Time slowed. The tension in the room coiled like a spring, ready to snap at any second. Every nerve in my body screamed at me to do something, anything, but all I could do was watch. Watch as the two men who had been circling each other for weeks finally faced off.
Mira took a step back, her smile returning, like she was enjoying the show. "It's funny, isn't it?" she said, her voice carrying across the room. "All this time, Eleanor, you thought you were pulling the strings. But look at you now—caught between two men who are more alike than you realize."
The words cut deep, sharper than any bullet. I looked at Alexander, my heart racing. There was something in his eyes, something he wasn't saying, but I didn't have time to ask.
Before I could react, the sound of gunfire split the air again. This time, it wasn't from Axel or Mira. It was Marcus.
