The night air felt heavy.
Ava watched through the windshield, barely breathing.
Lucien stood in the middle of the dark road, calm and unmoving, the pistol steady in his hand. The hunter across from him looked equally composed, the rifle resting easily against his shoulder as if this were just another routine job.
Ten million dollars.
That was the price on Ava's head.
And this man had come to collect it.
"Step aside," the hunter repeated.
Lucien didn't even blink.
"No."
The hunter sighed slowly.
"Then you die first."
The rifle lifted.
Everything happened at once.
A shot exploded through the night.
But Lucien had already moved.
He stepped sideways with impossible speed, the bullet slicing past where he had been standing only a second earlier.
Lucien fired back instantly.
The hunter ducked behind the SUV as the bullet struck the door with a loud metallic crack.
Inside the car, Ava gasped.
Aurora leaned forward between the seats, her eyes gleaming with interest.
"Oh, he's good," she murmured.
Outside, the hunter rolled across the ground and fired again.
The shot shattered the windshield of Lucien's car.
Ava screamed and ducked.
Lucien crouched behind a nearby tree, reloading the pistol with smooth efficiency.
The hunter circled slowly around the SUV, his movements precise and patient.
"Who are you?" he called.
Lucien didn't answer.
Instead, he stepped out from behind the tree and fired twice.
The hunter dodged, but one bullet grazed his arm.
He grunted and stepped back.
For the first time, the man looked slightly surprised.
"You're trained," he said.
Lucien's voice was cold.
"Very."
The hunter smirked slightly.
"Interesting."
Then he lifted the rifle again.
Inside the car, Ava's chest tightened painfully.
Lucien was fast.
But this man was relentless.
Another shot rang out.
Lucien fired at the same moment.
The hunter's rifle slipped from his grip as Lucien's bullet struck his shoulder.
The man staggered backward.
Lucien didn't hesitate.
He closed the distance quickly, knocking the hunter to the ground and kicking the rifle away.
Within seconds, the assassin was pinned beneath Lucien's knee, the pistol aimed directly at his head.
The hunter stared up at him, breathing heavily.
"Looks like I underestimated you."
Lucien's voice was ice.
"Who sent you?"
The hunter laughed weakly.
"You think I'd tell you?"
Lucien pressed the gun harder against his temple.
"You're going to."
The man's smile faded.
Then suddenly—
He laughed again.
"You're too late."
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
The hunter's gaze shifted toward the car.
Ava felt a chill run down her spine.
"There are others," the hunter whispered.
Lucien froze.
Aurora swore softly inside the car.
"Oh… that's not good."