It was a fine morning. Ava was on her way to meet her father and his friend, Mr. Brooks, at his company when she saw a kidnapping. A group of men were dragging a young, handsome man into a van, heading toward their hideout. Curiosity and her martial arts skills got the better of Ava, and she decided to follow them in her car.
As she approached, a ghastly realization hit her—this was a trap. But it was too late; it was Michael Black before her, the leader of the racket who had already noticed the poor girl.
The victim was a man Ava had not known, but he had a very complex history. Kai was a recently retired Army ranger now exploring the business world of opportunities.
Years back, he had gone on a mission to bring down a syndicate group led by Michael's father when he was still in the military. It was Kai who was responsible for Michael's father's death, and the shock of the loss killed his mother, too. Since then, Michael had survived but was plotting revenge against Kai and the military.
But Ava knew nothing of all that; she was just an innocent victim caught in the crossfire. Taken for one of Kai's people, she was imprisoned and kept hostage for three months, while Kai broke out, running free. Ava was left to her lonesome to endure every torture at the hands of the syndicates.
As Ava was dragged further into the basement, she saw a figure in the back. He was wearing a mask, and since she was bound and blindfolded, she could not see his face. But as soon as he saw her, she froze.
"Who is this?" Ava asked.
The masked figure didn't respond.
"This is our boss," answered Roland, the right-hand man for Michael.
Ava's heart was racing as Michael stepped forward, never looking away from her face. A tingle traced the entire length of Ava's spine as he extended a gentle arm to touch her face.
"You are beautiful," he whispered, his voice low and husky.
Ava pulled away, revolted. "Don't touch me!"
Michael chuckled, his eyes glinting with mirth. "Interesting. Stubborn, strong—I like it."
And with that, he pivoted and was gone, leaving Ava to process not only everything that had happened but the still-lingering danger.
In a few hours, Michael's hirelings brought another hostage into Ava's room. The silence in the air had been heavy, but the arrival of this stranger seemed to dispel some of the oppressive tension.
The man, also blindfolded like Ava, shuffled closer. When he was within reach, he leaned toward her and whispered, "Hold still." With careful hands, he removed her blindfold, revealing a rugged yet determined face beneath his own restraints.
"Hi, I'm Kayden," he said, flashing a faint smile.
Ava blinked, surprised. She hadn't expected to encounter anyone else in this nightmare. "Ava," she replied hesitantly. "But… how did you end up here?"
Kayden sighed, his gaze scanning the dimly lit basement. "Kidnapped, just like you," he said grimly. "Some men grabbed me on my way home." His eyes darted around the room, probing for weaknesses or an escape route. Then, with a reassuring tone, he added, "Don't worry, I'll find a way to get us out of here."
Ava raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "How?" she asked.
Kayden's lips curved into a confident smile. "I have a plan."
"What kind of plan?" Ava pressed, curiosity mingled with doubt.
He turned to her, studying her briefly before asking, "How good is your Kung Fu?"
Ava's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Not bad," she replied.
"Good," Kayden said with a nod, his tone resolute. "I'll need your help. It won't be easy, but with the two of us, we might stand a chance."
Though unsure of Kayden's plan, Ava felt a glimmer of hope for the first time in weeks. Perhaps this unexpected ally could shift the odds in their favor.