Ava's POV
The stranger's gaze pierced her like a blade, dredging up memories Ava had spent years trying to bury. Every instinct screamed at her to run, but Jaxon's grip on her wrist grounded her firm, unyielding, and brimming with questions.
"I asked you a question," Jaxon said, his voice sharp and controlled.
The man's smirk deepened. "Name's Ethan. But that's not important. What is important is the fact that Ava and I have unfinished business."
Jaxon stepped between them. "You're trespassing."
Ethan's eyes flicked to Jaxon, unimpressed. "And you're playing bodyguard now? That's cute."
Ava forced herself to speak, though her throat felt like it had closed around every word. "Ethan, what do you want?"
His expression shifted, a flicker of something darker crossing his face. "You know what I want. And you knew I'd come looking eventually."
Jaxon didn't move, but Ava could feel the shift in him his entire body coiled like a spring, ready to strike. She had to diffuse this before it exploded.
She stepped forward, putting a hand gently on Jaxon's arm. "Let me handle this."
Jaxon looked at her, his jaw clenched, but gave a small nod.
"Talk," Ava said, her voice steady now. "Whatever you think you're doing this isn't the place."
Ethan chuckled. "Oh, but that's where you're wrong. This is exactly the place. The spotlight. The press. All these important people who think they know you. I figured now was a good time to let the truth out."
Ava's blood turned cold. "You wouldn't."
"I would," he said, stepping closer. "Because you walked away. Because you never gave me a choice."
Jaxon moved again, this time placing himself directly between them. "You have ten seconds to get out before I make a call that ruins your life."
Ethan's gaze hardened. "Is that a threat?"
"It's a promise," Jaxon said flatly.
For a long moment, the room held its breath.
Then Ethan laughed short, bitter, and sharp. "You think you scare me? You have no idea what she's capable of. But you will."
With one last glance at Ava, he turned and walked out, the penthouse door slamming shut behind him.
Silence stretched like a noose between them.
Jaxon turned to her, his eyes burning. "Who the hell is he?"
Ava looked away, swallowing the knot in her throat. "Someone I thought I'd never see again."
"Clearly."
She met his gaze, guilt twisting in her stomach. "It's complicated."
"Make it simple," Jaxon snapped. "Because that man just crashed my event, threatened you, and tried to humiliate us both in front of a room full of billionaires and politicians."
"I know," she whispered, "and I'm sorry."
He ran a hand through his hair, pacing to the balcony. The air between them was thick with tension, anger, confusion, something deeper simmering beneath the surface.
When he turned back, his voice was quieter. "Did he hurt you?"
Ava flinched. "Not physically."
"But he knows something," Jaxon said slowly, studying her. "Something you don't want me to know."
Ava didn't answer. She couldn't. The truth wasn't ready.. not yet. Maybe not ever.
Jaxon stepped closer, his tone softer but still laced with steel. "I need to know what I'm dealing with, Ava. You can't stand in the middle of a storm and pretend there's no lightning."
She looked up at him, eyes burning. "I'm not pretending. I just… I need time."
He nodded once, tightly. "Then take it. But understand this I protect what's mine. And right now, whether you like it or not, that includes you."
Ava's breath caught at the possessiveness in his voice. It should've scared her. Instead, it made her feel something dangerously close to safe.
"I didn't ask to be protected," she said quietly.
"No," he agreed. "You didn't. But I'm doing it anyway."
He turned away, ending the conversation. But Ava knew it wasn't over.
Not by a long shot.
Jaxon lowered the phone, his jaw tight. "That was security. Someone's trying to break into the building."
My heart thudded, a cold rush of adrenaline flooding my veins. This night was spiraling far beyond anything I could have imagined.
"Stay here," Jaxon ordered, voice sharp as he moved toward the door.
"No," I said, surprising even myself with the edge in my tone. "I'm not some damsel in distress. If someone's coming after me… I'm not hiding."
He turned slowly, eyes burning into mine. "You're walking a razor's edge, Ava. This isn't just about Marcus anymore."
I bit my lip, trying to keep my fear from showing. "Then let me help."
Jaxon studied me for a long moment, then nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But stay close."
We slipped out of the penthouse into the darkened hallway, the tension between us thick enough to choke on. Every shadow seemed to pulse with menace.
The elevator dinged open on a lower floor, and Jaxon's hand was on the door before it fully stopped.
"Go," he whispered, pushing me inside first. The doors slid shut behind us.
The ride down felt endless, the silence punctuated only by the muted hum of the building's security systems. My mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle Marcus, the break-in, Jaxon's protectiveness.
When the elevator stopped, Jaxon led me to a side exit usually reserved for staff. The door hissed open to reveal a narrow stairwell.
We moved quickly, shadows chasing us as we descended.
Suddenly, a figure blocked our path at the landing below tall, lean, and unmistakably armed.
Jaxon's voice was ice cold. "Who sent you?"
The man smirked, fingers tightening around the grip of a gun. "He said you'd be here. The tycoon's new flame. A perfect target."
"Back off," Jaxon growled.
The man raised the gun and in that split second, the world exploded.
A deafening bang shook the stairwell as Jaxon pushed me behind him. I dropped to the floor, heart pounding like a drum.
Smoke curled in the stale air. Jaxon's voice cut through the chaos: "Run."
I scrambled to my feet and bolted down the stairs, the sound of heavy footsteps pounding behind me.
My lungs burned as I dashed into the underground garage, headlights blinding me for a split second.
Then I saw it a sleek black car idling by the exit.
Jaxon was already there, his eyes dark and fierce. "Get in."
I didn't hesitate.
The door slammed shut, and he sped off before I even had a chance to catch my breath.
My hands trembled on my lap. "Who was that?"
"Just a warning," he said grimly. "Marcus isn't the only problem anymore."
I looked at him the man who controlled boardrooms and bedrooms with equal ease and wondered how I'd gotten tangled in his dangerous world.
But one thing was clear there was no turning back now.
The city lights blurred past the window as Jaxon's grip tightened on the steering wheel. Silence stretched between us — heavy, electric, charged with everything left unsaid.
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my racing heart. "Why didn't you tell me Marcus was dangerous?"
His jaw clenched. "Because you don't know the full story. And some things… are better left buried."
I met his gaze, fierce and unreadable. "I'm not some fragile girl you can protect with secrets."
"No," he said, voice low and raw. "You're the one person who makes me want to stop protecting myself."
That confession sent a shock straight through me.
Before I could respond, his phone buzzed again. He glanced at it, and his face went stone cold.
"Another message," he muttered, eyes darkening. "They know where we are."
I tensed, feeling the walls closing in. "Who?"
Jaxon's hand moved to the dashboard, activating the secure line. "We're not safe here."
He pulled off the highway onto a twisting backroad, the city's glitter fading behind us.
"Why me?" I whispered, voice breaking. "Why drag me into this?"
Jaxon's eyes softened for a heartbeat. "Because you're not just another client, Ava. You're tied to me in ways you don't even realize."
His words wrapped around me like fire and ice thrilling and terrifying all at once.
Suddenly, the car shuddered as a black SUV roared up behind us, headlights glaring like predator eyes.
Jaxon's voice was a growl. "Hold on."
He slammed the accelerator, tires screeching as we raced into the night.
The SUV closed in fast.
And then out of nowhere, a second car cut us off, forcing Jaxon to swerve violently.
The world spun.
Glass shattered.
And everything went black.