Elena's lips parted to explain, her emerald eyes locked on Alex's blood-streaked face, when Sophia's earpiece crackled. Her expression hardened. "No time, Viper. We've got company."
Before Alex could process, the apartment door splintered inward. Four masked men stormed in, clad in black tactical gear, silenced pistols and knives gleaming under the dim light. Elena and Sophia moved as one—instincts honed from years in the shadows. Elena drew a slender dagger from a hidden sheath at her thigh, while Sophia pulled twin blades from her jacket. Their movements were a deadly ballet, synchronized and ruthless.
Alex's heart raced, but his body reacted on autopilot. He snatched the bloodied knife he'd used in the hallway, its weight familiar from his fighting days. He dropped into a stance—knees bent, blade angled, muscles coiled like a spring. The first attacker lunged, and Alex sidestepped, slashing with precision across the man's arm. The assailant cursed, clutching the wound.
Elena dispatched one with a flick of her wrist, her dagger finding a throat. Sophia spun, her blades a blur, dropping another. The third attacker, pinned by Alex's gaze, hesitated—a fatal mistake. Alex surged forward, his knife slicing clean through the man's neck. Blood sprayed, and the man gurgled, collapsing.
The last attacker, panting, touched his earpiece. "The husband's not normal," he hissed to an unseen listener before Alex's blade silenced him forever.
The room fell still, save for the drip of blood on the hardwood. Elena and Sophia turned, staring at Alex. His chest heaved, his handsome face set in a grim mask, the knife steady in his hand. He'd fought like a predator, not the office worker he claimed to be.
Sophia whistled, impressed. "Damn, pretty boy. Where'd you learn to move like that?"
Elena ignored her, stepping close to Alex. Her fingers brushed his cheek, wiping blood from his jaw, her touch both tender and possessive. "We have to go. Now. I'll explain on the way."
Alex nodded, his questions burning but his trust in her unshaken. Sophia gestured to the door. "My car's out back. Move."
They piled into Sophia's sleek black sports car, the engine roaring as they peeled into the Eldoria night. Alex tore off his blood-soaked shirt, tossing it into the backseat. Sophia's eyes flicked to his toned torso in the rearview mirror, a smirk playing on her lips. Elena's gaze turned to daggers, her hand tightening on Alex's thigh.
"Eyes on the road, Soph," Elena snapped.
Sophia chuckled. "Relax, Viper. Just admiring the view."
"Explain," Alex cut in, his voice low, steady. "Who were those men? Why are they after us? And why do they keep calling you Viper?"
Elena sighed, her possessive edge softening. "I was… an operative. A killer. The best. They called me the Viper. I left that life for you, Alex. I wanted normal. But my past—it's found us."
Sophia snorted, weaving through traffic. "Understatement. You were a legend, and now the underworld knows you've got a weakness." She glanced at Alex. "No offense, champ, but you're not helping by being a badass. They expected a soft target."
Alex's jaw tightened. "I trained in my youth. Martial arts, knife fighting. Never thought I'd need it again."
Elena squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry. I thought I could protect you from this."
Before he could reply, Sophia's earpiece buzzed again. "Shit. They're tracking us. We need a safehouse."