AriaThe silence that followed the fight felt like a heavy weight pressing down on me. The two men lay motionless on the ground, their eyes wide with shock. I couldn’t believe how quickly it had all happened and how swiftly Marcus had taken control of the situation. His strength, his skill… It was all overwhelming.I looked up at him, still standing over the men, his posture tense but steady. His chest was rising and falling rapidly, his breathing shallow, but his eyes… His eyes were sharp. Calculating.“Are they alive?” I whispered, unable to tear my gaze away from the scene. My heart was still racing, my mind trying to process what had just happened.Marcus glanced down at the two men, assessing the damage with a critical eye. “They will be,” he said, his voice low but firm. He stepped back, his eyes still locked on the men, making sure they didn’t stir. “But not for long if they keep coming after you.”I swallowed hard, my throat dry, and took a step back, moving closer to him. I d
AriaThe world spun around me in a dizzying blur. I felt my body fall, the ground beneath me disappearing in an instant. My heart leaped into my throat as I tumbled into the darkness, my breath trapped in my chest. I had no idea what was happening, how far, how fast but everything was spinning so fast, I couldn't focus on anything but the terrifying sensation of weightlessness.The last thing I remember before the ground finally caught me was Marcus’s voice, distant, calling my name. I couldn’t even respond. My body was numb, and my mind was completely overwhelmed by the chaos.When I hit the ground, it felt like I had been dropped from a great height. My body slammed into the earth with a sickening thud, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My vision was blurred, the edges of the world jagged and out of focus. The pain exploded in my body, but it wasn’t enough to knock me unconscious just enough to make every inch of my body scream in agony."Aria!" Marcus's voice pierced through th
AriaThe gunshots rang through the tunnel like an explosion, and for a moment, I thought I had lost everything. My body was shaking from the aftermath, my heart still racing in my chest as the sound echoed off the cold stone walls.I stayed crouched on the ground, trying to keep my breathing steady, but my mind was whirling. I couldn’t tell if the man who had grabbed me was dead or just wounded. All I knew was that the men around us were retreating, fear in their eyes, and confusion on their faces.I turned to Marcus, who was standing just a few feet away. His face was hard, his eyes locked on the men who were now backing away, their hands raised in surrender. But he wasn’t focused on them. His eyes were on me intense, determined, and filled with something I couldn’t quite place.“Aria, get up,” he said sharply, his voice rough but calm. He reached for my arm, pulling me to my feet.I felt his touch, but my mind was still reeling. What had just happened? Who had shot first? Was it Mar
AriaI could hear the footsteps getting closer, echoing off the walls of the tunnel. They weren’t just behind us anymore they were surrounding us. More than one pair, maybe two or three. I didn’t know how many, but I could feel their presence closing in, and the adrenaline surged through my veins like wildfire.“Damian, please…” My voice was a desperate whisper. “We need to keep moving.”His hand was gripping mine, his fingers cold and clammy, but I didn’t dare let go. Every step he took was slow and painful, but he was still moving. We had to make it. I had to make sure we made it.The faint light ahead of the exit seemed impossible for now like it was being swallowed by the darkness behind us. I dared a glance over my shoulder. The shadows in the tunnel were shifting, and then I saw them: two men, dressed in black, their faces hidden beneath masks, emerging from the darkness. They were coming toward us. No hesitation, no mercy in their eyes.I pulled Damian forward faster, but he st
AriaThe van swerved left again, my fingers gripping the cold metal rail beside Damian’s gurney so hard my knuckles turned white. The motion jolted him, and he let out a weak groan, his head rolling to the side.“I’ve got you,” I whispered, leaning over him. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”Marcus was barking orders from the front. “Take it hard right now!”The tires screamed as we veered into an alley. I could hear the engine of the SUV following us; they were still on our tail, maybe even gaining.“We’re not going to outrun them,” Marcus growled.“Then what do we do?” I shouted.His head whipped around to look at me. “We don’t outrun them we outsmart them.”The driver cursed as we hit a pothole, the whole van rattling.I looked back at Damian. His eyes were barely open. Sweat clung to his forehead. His skin was pale, too pale. I pressed my hand to his cheek.“Stay awake. Talk to me.”“Aria…” he muttered. “Don’t… don’t let them take you…”“Never,” I whispered. “You hear me? I’m
AriaThe shot echoed down the hallway like a lightning strike.Screams erupted. I ducked behind Damian’s hospital bed, my heart hammering in my chest. Everything moved in flashes Marcus wrestling the fake nurse to the ground, security charging toward us, the gun skittering across the floor.Another shot rang out. I screamed again, shielding Damian with my body.“Get him to the elevator!” Marcus shouted, wrestling the attacker.One of the guards pulled Damian’s bed while the other covered us with his weapon raised. I grabbed the side rail to keep steady as we rolled quickly toward the elevator.“Keep your head down!” the guard barked.The elevator doors were still open. I shoved the “Close” button the moment we rolled in. The second the doors shut, I collapsed beside Damian, clutching his arm, breath shallow.“Are you okay?” I asked, voice trembling.“I’m not the one being shot at,” he rasped, trying to smile, even now. “You?”“Still breathing,” I said, brushing my hair out of my eyes