The door swung open with a force that sent a cold gust through the room. Ava's grip tightened around the silver key as three men stepped inside. Their suits were pristine, but there was something menacing in the way they carried themselves.
Noah moved instantly, placing himself between Ava and the intruders. His posture was rigid, his fists clenched at is sides.
The tallest of the three stepped forward, his dark eyes sweeping over the room before landing on Noah.
...
Your father is disappointed.
Noah didn't flinch.
I don't care.
The man smirked, tilting his head slightly.
That's not how this works. You don't get to care or not care. You are who you are, and you don't walk away from that.
Ava felt her breath catch in her throat.
The way the man spoke, the way he carried himself, it was as if he was speaking an unspoken law. An unavoidable fate.
Noah's voice was cold.
I told you, I am done.
...
The second man, shorter but just as intimidating, chuckled under his breath.
Done? No one is done until the boss says so. And right now, you are very much not done.
Noah's jaw tensed.
Ava felt trapped between them, her heartbeat a frantic drum in her chest.
She had thought she understood the danger, but now, standing in the middle of it, she realized she had been naïve.
The third man, silent until now, finally spoke, his voice smooth and unsettling.
Is this the girl?
Ava froze.
Noah's entire body shifted, muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike.
Leave her out of this.
The man took a slow step forward.
Ava's stomach twisted. The way he looked at her sent chills down her spine, like she was nothing more than a pawn in whatever game they were playing.
The first man sighed as if this entire situation bored him.
Enough of this. You know what needs to be done, Noah. Either you come with us willingly, or we do it the hard way.
Noah didn't respond immediately. His head turned slightly toward Ava, his expression unreadable.
She saw something flicker in his eyes. A decision.
Then he moved.
Everything happened at once.
That's not up to you.
Noah lunged forward, striking the nearest man with a force that sent him staggering back. Ava barely had time to react before the room erupted into chaos.
The second man reached for something inside his jacket, but Noah was faster. A sharp crack echoed as he drove his fist into the man's ribs, sending him crashing into the wall.
The third man, the one who had spoken last, remained still, watching with a quiet amusement as if he had expected all of this.
Ava's pulse was wild. She had to move.
She had to do something.
Noah's voice cut through the chaos.
Run,Run,Run
ava hesitated only for a moment before she bolted