Katie stayed crouched behind the kitchen island, her pulse hammering in her ears. The bitter scent of whiskey-spilled from her shattered glass-mixed with the acrid sting of cold night air rushing through the broken window. This wasn't just a warning. This was an execution attempt. And whoever had fired that shot hadn't cared if it hit her or Justin. "Stay here," Justin murmured, his voice cold, clipped-dangerous.

Katie met his gaze, sharp and unwavering. "Like hell I will."His blue eyes burned, but he didn't argue. There was no time. Gun in hand, Justin moved quickly, his steps silent as he disappeared into the shadows of the penthouse. Katie let out a slow breath, her own hands tightening into fists. She hated being powerless.

Her gaze flicked toward the broken window, her mind calculating. The angle of the shot. The entry point. Whoever had taken the shot hadn't done it from ground level.

They had been positioned higher. Her breath hitched. The rooftop. Without thinking, she moved.

Hunting Shadows

The penthouse's emergency stairwell was dimly lit, but Katie had been in worse places. She took the stairs two at a time, her heartbeat steady despite the fire in her veins. If Moore had truly sent someone to kill her, she wanted to see the bastard's face herself.

She reached the rooftop door and hesitated, pressing her back against the cool metal. She wasn't stupid. Whoever had taken the shot wouldn't just be standing out in the open, waiting. Slowly, she cracked the door open.

The city stretched out before her, neon lights flickering like distant stars. The air was crisp, sharp. And just ahead- A figure. Dark clothing. A rifle strapped across their back. They were leaving.

Katie didn't think. She moved. The assassin barely had time to turn before she lunged, her fist colliding with their jaw in a brutal strike. The impact sent them staggering, but they recovered fast, spinning toward her with a knife.

Katie dodged the first slash, twisting her body at the last second. The second strike came fast-too fast. A sharp sting bloomed along her ribcage. Shit. Pain flared, but she didn't stop. She grabbed the assassin's wrist, twisting it sharply. A low grunt of pain-then the knife clattered to the ground.

A second later, Justin was there. He moved like a predator, silent and efficient. One hard strike sent the assassin to the ground, and before they could react, Justin's knee was pressed against their back, his gun pressed against their skull.

"Who sent you?" His voice was calm. Deadly. The assassin let out a pained chuckle. "You already know."Moore, Of course.

Justin's grip tightened, his trigger finger flexing. For a terrifying moment, Katie thought he might actually pull the trigger. But then-

Sirens. Red and blue lights flashed below, reflecting off the skyscrapers.

Justin exhaled sharply and stepped back. "We need to go. Now."Katie barely had time to process before Justin grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward the rooftop exit.

The assassin wouldn't be able to escape before the police arrived. That gave them time. But not much.

Unspoken Tension

They didn't speak again until they were back in Justin's penthouse. The broken window was still there, a cold reminder of how close they had come to dying tonight. Katie leaned against the counter, her fingers brushing against her side. When she pulled them back, there was blood.

Justin saw it instantly. His expression turned to stone. "You're hurt."

Katie glanced down at the shallow knife wound. "It's nothing." He didn't look convinced. Without a word, he grabbed a first-aid kit from a nearby drawer. "I can do it myself," she said.

Justin ignored her, stepping closer. Too close. The warmth of his body, the scent of whiskey and danger, wrapped around her.

"Sit," he ordered. For once, she didn't argue. She perched on the counter, watching as he knelt in front of her, his touch surprisingly gentle as he pressed a cloth against her wound. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then, quietly- "You shouldn't have gone after them alone."

Katie smirked. "You would have done the same." Justin exhaled sharply. "Yeah. That's the problem." She frowned, caught off guard by the raw edge in his voice. This wasn't just frustration. This was something deeper. Something he wasn't saying.

"You're not my responsibility, Katie," he murmured. "But that doesn't mean I won't protect you." Her breath hitched. And in that moment, with the city lights flickering behind him, the weight of the night pressing down on them-something changed. The tension that had always simmered between them ignited.Katie should have looked away. Should have said something sharp, something to break the moment. But she didn't. Because Justin Clark was too damn close, and she wasn't sure she wanted him to step back. Not this time.

A Deal with the Devil:

The moment passed too quickly. Justin finished wrapping the bandage, his jaw tight. He was back to business. "Moore won't stop. He's already crossed the line. We need to take him down before he gets another shot." Katie nodded. "I have enough evidence to bury him. But if he's connected to someone bigger"-then we have to be smart," Justin finished.

His eyes darkened. "We're not just fighting Moore anymore. We're fighting whoever's backing him. And if we misstep, we won't just lose our jobs." Katie met his gaze, unwavering. "I'm not backing down." Something flickered in his expression. Respect. And something else. Something dangerous.

"Good," Justin said. He turned, reaching for his phone. "There's one person who might be able to help us." Katie arched a brow. "Who?"

Justin hesitated. Then- "His name is Alan Peck." The name sent a shiver down her spine. A Russian billionaire. Ruthless. Untouchable. She narrowed her eyes. "And why the hell would he help us?" Justin's lips curved into something cold. Calculated.

"Because Moore owes him money," he said. "And if there's one thing Alan hates-""-it's a man who doesn't pay his debts," Katie finished. She exhaled sharply, already feeling the weight of what they were about to do. Making a deal with Alan Peck was like dancing with a viper.

But it was also their best chance at taking Moore down before he took them down first.

Katie met Justin's gaze. "You sure about this?" He smirk was sharp as a blade. "Not even a little." And just like that, the game had changed.

Chapter 6 A Line in Blood

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