Paris – The Streets Below Killian's Penthouse
They left the penthouse immediately.
Killian wasn't taking chances. He had one rule when it came to threats—get ahead of them before they get ahead of you.
Evangeline wasn't thrilled about it, but even she knew they couldn't stay.
Not when someone was gunning for them both.
The car cut through the dimly lit streets of Paris, tires whispering against the wet pavement. Killian sat beside her in the back seat, tension radiating from him like a live wire.
She exhaled sharply, staring at the passing lights. "Tell me everything you know."
Killian's jaw ticked. "Damian's working with someone powerful. Someone who has the money and resources to dig into our pasts."
Evangeline's fingers curled around the hem of her coat. That's what scared her most.
Whoever this was, they wanted her buried.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
Killian's gaze flicked to her. "Somewhere safe."
She turned fully toward him. "And where would that be?"
His lips curved slightly. "You'll see soon enough."
Before she could press him further—
The car jerked violently.
Tires screeched. The driver cursed in French as a black SUV swerved into their lane, cutting them off.
Evangeline's breath hitched. Shit.
"Killian—"
CRASH.
The impact was brutal. Metal screamed as their car slammed against the railing, the SUV ramming them a second time.
Her body jerked forward—Killian's arm shot out, bracing her before she could slam into the seat in front of her.
"Hold on," he ordered, his voice lethal.
The driver swerved hard, trying to regain control. But before they could react—
The back window exploded.
Gunfire.
"DOWN!" Killian roared, shoving her onto the floor of the car.
Her heart pounded. Holy shit.
More bullets shredded through the metal frame. The driver cursed, veering wildly before the car skidded into a side street.
Killian moved fast.
He reached under his jacket, pulling out a gun.
Evangeline's breath hitched. "Tell me that's not necessary."
Killian's eyes flicked to her. Dark. Unrelenting.
"You still think this is just about business?"
She swallowed hard.
The car screeched to a halt in a shadowed alley.
"Out," Killian ordered.
The driver was already scrambling out, gun in hand. Evangeline barely had time to move before Killian grabbed her wrist and hauled her from the car.
The moment her heels hit the pavement, he pulled her close, body shielding hers.
"Stay behind me," he murmured.
She wanted to snap at him, but now was not the time.
They moved swiftly, darting through the alley as the SUV roared to a stop behind them.
Evangeline's heart pounded.
This was real.
She wasn't just fighting a business war anymore.
Someone wanted her dead.
Killian pulled her into a narrow passage between buildings, keeping his gun trained on the opening. His driver, Laurent, crouched beside them, eyes scanning the darkness.
"Three men," Laurent murmured in French. "Armed. Trained."
Killian's jaw tightened. "Damian?"
"Unclear." Laurent glanced at Evangeline. "But this was a warning. They could've killed you both. They wanted to scare you."
Killian let out a slow breath. "They made a mistake."
His voice was pure steel.
Evangeline's pulse pounded.
A few feet away, the men had stopped at the mouth of the alley, scanning the shadows.
One of them spoke into a radio.
Killian's grip on his gun tightened.
Evangeline exhaled slowly.
This wasn't her world. But she wouldn't back down.
She straightened, whispering to Killian, "What now?"
His gaze flicked to hers—assessing, calculating.
Then, very quietly, he murmured, "We show them who they're dealing with."
And before she could react—
Killian stepped into the open.
---
What This Adds:
Action & High Stakes – Evangeline and Killian aren't just playing a business game anymore.
A Close Call – Whoever is after them wants to send a message.
Killian's ruthlessness – He's not the kind of man who runs. And Evangeline is about to see just how dangerous he can be.