throat felt like it had closed aroun

darker crossing his face. "You know what I wa

him-his entire body coiled like a spring, ready to

ng a hand gently on Jaxon'

his jaw clenched, b

ady now. "Whatever you think yo

he place. The spotlight. The press. All these important people who th

urned cold. "

er. "Because you walked away. Bec

ectly between them. "You have ten seconds to get

ardened. "Is t

ise," Jaxon

ent, the room

rp. "You think you scare me? You have no

urned and walked out, the penthou

hed like a noo

his eyes burning. "

e knot in her throat. "Someone

ear

t twisting in her stom

shed my event, threatened you, and tried to humiliate us bo

whispered, "

The air between them was thick with tension-anger, co

his voice was quiet

ed. "Not p

said slowly, studying her. "Some

ldn't. The truth wasn't re

eel. "I need to know what I'm dealing with, Ava. You can't st

burning. "I'm not pretend

rstand this-I protect what's mine. And right now

s voice. It should've scared her. Instead, it m

be protected,"

You didn't. But I'

the conversation. But A

a lon

ght. "That was security. Someone's

flooding my veins. This night was spiralin

ered, voice sharp as h

ge in my tone. "I'm not some damsel in distress.

e. "You're walking a razor's edge, Ava.

keep my fear from show

moment, then nodded reluctan

hallway, the tension between us thick enough to

er floor, and Jaxon's hand was on

ng me inside first. The d

hum of the building's security systems. My mind raced, trying to piec

side exit usually reserved for staff. The d

shadows chasing

path at the landing below - tal

was ice cold.

the grip of a gun. "He said you'd be here

f," Jaxo

- and in that split sec

Jaxon pushed me behind him. I dropped

e air. Jaxon's voice cut

down the stairs, the sound of he

the underground garage, headlight

sleek black car

ere, his eyes dark a

't hes

e sped off before I even had

led on my lap.

d grimly. "Marcus isn't

ooms and bedrooms with equal ease - and wondere

clear - there was

ightened on the steering wheel. Silence stretched between

dy my racing heart. "Why didn't

n't know the full story. And some

dable. "I'm not some fragile gir

"You're the one person who makes m

sent a shock str

ne buzzed again. He glanced at

ttered, eyes darkening.

ng the walls cl

hboard, activating the secure

o a twisting backroad, the ci

, voice breaking. "Wh

se you're not just another client, Ava. You'r

like fire and ice - thrillin

lack SUV roared up behind us, head

e was a grow

or, tires screeching as

closed

second car cut us off, forci

orld

shat

ything w