The cold night air hit Ava like a wave, but any relief she might have felt was quickly snuffed out as her eyes locked on Veronica. She stood at the edge of the clearing, her silhouette stark against the pale moonlight, her expression a mask of cold amusement. A group of her men lingered in the shadows behind her, their presence threatening and unmistakable.
Ava's heart plummeted, her breath catching in her throat. They had made it out of the compound, only to find themselves face to face with the very danger they had been trying to escape. And this time, there was no way out.
Jaxon sagged against her, his body weak and unsteady, barely clinging to consciousness. Ava tightened her grip on him, her mind racing as she scanned the clearing for any possible escape route. But there was nothing no cover, no hidden path. They were trapped.
Veronica's lips curled into a slow, predatory smile. "I have to say, Ava," she said, her voice smooth and dripping with mockery, "I'm impressed. I didn't think you'd make it this far."
Ava's pulse pounded in her ears as she straightened, keeping herself between Jaxon and Veronica. Her muscles ached, her body trembling with exhaustion, but she refused to let her fear show. She couldn't let Veronica see how close to breaking she really was.
"Let him go," Ava said, her voice firm despite the desperation clawing at her insides. "This is between you and me."
Veronica raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Oh, is it now? And here I thought it was all about Jaxon. After all, he's the one everyone seems so eager to protect."
Ava's jaw clenched. She had no idea how much Veronica knew about Jaxon's past, about the people after him, but it was clear that Veronica wasn't just in this for the money or the power. There was something personal in her eyes, something that made Ava's skin crawl.
"I don't care what you want," Ava said, her voice hardening. "Just let him go."
Veronica's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with dark amusement. "Let him go? Oh, darling, I'm afraid it's not that simple. You see, I still have a lot of unfinished business with Jaxon."
Ava's stomach twisted, dread settling in her chest like a heavy weight. She had to keep Veronica talking, had to buy herself time to come up with a plan. But with each passing second, Jaxon grew weaker in her arms, and the options seemed to slip further and further out of reach.
"Then take me instead," Ava said, her voice low but steady. "Let him go, and I'll come with you."
Veronica's eyes flicked over Ava, assessing her with a curious tilt of her head. "Oh, Ava," she purred, "I do admire your loyalty. But I don't think you quite understand how this works. Jaxon is valuable. You, on the other hand... well, you're just a complication."
Ava's heart hammered in her chest, fear and anger colliding inside her. She knew Veronica had the upper hand knew that the woman was enjoying this game, savoring the control she held over them. But Ava wasn't about to let her win.
"You don't have to do this," Ava said, her voice tight with barely controlled fury. "There's nothing to gain by hurting him. Let him go, and we can walk away from this."
Veronica's expression darkened, her smile fading as she stepped closer. "You think this is about negotiation?" she asked, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "This isn't business, Ava. This is about control. And I have no intention of letting that go."
Ava swallowed hard, her mind racing as she tried to find a way out. But every path seemed blocked, every option fraught with danger. She could feel Jaxon's body growing heavier against hers, his breaths shallow and uneven. They were running out of time.
Veronica's men shifted behind her, their eyes trained on Ava and Jaxon, waiting for their orders. The tension in the air was palpable, the quiet before the storm. Ava's pulse quickened, her instincts screaming at her to act before it was too late.
"I'm not letting you take him," Ava said, her voice firm with resolve. "You'll have to go through me first."
Veronica's eyes gleamed with cold amusement. "Is that so?" she asked, her tone mocking. "I was hoping you'd say that."
With a flick of her wrist, Veronica signaled her men forward. Ava's heart leapt into her throat as they moved toward her, their expressions hard and menacing. She knew she couldn't fight them not with Jaxon so weak, not with the exhaustion weighing her down but she refused to back down.
As the first man approached, Ava shifted her weight, ready to do whatever it took to protect Jaxon. Her muscles tensed, her breath coming in short, sharp bursts. She was prepared to fight, to throw herself into the fray if it meant buying Jaxon even a few more moments.
But then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement a flash of something in the trees beyond the clearing.
Ava's heart skipped a beat as she realized what it was.
Suddenly, a shot rang out, shattering the tense silence.
Veronica's men froze, their heads snapping toward the source of the gunfire. Ava's breath hitched, her pulse racing as she turned her gaze toward the trees.
Another shot. Then another.
And then, chaos erupted.
Veronica's men scattered, their shouts filling the air as they scrambled for cover. Ava's heart raced as she pulled Jaxon behind a large tree, her mind spinning with confusion. She didn't know where the shots had come from,didn't know if they were friend or foe but whoever it was had given them a slim chance.
Veronica, her face twisted with fury, barked orders at her men, her voice cutting through the chaos like a whip. But it was too late. The element of surprise had thrown them off, and Ava knew this was the only opportunity they had.
She tightened her grip around Jaxon's waist, her body screaming in protest as she dragged him toward the edge of the clearing. The gunfire continued, echoing through the night as Veronica's men scrambled to regain control.
"We have to go," Ava whispered to Jaxon, her voice tight with urgency. "Now."
Jaxon groaned softly, his head lolling against her shoulder. He was barely conscious, his body weak and unresponsive, but Ava refused to let him go. She couldn't.
With every ounce of strength she had left, Ava pushed forward, her legs trembling beneath her as they stumbled toward the tree line. The sounds of gunfire and shouting faded behind them, but she knew they weren't out of danger yet.
As they reached the edge of the forest, Ava paused, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She glanced back at the clearing, her heart pounding in her chest. Veronica was still there, her face twisted in fury as she shouted at her men, but she hadn't seen them slip away.
Ava's pulse quickened. They had a chance.
Without looking back, she pulled Jaxon deeper into the woods, her body shaking with exhaustion. The trees closed in around them, the shadows swallowing them whole as they disappeared into the night.
They weren't safe yet. But they were alive.
For now.