The silence stretched for only a second—then all hell broke loose.
Killian moved first.
A single, lethal shot rang out, hitting the first attacker square in the shoulder. The man staggered back with a strangled grunt, his weapon slipping from his grasp.
Two left.
The second one lunged forward, but Killian was faster.
He pivoted sharply, twisting the gun from the attacker's hand before slamming his elbow into his face. Cartilage crunched—blood spurted.
The third man hesitated.
A mistake.
Laurent took the opening, driving his fist into the man's ribs with brutal precision.
Within seconds, all three men were either writhing on the ground or unconscious.
Evangeline's breath caught.
Killian was a fucking weapon.
He exhaled slowly, lowering his gun as Laurent kicked away the attackers' weapons.
"We should move," Laurent murmured. "There could be more."
Killian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he crouched beside the man he'd shot—pressing a knee hard against the wound.
The man groaned in pain, struggling against the pressure.
Killian leaned closer. "Who sent you?"
Silence.
Evangeline swallowed hard. She had never seen this side of him up close.
Killian gave a dark chuckle. "You think you'll get out of this alive?"
The man clenched his jaw.
Killian moved **fast—**pulling out a knife and pressing it to the man's throat.
Evangeline stiffened.
Jesus.
A moment passed. The attacker's breathing turned ragged.
Then—finally—he cracked.
"D—Damian," he gasped.
Her blood ran cold.
She should have known.
Killian's grip on the knife didn't loosen. "And who is Damian working for?"
The man hesitated.
Killian pushed the blade deeper.
A single drop of blood slid down his throat.
Evangeline saw real fear flicker across his face.
Then, finally, he whispered:
"Someone bigger."
Laurent stiffened. Killian's expression darkened.
Evangeline inhaled sharply.
Someone bigger than Damian? Who the hell was pulling the strings?
Killian didn't give the man time to say more. In one swift movement, he struck the attacker across the temple, knocking him unconscious.
Then he turned to Laurent.
"Get rid of them."
Laurent nodded, already pulling out his phone.
Evangeline shivered.
Killian turned to her. His blue eyes were unreadable. "You okay?"
Was she? She wasn't sure.
Everything was moving too fast.
She'd expected corporate wars, underhanded deals—not bullets, knives, and blood.
Her throat tightened. "I'm fine."
Killian studied her. Then, to her shock, he reached out—brushing his thumb lightly across her jaw.
His voice softened. "You're shaking."
She exhaled sharply. "I'm just realizing that I may not be cut out for this."
A ghost of a smirk touched his lips. "You're stronger than you think."
Her chest tightened.
Before she could respond, a distant siren wailed.
Killian's expression hardened. "We need to go."
He didn't give her time to argue—his fingers laced through hers, pulling her into the night.
---
What This Adds:
Evangeline sees just how ruthless Killian can be.
Damian isn't working alone—someone even more powerful is pulling the strings.
The danger isn't over.