CHAPTER 6

The gun dug into her temple like an icy brand.

Lucy’s breath caught, every nerve screaming.

Austin’s voice was a razor.

“Let her go.”

The masked man laughed, low and mocking, his pale eyes glinting in the dim light.

“That’s cute. You think you’re the one in control here.”

Austin’s jaw flexed.

“I don’t think so. I know.”

Lucy’s pulse thundered in her ears. She could feel the intruder’s breath near her ear, hot, slow, deliberate, like he wanted her to feel every second of her fear.

Her voice was tight, but she forced it out.

“If you’re going to shoot me, do it. But don’t—”

The man’s grip on her wrist snapped tighter, cutting off her words with a hiss of pain.

“Oh no,” he murmured. “The Phantom wants you alive.”

His eyes flicked to Austin.

“Both of you.”

Austin’s fingers twitched at his sides, the barest tremor betraying the storm under his calm exterior.

“You have five seconds to walk out of here breathing.”

The masked man tilted his head.

“Or what? You’ll put a bullet in me? From where you’re standing?” He pushed Lucy forward slightly, using her body like a shield. “I like my odds.”

Austin’s gaze sharpened. He took one deliberate step forward, the creak of his boot against the concrete loud in the stifling air.

“You shouldn’t.”

The man’s smirk faltered, just enough for Lucy to catch it.

Then a voice cut in from the hallway.

“Three seconds, Marco. Wrap it up.”

Lucy’s stomach dropped. More of them.

Austin’s head shifted just slightly toward the sound. That split-second distraction was enough.

Marco yanked Lucy fully against him and began backing toward the door.

“Austin”

The barrel pressed harder into her temple, silencing her.

“You’ll see her again,” Marco said. “If you’re willing to pay the price.”

Austin’s eyes burned into him.

“You’re not walking out with her.”

Marco’s smile returned, crueler this time.

“Watch me.”

The moment the man’s foot hit the threshold, Austin moved. A blur of motion—his hand shot down, scooped the fallen gun, and fired.

Marco spun, dragging Lucy with him, but the shot was aimed low. The bullet tore through his thigh.

He roared, grip faltering, and Lucy wrenched free, stumbling toward Austin.

Two more masked men lunged inside.

“Lucy, corner!” Austin barked, shoving her behind an overturned steel table before opening fire again.

Bullets sparked against the walls, the air filling with the acrid burn of gunpowder. Lucy pressed herself into the cold metal, covering her ears.

Austin dropped one with a clean shot to the chest. The other darted to Marco’s side, hauling him upright despite the wound.

“This isn’t over!” Marco spat.

“Trust me,” Austin growled, “it’s over for you.”

Before he could fire again, a metallic canister rolled across the floor.

“Austin—” Lucy started.

“DOWN!” he barked.

White smoke exploded into the air, choking them in an acrid haze. Shapes moved in the fog, retreating.

Austin’s hand closed around hers, yanking her toward the far wall.

“Stay with me!”

They burst into a side hallway, their footsteps echoing.

Her lungs burned. “Where” cough “are we going?”

“Out. Before they circle back.”

“They’re leaving”

“No,” his voice was sharp. “They don’t leave without what they came for. That smoke was covered. They’re repositioning.”

Before she could ask, he shoved her into a dark maintenance closet, closing the door.

“You knew the Phantom would come tonight,” she whispered.

Silence.

Her chest tightened. “You brought me here knowing I was bait.”

His hand found her arm in the dark.

“I brought you here because I needed to control the field.”

“Control?” her voice cracked. “I nearly had my head blown off!”

“You think I don’t know that?” His tone was low, dangerous. “You think I’m not calculating every angle to keep you alive?”

Something in his voice made her pause—not the words, but the raw edge beneath them.

“Austin—”

The door handle rattled.

Austin’s gun was in his hand instantly. He pressed a finger to his lips.

The rattle came again, harder this time. Silence followed.

Lucy’s heart pounded.

“When I say run, you run,” he whispered.

The door exploded inward. A man filled the frame—taller, broader, unmasked.

Lucy froze. His eyes were silver, cold, predatory.

“Austin DiMarco,” he said smoothly, “the Phantom sends his regards… and his instructions.”

Austin didn’t lower his gun. “Which are?”

The man’s gaze flicked to Lucy. “She comes with me. You stay here.”

“Not happening,” Lucy snapped.

The smirk was faint, humorless. “You don’t get a vote.”

Austin stepped between them. “You’ll have to go through me.”

“Gladly.”

The silver-eyed man moved in a blur, slamming Austin against the wall with bone-crunching force.

“Austin!” Lucy screamed.

The man’s grip tightened on Austin’s throat. “The Phantom doesn’t like hearing no.”

Austin’s face reddened. His eyes locked on hers. “Run.”

She hesitated.

“Lucy!”

She turned toward the hall, and the man’s voice froze her. “One step, and I snap his neck.”

Her breath came in shallow bursts.

Then

A deafening CRACK.

The silver-eyed man’s head jerked violently forward. A heavy wrench clattered to the floor beside him.

Behind him, framed in the doorway, stood a tall man with graying hair, his tailored suit streaked with dust and fury blazing in his eyes.

Lucy’s mouth fell open.

“…Dad?”