THE ASSIGNMENT

I stood outside the sleek, black SUV, scanning the crowded streets of Manhattan. My eyes narrowed as I took in every detail, from the pedestrians rushing to and fro to the vendors selling their wares on the corner.

My name is Ethan Thompson, and I'm a former CIA agent turned bodyguard. I've seen my fair share of danger, from the streets of Baghdad to the alleys of Moscow. But nothing could have prepared me for this assignment.

"Ava Morales," my boss, Jack, had said, his voice low and serious. "She's the daughter of a wealthy businessman, and she's been receiving threatening messages. Her father wants her protected, and he's willing to pay top dollar for it."

I had raised an eyebrow. "What makes her so special?"

Jack had hesitated before answering. "Ava's father is a powerful man, Ethan. He has a lot of enemies, and Ava's become a target. We need someone with your skills to keep her safe."

I had taken the assignment, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than Jack was letting on.

As I stood outside the SUV, I glanced at my watch. Ava was running late, and I was starting to get impatient. I had a reputation for being one of the best bodyguards in the business, and I intended to keep it that way.

Just as I was starting to think that Ava was going to stand me up, a sleek, silver town car pulled up to the curb. The door opened, and Ava Morales stepped out onto the sidewalk.

She was even more beautiful than I had expected. Her long, blonde hair cascaded down her back like a river of gold, and her bright blue eyes sparkled as she smiled.

But as I looked into her eyes, I saw something there that gave me pause. A flicker of fear, perhaps, or a hint of vulnerability.

Whatever it was, it made me realize that this assignment was going to be a lot more complicated than I had anticipated.

"Ava Morales," I said, nodding as I opened the door to the SUV. "I'm Ethan Thompson, your bodyguard."

Ava's smile faltered for a moment, and I saw a flash of uncertainty in her eyes. But then she nodded, and her smile returned.

"Nice to meet you, Ethan," she said, her voice husky.

As she stepped into the SUV, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. This assignment was going to be a challenge, and I wasn't sure if I was ready.

But as I followed Ava into the SUV, I knew that I had to be. I had a job to do, and I was going to see it through.

No matter what.

As we drove through the crowded streets of Manhattan, I couldn't help but steal glances at Ava. She was even more beautiful up close, with piercing blue eyes and a small nose. Her long blonde hair cascaded down her back like a river of gold, and her full lips curved upwards in a perpetual smile.

But despite her beauty, I sensed a vulnerability about her. A fragility that made me want to protect her.

"Ava, can I ask you something?" I said, turning to face her.

She nodded, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Of course, Ethan."

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice low. "Why are you receiving threatening messages?"

Ava's smile faltered, and for a moment, I saw a flash of fear in her eyes. But then she composed herself, her mask slipping back into place.

"I don't know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've been getting these messages for weeks. They're always the same - 'You're not safe. You'll never be safe.'"

I frowned, my mind racing with possibilities. Who could be sending Ava these messages? And why?

As we drove through the city, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. That unblinking eyes were trained on us, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

I glanced in the rearview mirror, scanning the crowded streets behind us. But I saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Just the usual Manhattan chaos.

Still, the feeling persisted.

And I knew that I had to be vigilant. For Ava's sake, and for mine.

We pulled up to Ava's apartment building, a sleek high-rise in the heart of Manhattan. I scanned the area, my eyes searching for any signs of danger.

But everything seemed normal.

As we stepped out of the SUV, Ava turned to me with a smile. "Thanks for getting me home safely, Ethan."

I nodded, my eyes locked on hers. "Anytime, Ava. That's what I'm here for."

As we walked into the building, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Something was off.

And I was determined to find out what.

As we stepped into the elevator, Ava turned to me with a curious expression. "So, Ethan, what's your story?" she asked.

I raised an eyebrow, taken aback by the question. "My story?" I repeated.

Ava nodded. "Yes, how did you become a bodyguard?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. But there was something about Ava's curious expression that put me at ease.

"I used to work for the CIA," I said, keeping my voice low. "I was a field agent, doing undercover work and gathering intelligence."

Ava's eyes widened with interest. "That sounds exciting," she said.

I nodded. "It was. But it was also dangerous. I saw some things that I can never unsee."

Ava's expression turned sympathetic. "I'm sorry," she said. "I can only imagine how difficult that must have been."

I shrugged. "It's just part of the job. But after a while, I realized that I couldn't do it anymore. I needed a change."

Ava nodded. "And that's when you became a bodyguard?"

I nodded. "Yes. I figured it would be a way for me to use my skills to help people, without having to deal with all the bureaucracy and red tape of the CIA."

Ava smiled. "I'm glad you did," she said. "I feel safe with you, Ethan."

I smiled back, feeling a sense of pride and purpose. "I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe, Ava," I promised.

The elevator doors opened, and we stepped out into the hallway. Ava's apartment was just a few doors down, and I could see that it was a luxurious penthouse suite with a stunning view of the city.

As we walked towards the apartment, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Something was off, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

But as we stepped inside the apartment, I saw something that made my blood run cold.

A message was scrawled on the wall, in bold red letters. "You'll never be safe," it read.

Ava gasped, her eyes wide with fear. "Oh my god," she whispered.

I quickly pulled her close, my eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger. "It's okay, Ava," I whispered. "I've got you."

But as I looked into her eyes, I knew that this was just the beginning. We were in grave danger, and I was the only one who could keep her safe.