The cool bite of the warehouse air cut through the tension like a blade, but Ava's skin felt hot with a rising pulse that had nothing to do with the chill. The voice that had spoken—low, taunting, and far too close for comfort—echoed in her mind as her fingers froze mid-motion. She had been so sure of her movements, so certain of the plan. Now, uncertainty flooded in like a storm, drowning out everything else.
"Got you."
Ava slowly turned, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation. Alex's gaze was locked on hers, but there was a shift now. It was subtle but undeniable— a shift that made her gut twist. For a second, she saw something in his expression: amusement, intrigue... or maybe just an undeniable understanding that she hadn't prepared for.
"Alex," she said, her voice a tight whisper, barely audible over the low murmur of conversation and the clinking of glasses from the far corner of the room. "What the hell is this?"
His lips curled into a smirk, but his eyes—dark and unreadable—spoke of something far more dangerous than she'd initially assumed. The game they were playing had just escalated, and Ava knew, deep down, that she'd just walked into the kind of trouble that even her sharp instincts might not be able to outrun.
"You always have such a way with words," Alex replied, his voice smooth, almost too smooth. He stepped forward, just enough to close the space between them. "But you're forgetting something, Ava. This isn't just your game anymore. You're not the only one making moves."
Her pulse quickened, every warning bell in her body ringing loud and clear. She took a half-step back, her fingers brushing against the edge of her jacket again, but she kept them in check, unwilling to show any sign of hesitation.
The dim lighting of the warehouse seemed to close in around them, the air thick with unspoken challenges. Lorenzo, still seated at his table with his two bodyguards, observed the scene with a detached interest, as if watching a play unfold before him. His smile had faded into something colder, calculating. His eyes flicked between Ava and Alex as though he were savoring every second of their little confrontation.
"Didn't think you'd come for the deal yourself, Rossi," Lorenzo said, leaning back in his chair, his fingers drumming lazily on the table. "I thought you'd send one of your boys to collect the goods."
Ava's mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle. Why was Alex here? Why hadn't he followed through with the plan? This wasn't just some coincidence—he had orchestrated this. The way he moved, the way his gaze over her, told her that he knew exactly what was happening. And more importantly, he knew that she had no idea what to do next.
"Plans change," Alex said, his voice holding a dangerous undercurrent. He glanced at Ava, his gaze intense, piercing. "I had to see for myself."
Ava's breath caught in her throat, but she masked her confusion with a shrug. "See what exactly?"
He didn't answer right away. Instead, Alex reached into the pocket of his jacket, and Ava was instinctively tense. It wasn't the move of someone who was simply holding a flash drive. No, this was the kind of maneuver that spelled bad news—Alex wasn't just playing a part. He was the puppet master.
But what was his angle? What was he really after?
Lorenzo's eyes followed Alex's hand, and his smile returned, though it was more sinister now. "Ah, so it's like that, is it?"
The tension in the room thickened. Ava's fingers tightened around the handle of her hidden knife, but she didn't move. Not yet. She needed answers fast.
"Listen," she said, her voice steady despite the sudden storm in her chest. "I came here for a reason. The flash drive. That's what we're all after, right?"
Lorenzo chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent a chill down her spine. "The flash drive?" He repeated as if the very idea were amusing. "You think it's that simple?"
Ava's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't afford to waste time. If she didn't move fast, this whole thing would fall apart. "It is simple," she said, keeping her voice firm, her eyes trained on Alex. "Hand it over, and this ends tonight."
Alex took a step forward, not toward Lorenzo, but toward Ava. The move was deliberate, a challenge in every step. "Not so fast," he said softly. "You don't really think you can control this, do you?"
Ava felt the ground shift beneath her feet again. Was he… warning her? Her mind raced. She had no choice but to press on. "I know you, Alex," she said, her voice dropping lower, keeping her composure. "You're playing both sides. But this is bigger than you. We need that drive, and I'm getting it one way or another."
His eyes glinted, a dangerous sparkle that made her insides twist. "You think you're the only one who knows how to play this game? The only one who's been playing it for months?" His voice was low, teasing. "I think you're forgetting something."
Before she could react, Alex's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist with unexpected force. His fingers pressed into her skin, and for a split second, Ava's heart stuttered in her chest. This wasn't some routine encounter. This was something far more intimate, more calculated.
"You're in over your head," Alex whispered, his breath warm against her ear. "And you're about to learn just how deep this rabbit hole really goes."
Ava pulled back, a fire igniting within her as she jerked her arm free. But there was something in Alex's gaze that stopped her. The lingering question she hadn't asked yet. Was he setting her up? Or had he already made his own deal with the devil? She didn't know.
"Enough games," she said through clenched teeth, trying to regain control of the situation. "Where's the drive, Rossi? Now."
For a moment, everything stood still. The silence stretched between them like a tightrope, ready to snap.
Alex didn't answer right away. Instead, he turned slowly, casting a glance at Lorenzo, who was watching with increasing interest. Then, his eyes flicked back to Ava—no longer playful, no longer cryptic. He had made his decision.
"Let's make a deal, then," Alex said softly.
Ava's stomach dropped. This wasn't just a mission anymore. It was a gamble. And now, whether she liked it or not, she was in it with him.