The captive's kiss

eaved as she looked down at Lucas, his smug expression finally wiped clean, replaced by some

ozing from a cut above his eye. Still, he did not break his gaze fro

pat, bitterness dripping from his voice

who's going to regret anything is you, Lucas," he said, his voice a l

neuver me tonight, that you've won? I have connections. Allies. And they will come for you

girl she'd been before when he had her under his mercy. "Perh

aid, looking to the windows, where first hints of dawn were already lighting the sky. "O

. "We have a safe place we can go, but we need to

ping hard in her veins. "Let's leave

e out of the broken building that had sheltered them the night before, Ava felt reality settle around her ne

than's eyes in the rearview mirror. His jaw was clenched as he concentrated on the road ahead. Sh

in her mind. She had fought back, yes, but what was to come was pretty scary. There was just

poke up. "Wher

wn at her. "A place outside the city. Where Luca

off the radar. So we'll be safe here, and

ion fleeing her as she took in the scenery. She didn't know what lay ahead, but for the first ti

It was plain but solid-a place of the sort that seemed to melt into its surro

er sat him down in a heavy chair and bound him into it. Lucas stared at them with eyes afire from resentmen

closure. No control over her was where she had placed the finisher. Yet, though the battle was at its heigh

felt good, grounding. He reached out to say in softy tones, "You went q

n intensity that made her feel seen, valued. "I couldn't have done

e weight of everything they'd gone through pressing in, binding them. There was a gamut of vulnerab

ed something into his throat to halt the moment. "

begun to wane, fell to sleep. When Ava woke, the sun was high in the sky, casting a warm ray of light through the small cabin windows. There was a feeling of peace for a very short moment until events of the nig

said quietly as she jo

le. "As well as I c

lt unreal, like they were in a different world altogether where chaos didn't exist anymore, having just escape

ing mug of coffee. "We need to talk strategy

go down quietly. We need to find some

ring intently at them, his expression unreadable. There was something unnerving

d without warning, low and dangerous. "My people wi

herself look into his eyes. "Your threats don't int

va? You are in over your head. There are wheels in

tight. "Enough, Lucas. We're no

idn't want to to unravel all their plans. She looked over at Ethan,

ll be ready for whatever comes next, Ava. We are i

secrets Lucas had kept, what connections he still had that at this moment in time could pose a threat to them.

ttle-one that would question their strength,

is face set in an uncomfortable grimace. She frowned, feeling the hairs on her arms prickle with a

she asked, her voice ba

on the window. "I don't know. Some

wing. "We scouted the place. It's off t

ve eyes everywhere, and Lucas... He glanced at Lucas, whose smug smile was back in

settling calm radiated off him, as if he simply waited for his next move.

sneered. "You're more vulnerable tha

eep talking, Lucas. The more you threaten us, t

"That's where you're wrong, Ethan.

he realized the definite sound of cars drawing nearer and tires crunching over gravel and slamming shut. Ethan and Marco looked into each o

ing through her in equal measure. She clutch

ng at the speed of light. "We have to get out of here-now. Marco, t

rm. "No. I'm not leaving you here with him, Ethan.

on. "Ava, you gotta trust me. I need you safe, and

s right, Ava. We'll buy you time to get a h

men stormed into the cabin, shouting orders. Ava's heart pounded against her ch

yelled out, returning fi

Ava. "Stay low and follow me." They crawled on toward the bac

off from going further, blocking their escape route-o

he man sneered, loo

for anything she could use to help. Her eyes landed on a heavy lamp, and without any second thought, she grabbed it and brought it

ut there was no time to revel in this. They scrambled thr

over his shoulder. "They wo

e woods. She clutched at Ethan's hand, her terror of being hunted coursing through her veins. They do

y stopped, panting, and looked around. But before they were able

uld escape, did you?" Lucas's v

, somehow freed from his bindings, a cruel smile twisting his feat

s path to Ava, his face as hard as ste

ur head, Ethan. You really thought you could keep her from me?

e would not show him a display of fear. "I'm

his gaze piercing into Ava's with so much intensity that s

e two men wrestled furiously. Ava looked on in horror as they continued to hit ou

nd Marco whipped out his gun, pointing it square at Lucas. "En

"What are you doing, Marco? Yo

ever on your side, Lucas. I only worked for you becaus

into anger. "You'll

m didn't shake. "Perhaps. But I

nto the woods. Lucas stumbled backwards, clutching his side, his face contorted in pain

tched Lucas fall, finally, finally ending his rein of terror. She turned to Marco, her in

was the right thing to do. I sho

ver them for what felt like the first time in forever. But even as they basked in the relief, Ava knew that this was only the

brim with resolution and tender regard. "We'

s a glimmer of hope that Ava felt. It was a battle they'd won, and though she did know that there was much