The captive's kiss

faces, along with that of their ally, Nick, while they pored over a map laid across the table. They fol

his finger on a mark on the map. "He's not just going to s

map. "What if we set a trap? We could make it look like

ght pay off. If we can get Lucas and his crew in one place, we might be able to gain so

admiration for Ava's tenacity. "You know the risks,

g the urgency of the situation. "I've been afraid long eno

s turning in his head. "Alright," he finally said, resolution pouri

No longer just a captive but now an active participant in a dangerous ga

of possible escape routes. Ava was practicing her lines, needing desperately

lf alone in the darkened living area with Ethan. The tension between them

to do this?" he asked

replied, her gaze steady. "I want to take

ximity sending a flutter through her. "You're brave, Ava. I a

ing her eyes in challenge at him. "We're

n his eyes. "Then let's make sure we're r

she said, the determinat

was a perilous plan, but the exhilaration of being in charge stirred a deep part of her. She c

and her demeanour bespoke a confidence now instilled in her. She combed her hair to set a frame around

s crew to a warehouse at the edge of town-an old abandoned building tha

ed, his tone heavy as the

p-flopping with nervousness. She turned to Ethan, who stood besid

e set up a perimeter and monitor their appr

lit warehouse. Electric was the air within, and the thumping of her hear

aid quietly, adjusting

of anxiety mixed with excitement as the expectation of Lucas and his crew ate at Ava's nerve

ance, and Ava felt her heart quicken. "They're here,

irmly on her as he stepped closer. "St

r the role she would have to play. The door creaked ope

ile spreading across his lips as he sp

t how nervous she was. "You were right, Lucas.

me for you. Ava was far better than being a piece in one of your sic

g flash of irritation. "You really think you can

towards a shock of Nick in action, taking down one of Lucas's men. The chaos erupted, and

va knew they were outnumbered. The upper hand they had hop

at her, his eyes fierce

" she screamed back, reso

ruel smile crawling across his face. "You a

th the metal pipe, swinging as hard as she could. The metal smacked

again. But Ava didn't wait for his next move this time

e. And in that second, it finally dawned on all three of them-th

ling away as the sirens grew louder. "You th

n the shadow of the alley with their veins still coursing with adrenalin

to get to some place safe and figure out our next moves. Lucas won'

"What about the safe house?

re, and if he finds out we've returned, it could compromise

sked as uncertainty

"He's got a place at the outskirts of town-away from p

h her veins. As they disappeared into the night, the realit

direction. Ethan weaved her around familiar routes, not taking his eyes off the path in front of th

indows were boarded up, giving it a kind of abandoned air that was almost reassuring. Ethan rapped softly at th

embrace, the man stepped back to survey Ava. "An

t with the chill outside. The air was warm, filled with

han introduced. "He's helped

ith Marco's presence. "Thanks for having us," she

they were well and truly alone. "You're safe here. We've got a few ho

ation with Lucas, the narrow escape. Marco listened

ng his arms. "He's probably plotting his next move

ted at the thought

he can to get what he wants. And right now, he knows you're

al intensity. "We need to start thinking strategically. If we

xiety and determination. She couldn't shake the feeling they were in deeper than she could ever

ce that had formed in the room. "I'll call some contacts and see if they can tell me any

ss of gadgets and contraptions. "I have some old cameras we can mount arou

ing dimension-mostly alien to her. For the first time, she was right i

. Ava couldn't help the adrenaline pumping in her veins as they prepared for whatever was to come. Ea

for what we do when Lucas finds u

improvise. I'll do whatever it takes to keep

mix fear and excitement. "I'm not

g. "And that's what makes you so formid

with a strange warmth that seeped int

nd them. Ava found herself looking at Ethan far more often than she intended, something in the way

. Marco quickly approached the window, peering out through a crack in the

. Ethan's eyes were sharp with that determined look.

died for the fight. Ava grasped the metal pipe she'd taken earlier, her knuc

Ava felt the weight of the moment bearing down upon her

wearing an odious grin. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he jeere

otective barrier she had come to le

the cramped space. "Oh, Ethan, you're so naive.

racing with her sense of the tension in the room. "You don't

g across his face. "Oh, but I do. You've become

the two were in this fierce battle. The force from the collision sent

r heart was racing inside her c

so he was between Ava and the fight.

alongside Ethan-was overwhelming, but when Lucas managed a

desperation flooding

, grabbing a nearby chair and swinging it at Ethan. The im

g forward despite Marco's objections. She swung the metal

s forward as he lost his bala

trength this time; the pipe connected with his shoulder. He grunted wit

han, who struggled to his

ang to his feet, his eyes ablaze with dete

and rose to her feet. "

s's men, while Ava and Ethan turned to face off against Lucas. The chaotic energy now s

as he realized the tide was turning. "You really think y