Aura paced in her small, dimly lit apartment, her mind racing. She had left Logan alive and relatively unharmed, something she rarely did in her line of work. It was a decision she couldn't quite rationalize.
Her encrypted phone buzzed on the table, pulling her from her thoughts. Picking it up, she found a message waiting for her:
"You should have killed him. Loose ends lead to unraveling threads."
The sender was anonymous, but she knew who it was, it was her handler.
Aura sighed and typed back as she sat quietly: "I don't kill without a reason. He's harmless."
The reply came almost instantly.
"You underestimate the ripples of your actions. Watch your back, Aura."
******
Meanwhile, Logan sat in his penthouse, staring at the city through floor-to-ceiling windows. Liam hovered nearby, clearly exhausted but still managing to fuss over him.
"You need to rest," Liam insisted, adjusting the pillows on the couch. "It's kind of obvious to me that you didn't sleep a wink."
"I'm fine," Logan muttered, brushing him off.
"Have you figured out who she is yet?"
Liam hesitated. "I have traced some of the footage, but it's like she doesn't exist. Whoever this woman is, she's a ghost."
Logan smirked. "A ghost who can leap off balconies and vanish into thin air. Sounds like a superhero origin story."
Liam gave him a pointed look. "This isn't a joke, Logan. People are asking questions. The tabloids and your fans are running wild. We need to be careful."
Logan leaned back, his trademark arrogance shining through. "Let them talk. It only adds to my mystique."
*****
Unbeknownst to Logan, Aura was closer than he realized. She had been tracking his movements and protecting him in the shadows, ensuring that Carlos's men hadn't left any lingering threat.
Tonight, she sat perched on a nearby rooftop, her sniper scooter trained on the penthouse.
"Still alive and kicking," she murmured to herself, watching Logan pace the room. "Good for you, Mason."
But something felt off. Her instincts prickled, a sensation she had learned to trust.
Aura scanned the surrounding area and spotted movement I. The shadows. A man dressed in black lingered near the building's entrance, his posture too stiff to be a casual passerby.
"Who the hell are you?" she whispered, adjusting the scope to get a better look.
******
Inside, Logan's frustration boiled over. He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.
"Where are you going,m" Liam demanded, blocking his path.
"Out," Logan snapped. "I can't sit here while everyone else knows more about my life than I do."
Liam sighed. "You are impossible, you know that?"
Logan smirked. "That's why they love me."
He stepped out into the cool night air, his presence drawing immediate attention from onlookers. Cameras flashed as fans and paparazzi swarmed him, but Logan ignored them, slipping into a waiting car.
Aura watched the scene unfold through her scope, her annoyance growing.
"Idiot," she muttered.
As Logan pulled away, Aura's attention snapped back to the man near the entrance. He had pulled out a phone and was speaking quickly, his movements tense and suspicious.
Seconds later, a black van screeched around the corner, cutting off Logan's car.
Aura's heart raced as she watched the armed men pour out of the van, surrounding Logan's vehicle.
"Not again," she growled, grabbing her gear.
Logan stepped out of the car, his trademark smirk firmly in place despite the danger.
"Really?" he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "What is this, a sequel to my kidnapping?"
The men didn't respond. One of them lunged at him, but before he could land a blow, a small, sharp object zipped through the air, embedding itself in his arm.
Logan blinked as the man crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
"What the—
Another attacker fell, then another.
From the shadows, Aura emerged, her movements swift and deadly.
"Get back in the car," she snapped at Logan.
Logan crossed his arms. "Why? You seem to have everything under control."
Aura shot him a glare. "This isn't a negotiation, Mason."
"Fine," Logan muttered, climbing back into the car.
As Aura dealt with the remaining attackers, Logan's driver floored it, trying to escape the chaos.
But the van gave chase, its occupants determined to finish the job.
Aura darted to her motorcycle, revving the engine and taking off after them.
The streets blurred as she weaved through traffic, her focus laser-sharp.
Logan's car swerved wildly as the van drew closer, its occupants firing shots that shattered the rear window.
Aura pulled out her gun, aiming for the van's tires. Two shots rang out, and the vehicle skidded to a halt, smoke billowing from its ruined wheels.
Once the danger had passed, Aura forced Logan's driver to pull over. She yanked open the door and dragged Logan out.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" she demanded.
Logan raised an eyebrow. "You're the one stalking me, remember?"
Aura took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Stay out of trouble, Mason. You're not equipped for this world."
Logan stepped closer, his expression unreadable. "Maybe I don't want to stay out of it. Maybe I want answers."
Aura stared at him, her resolve faltering for the briefest moment.
"You don't know what you're asking for," she said quietly.
"Then tell me," Logan pressed.
Aura shook her head. "Not tonight."
Before Logan could respond, she disappeared into the night, leaving him alone once again.