The Assassin’s Choice

Luca had stared death in the face before.

But never like this.

Never with warm breath on his neck.

Never with a blade pressed to his throat.

And never with a woman like Evelyn Cross.

—

Sofia's gun was still aimed, but her hands were steady. "Let him go."

Evelyn smirked. "Or what?"

Luca exhaled slowly. He could feel the sharp edge against his skin. One wrong move and she wouldn't hesitate.

"I thought you were here to kill me," he said.

Evelyn's grip tightened.

"I was."

A pause.

Sofia shifted slightly, finger resting on the trigger. "Then do it."

Luca's eyes stayed on Evelyn. Watching. Calculating.

She didn't move.

Didn't speak.

The pressure of the knife remained, but something flickered in her gaze.

Something dangerous.

Something uncertain.

—

Luca took his shot.

Not with a gun.

With his words.

"Someone paid you a lot for this."

Evelyn said nothing.

"But you're hesitating."

Her jaw clenched.

Luca's voice dropped lower. "Why?"

For the first time, she blinked. Just once.

And that was all he needed.

—

Luca moved.

Fast.

He grabbed her wrist, twisting her blade away as he turned. Evelyn didn't falter—she spun with him, using the momentum to flip over his arm and land smoothly on her feet.

They stood apart now, weapons raised.

Luca with his gun.

Evelyn with her knife.

Sofia hadn't fired. Not yet.

Tension crackled in the air.

Then—

Evelyn lowered the knife.

Luca didn't lower his gun.

Not yet.

—

Evelyn smirked. "You're good."

Luca exhaled. "And you're not doing your job."

A beat.

Then—

She slipped the knife into her holster.

Sofia's eyes narrowed. "What's your game?"

Evelyn's gaze flicked to Luca.

"This isn't your kill."

Silence.

Luca studied her. "You're walking away?"

Evelyn's lips twitched. "I don't walk away."

She turned, stepping into the shadows.

Then, just before disappearing—

She looked back.

"See you soon, DeLuca."

And then—

She was gone.

—

Sofia let out a slow breath. "What the hell was that?"

Luca stared at the empty space where Evelyn had been.

His pulse still thrummed from the fight.

From her.

Then he holstered his gun.

"That," he said, "was a warning."

Sofia frowned. "From her?"

Luca's jaw clenched.

"No."

His eyes darkened.

"From whoever sent her."

—

Next Chapter: A New Enemy Rises – Luca digs into who ordered the hit, but what he finds is more dangerous than he expected.