WRITER'S POV:
They didn't make it home.The drive back from the gala had barely left the city when the SUV in front of them exploded.Cassius reacted first. Shoved Ivy's head down. Barked something in Italian to the driver. The car swerved, tires screeching.And Ivy, apparently, was the access "Was that—?" Ivy gasped."Yes.""Are we—?""No. But stay down." Cassius protested.
Gunshots rang out from somewhere nearby. The driver veered hard off the main road, through a construction barrier. Ivy gripped the seat so hard her fingers cramped.
"They were waiting for us," she said, her voice high."They were waiting for me," Cassius growled. "You were just the bonus."
She didn't find that comforting.
Jason's voice cracked through the comm. "I'm rerouting backup. Do not go back to the estate. It is too obvious.""Copy," Cassius said, scanning the streets. "Take her to fallback safehouse.""Fallback what now?" Ivy asked, still half-curled in panic mode.Cassius looked at her."It's not over. You're not safe yet."---
The safehouse was a minimalist apartment buried in the bones of a quiet high-rise. Concrete walls. Low lighting. The air smelled like dust and secrets.
Ivy sat on the couch, knees pulled up, silent.
Cassius paced like a panther in a cage."This was a warning," he muttered. "They knew we were there. They let us leave."
"Why not just kill you? Or... me?""Because they want fear. They want a message.""Well, consider it delivered. I'm officially terrified."
He sat across from her. Leaned forward."I'm sorry."
That stunned her more than the explosion."For what? Existing?"
"For bringing you into this. For not getting you out when I had the chance."She swallowed. Hard.
"You're right. You should've."Silence stretched.
Then—
"But if you had... I think I'd still find my way back."Cassius blinked.Ivy stood slowly. Crossed the room. Sat beside him.He laughed."What now?"
"Now, we fight."She excused herself for a moment to the balcony. Her hands were shaking."You mean you fight."He looked at her, something dark and fierce sparking behind his eyes."No. We."
And just like that, Ivy realized she wasn't collateral anymore.She was a player.And the game had changed