The Fire in Their Blood

The hum of the car's engine was the only sound between them as they tore down the highway, the city's neon glow fading behind them. The mountains loomed in the distance, dark and ominous under the night sky. Somewhere up there, Dante Vasquez was either hiding or waiting for death.

Luca gripped the wheel, his knuckles white. "This feels wrong."

Evelyn sat beside him, her gaze steady. "Because it is."

He exhaled, glancing at her. Even in the dim light, she was breathtaking. Strong, determined, completely unshaken by the danger ahead. She had changed since the night they first met—no longer just a survivor, but a fighter. His fighter.

He reached for her hand, and she squeezed his fingers tightly. "We'll get through this, Luca."

But would they?

The closer they got to the cabin, the heavier the air felt. Luca had seen enough of Killian's tactics to know this wasn't just a hit—it was a message.

No one betrays Killian and walks away.

—

The road narrowed into a dirt path, winding through thick trees. Luca cut the headlights and slowed the car. The cabin was just ahead—small, isolated, and completely dark.

Evelyn reached for the gun in her holster. "If this is a trap, we need to be ready."

Luca pulled his own weapon free, nodding. "Stay close."

They stepped out into the crisp mountain air, their boots crunching softly against the ground. Silence wrapped around them, thick and suffocating. No movement. No signs of life.

Evelyn approached the door first, pressing a gloved hand against it. "Unlocked."

Luca tensed. That wasn't a good sign.

With a glance at each other, they pushed the door open.

Inside, the cabin was empty—except for the man sitting in the chair, waiting for them.

Dante Vasquez.

His hands were tied, his face bloodied, but his eyes burned with defiance. "Took you long enough."

Evelyn's breath hitched. "Who did this to you?"

Dante's lips curled into a grim smile. "You already know the answer."

Luca's stomach twisted. They weren't just late.

They were exactly where Killian wanted them to be.

—

A sound outside.

Luca turned sharply, gun raised.

Evelyn grabbed Dante, cutting the ropes from his wrists. "We have to move—now."

Dante staggered to his feet. "It's too late. They're already here."

A figure emerged from the darkness outside, silhouetted against the cabin's dim light.

And Luca's blood ran cold.

Killian himself had come.

And he wasn't alone.

—

Next Chapter: The Deadliest Betrayal