The SUV sped through the city streets, weaving between traffic with the precision of a professional getaway driver. Aura kept her gaze sharp, scanning for threats, while Logan leaned back on the seat, expression a mixture of irritation and confusion.
"So," Logan began, breaking the tense silence, "What's the plan? Drive around until Carlos gives up?"
Aura's jaw tightened. "The plan is for you to stay quiet and let me do my job."
Logan snorted. "Your job? This doesn't seem like saving lives; it feels more like you are dragging me into your mess."
Aura turned to him, her eyes cold. "You are the mess. If I wasn't here, Carlos would have had you begging for mercy in his basement."
Logan smirked. "You seem awfully invested for someone who claims I'm just another job."
Before Aura could retort, her earpiece buzzed.
"Aura," came the voice of from her contact, "Carlos's men have deployed roadblocks across the city. They're not letting you leave without a fight."
Aura's lips curled into a smirk. "How many?"
"Three major choke points. They have called in reinforcement ls from their allies. Carlos isn't playing around."
"Understood," she replied, cutting the connection.
Logan raised an eyebrow. "Roadblocks? Sounds like someone is desperate to keep us here."
Aura shot him a withering look. "You have sharp ears. If you are so eager to help, why don't you hop out and distract them with your pretty face, Mr top Model?"
Logan chuckled, the arrogance in his tone unmistakable. "And deprive you of my charming company? Never."
As they neared the first checkpoint, Aura signaled the driver to stop.
"What are we doing?" Logan asked frowning.
Aura ignored him, stepping out of the vehicle. She adjusted her gear, a sleek harness carrying an array of weapons, and approached the roadblock on foot.
The guards at the checkpoint were heavily harmed; their stance relaxed until they spotted her. One of them shouted, and the others scrambled to ready their weapons.
Aura didn't wait. She sprinted forward, her movements a blurcl as she disarmed the first guard with a swift of her wrist. The second guard raised his rifle, but she ducked under his line of fire, sweeping his legs out from under him.
Logan watched from the SUV, his jaw slack. "Is she.....always like this?" he muttered to the driver, who only shrugged, equally bewildered.
Aura took out the remaining guards with ruthless efficiency, leaving them groaning on the ground. She returned to the SUV, wiping her hands on her pants.
"Drive," she ordered.
Logan clapped sarcastically. "Bravo. A one-woman army. I'm impressed."
Aura didn't even glance at him. "You should be more worried about what's ahead. "
Meanwhile, Carlos, seated in his lavish office, watched the live feed from his men's body cams. His fury was barely contained as he saw Aura dismantle his forces.
"She's making us look like fools!" he roared, slamming his fist on the desk.
One of his men stepped forward cautiously. "Boss, maybe we should pull back. And focus on regrouping."
Carlos glare could have frozen fire. "Pull back? She left me a note, mocking me, the audacity? She's not walking away from this alive.
He turned to another subordinate. "Deploy the second team. And make sure they bring her dead body to me."
The man nodded, hurrying out of the room.
Back in the SUV, Logan leaned forward, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"So, what's the deal with you and Carlos? Ex-lovers? Bitter rivals?"
Aura shot him a look that could kill. "Don't flatter yourself thinking you are clever."
Logan smirked. "Come on, there's got to be a story here. No one goes after someone this hard without a reason."
Aura sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Carlos Moretti is a pest. I eliminate pests. And if you are a pest, I will eliminate you. That's all you need to know."
Logan tilted his head, studying her. "If I was a pest, I would be a very cute one. You are a mystery, I'll give you that. But I'm starting to think you enjoy this chaos."
Aura's lips curled into a smirk. "Maybe. Or maybe I just like watching arrogant celebrities squirm."
Logan's eyes narrowed. "Touché."
As they approached the next roadblock, Aura could see the guards were more prepared. They had reinforced their positions with armored vehicles and snipers.
"This one is going to be a little tricky," she muttered to herself.
Logan leaned forward, his confidence faltering. "Tricky? What does that mean?"
Aura ignored him, pulling out a smoke grenade. She turned to the driver. "Stay here. If things go south, get out of here and take him with you."
The driver nodded, but Logan protested. "You think I'm some Cinderella? I'm not going anywhere without knowing what's happening!"
Aura gave him a look that silenced him. "You will do what I say, or I'll knock you out and carry you myself."
Logan opened his mouth, but the cold determination in her eyes made him realize how serious the situation was.
Aura stepped out of the vehicle, pulling the pin on the grenade. She tossed it towards the checkpoint, the thick smoke obscuring the guard's vision. Using the cover, she advanced, her movements swift and silent.
The guards fired blindly into the smoke, but Aura was already behind them. One but one, she neutralized them, her strikes precise and lethal.
When the smoke cleared, she was the only one left standing.
She returned to the SUV, brushing off her sleeves.
"Next time," Logan said, his voice tinged with sarcasm, "maybe let me help. I'm great at distraction."
Aura scoffed. "You are a distraction, alright. Just not the helpful kind."
As they neared the third and final checkpoint, Aura's earpiece crackled again.
"Aura, Carlos has dispatched his elite team. They are waiting for you at the last roadblock."
"Of course they are," she muttered.
Logan frowned. "Elite team? That doesn't sound good."
"It's not," Aura admitted.
She checked her weapons, her expression grim. "Stay in the car. No matter what happens, don't come out."
Logan raised an eyebrow. "You are not seriously thinking of taking them all on by yourself?"
Aura didn't answer. She stepped out of the vehicle, her posture radiating confidence despite the odds.
The elite team was waiting, their weapons trained on her. Carlos's voice came through a loudspeaker.
"Aura! Give up now, and I might let you live!"
Aura smirked, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Tempting. But I think I will pass."
The standoff lasted for only a moment before chaos erupted.