Beverley’s heart was pounding so hard she thought it might explode. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and her arms ached from holding up Davion’s weight. He was heavier than he looked, and his blood was warm and sticky against her skin. She tried not to think about how much he was bleeding. She tried not to think about how close they were to collapsing.She kept her eyes on the road ahead, even though the moonlight made it hard to see. “Almost there,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “We’re gonna make it. Just a little farther.”Davion didn’t answer. He just grunted, his face pale and tight with pain. She hated seeing him like this. He was always so strong, always so in control. But right now, he looked like he was about to pass out, and it scared her more than anything.Suddenly, there was a rustling sound behind them, like footsteps crunching in the snow. Beverley’s stomach flipped. She turned around, her eyes wide.A figure stepped out of the shadows, and her breath caught in her t

Beverley’s heart was still pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of her chest. She had blood on her face, snow in her hair, and her hands were trembling so badly she could barely hold onto the rock she’d grabbed. But she didn’t care. She just had to keep fighting.Reaper shoved Davion off him with a snarl, his eyes flashing with fury. “You two are really starting to piss me off,” he spat, his voice low and dangerous.Davion wiped blood from his mouth, glaring up at him. “Good,” he said, his voice hoarse but steady. “Because we’re not stopping.”Reaper’s lip curled in a sneer, and he lunged at Davion again. The two of them slammed together like a car crash, fists flying and breath coming in ragged gasps. Beverley scrambled back, trying to stay out of the way, but she couldn’t take her eyes off them.Davion was fast, but Reaper was faster. He ducked under Davion’s punch and slammed his elbow into Davion’s stomach. Davion let out a gasp and staggered, but he didn’t go down. He

Irene zipped up her jacket and pushed open the heavy door of the headquarters, the icy wind slapping her face as she stepped outside. She was done here. She was done with all of it — the endless meetings, the fake smiles, the constant feeling that everyone was watching her like she was a bomb about to go off.She pulled her hood up over her head and started down the steps, her breath coming in ragged clouds in the cold night air. The street was empty, the only sounds the distant hum of traffic and the crunch of her boots on the snow. She didn’t look back. She didn’t want to see that place ever again.As she walked, she tried to push everything out of her mind. Davion. Beverley. The mission. She was so tired of it all. She just wanted to be done. She wanted to find somewhere quiet where no one knew her name and no one cared what she did.But of course, life never let her off that easy.Her phone buzzed in her pocket, breaking the silence. She frowned, pulling it out and checking the sc

The forest seemed to hold its breath as they moved. Every crackle of leaves underfoot sounded like a gunshot in the quiet. Davion led the way, his hand gripping Beverley’s as he navigated the tangle of roots and branches. Wilson and Reika flanked them, their weapons at the ready.“I hate this,” Beverley whispered, her voice trembling. “I hate running like this.”Davion squeezed her hand tighter. “I know,” he said. “But we’ll be safe soon.”But even as he said the words, he didn’t believe them. He could feel it in his gut — the forest wasn’t safe. Not tonight.Reika suddenly stopped, her eyes narrowing. She lifted her bow, scanning the trees. “Wait,” she said in a low voice. “Something’s wrong.”Beverley froze, her heart pounding. She could feel it too — the stillness was too deep, too unnatural. Then she heard it: the faintest rustle of leaves behind them.Davion turned, his eyes widening as three figures in black stepped from the shadows. More assassins. Their faces were hidden by ma

Beverley shivered as the cold night air seeped into the broken cabin, her breath misting in the darkness. She looked around, her fingers numb and her shoulders aching. Davion was checking his side where the assassin’s blade had grazed him. His shirt was torn and dark with blood, but he just pressed his hand over the wound and gritted his teeth.“Let me see,” Beverley said, moving closer.“I’m fine,” Davion said roughly, but she could hear the strain in his voice.Wilson snorted, wiping the blood off his forehead with the back of his hand. “You’re bleeding like a stuck pig. Let her look at it.”Davion hesitated, then let Beverley gently lift his shirt. The cut was deep, but not life-threatening. She swallowed hard, blinking back tears. “We need to clean this,” she said.Reika was already rummaging through the dusty cabinets. “Here,” she said, handing Beverley an old rag and a cracked bottle of whiskey. “It’s not much, but it’ll have to do.”Beverley took a breath and soaked the rag in