The night had settled over the town, but tension still hung in the air. The streets, once filled with casual chatter, had emptied. Now, only the sound of faint footsteps and the distant hum of city lights remained.
Lucien and Evelyn walked side by side, their earlier shopping trip feeling like a distant memory. Evelyn was still processing everything—how Lucien had gone along with her silly requests, how he let her pick out clothes for him, and how, in the end, he looked so effortlessly attractive in them.
But all of that had shattered the moment they stepped into that narrow alley.
A group of figures had appeared, their movements sharp and calculated. Evelyn had immediately sensed something was off, but Lucien had remained completely still, his posture unreadable.
One of them, a man with a jagged scar running down his cheek, took a step forward.
"Falkner," he said, voice smooth yet laced with venom. "Did you really think we'd let you roam around freely?"
Evelyn glanced at Lucien. His expression remained unreadable, but she could tell—he wasn't surprised.
"I wasn't expecting much from you," Lucien replied coolly. "But I didn't think you'd be stupid enough to come after me like this."
The man chuckled, but there was a flicker of unease in his eyes. "You don't seem worried."
Lucien's lips curled slightly, though it wasn't a smile. "Because I'm not."
The next second, he moved.
It was so fast that Evelyn barely registered what happened. One moment, Lucien was standing beside her—the next, he was behind one of the men, twisting his arm with precision. A sharp crack echoed through the alley as the man dropped to the ground, groaning in pain.
The remaining members of the group reacted instantly, drawing their weapons, but Lucien was already ahead of them. He grabbed the wrist of another opponent, twisting it until the knife clattered onto the pavement. Without hesitation, he slammed the man against the alley wall, his movements fluid and ruthless.
Evelyn was frozen. She had seen Lucien fight before, but this was different. This wasn't just self-defense. This was calculated destruction.
Another man lunged at her, but before he could get close, Lucien kicked him back with brutal efficiency. Evelyn's breath hitched. He hadn't even glanced in her direction—his instincts alone were keeping her protected.
Within moments, only one man remained standing.
Lucien stepped forward, his gaze sharp. The man took an unconscious step back.
"No more games," Lucien said in a low voice. "You're coming with me."
The man bolted.
Lucien didn't chase. He didn't need to. He simply tilted his head—anticipating the man's next movement—before throwing a knife with perfect accuracy. The blade embedded itself into the man's jacket, pinning him against the wooden wall behind him.
The man gasped, eyes wide with terror as he struggled but found himself trapped.
Lucien approached him slowly. "You have two choices," he said, voice calm but unmistakably dangerous. "One, you take me to your hideout. Two, I break every bone in your body and find it myself."
The man trembled, breathing uneven. He was weighing his options, but the look in Lucien's eyes made it clear—there was no real choice here.
After a long silence, the man swallowed hard and muttered, "I'll take you… just don't kill me."
Lucien pulled the knife from the wall, grabbing the man by his collar. The others had already fled, leaving behind only scattered weapons and bloodstains on the pavement.
Evelyn let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She watched Lucien, his grip firm, his expression eerily blank.
This wasn't just another fight.
This was Lucien Falkner in his element.
For the first time, Evelyn wasn't sure if she was watching the man she knew… or the weapon he had been made to be.
She swallowed. "What are you planning to do with him?"
Lucien didn't answer immediately. He turned to her, eyes dark yet unreadable.
Then, finally, he spoke.
"Finding their hideout."
Evelyn felt a chill.
Lucien tightened his grip on the man and began walking.
She hesitated for only a second before following him into the night.
And just like that, the hunt had begun.
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End of Chapter 34