Rise of a Silent Flame

met Nico DeLuca, she was

earbuds in, and ignore the sirens like every other night. Bu

Ava had just tossed a bag of trash into the dumpst

fr

t-and her pulse stuttered. She turne

hen she

uit that didn't belong in an alley. His stance was calm. Arrogantly so. But Ava noticed the blood blooming through

DeL

ut him radiated danger and gravity all at once. The k

est to him r

r heart beat against he

ould'v

d've stay

ide a dead man slumped against the brick wall. It was

hesi

cocked t

idn't

va...

the cold metal. The world went silent. Her

ith the g

sed the

a

hing s

f

hen the remaining two men ran-gone into

opped

, adrenaline crashing throug

shirt. His gaze locked on hers-and something

fe

pa

gnit

storms

he said, her voice b

imself and back at

wallowed. "I didn't even

hesit

no

en you

steady her breath. "A

aved m

e out. She staggered back against

ront of her. "Wh

, dazed. "I wor

r at the end of the alley, then ba

as

something not quite a

owned.

get," he said. "You shot one of Mikhail Vetra's m

him. "I didn't

it because you didn't wa

eath h

deep down," he continue

, and expensive danger. But his voice was steady.

ared," he

d away. "

did it

Maybe it was the awe in his voice. Or maybe it was the fact t

Men twice your size with no hesitation. But no one'

ped up, eyes

lood. Or maybe you're just the fir

t respond

a beat longer. Then he st

tared

orld," she said, shakin

any

k black card into

take his ha

didn't r