Chapter 245: A Deal with the Devil

Ava's breath hitched, her eyes locked on the barrel of Ethan's gun. But despite the tension, she smirked.

"Go ahead," she whispered. "Pull the trigger. See if he survives without me."

Ethan didn't flinch, but his grip tightened. His finger rested on the trigger—one twitch, and she was gone.

Cole straightened, blood still on his hands. "Ethan." His voice was measured. "Not now."

Ethan didn't move. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, his every instinct screaming to end her.

She had done this.

She had stabbed Chris. She had helped set this up. And now? She was playing her last card.

"You think you're untouchable?" Ethan murmured, voice dangerously low.

Ava's smirk wavered for a fraction of a second.

"You don't get it, do you?" she said. "You kill me, you lose your only leverage. Because guess what? That sniper wasn't working for me. And if Chris dies, whoever pulled that trigger is going to finish the job."

Skylar stiffened.

Cole exchanged a glance with Ethan. She was lying. She had to be.

But what if she wasn't?

Chris lay between them, bleeding out. Every second mattered.

Ethan gritted his teeth. His gun remained steady.

Then—a choice.

Slowly, he lowered the weapon.

Ava exhaled, her confidence returning. "Smart move."

Ethan's eyes burned into hers. "I'm not finished with you."

Ava only smiled. "Oh, I know."

Behind them, the whirring of helicopter blades cut through the night.

The med team had arrived.

And as they rushed to lift Chris onto the stretcher, one thought anchored Ethan's rage.

Chris was still alive.

And if he survived—

Ava wouldn't be.