Chapter 29 Ava
Ava
Idon’t wait.
I never wait.
The second Hayes turns his back—
I move.
Pain rips through my ribs the moment I shift.
My head spins, vision tilting sideways.
I swallow it down.
Doesn’t matter.
I shift my weight onto one knee, twisting my wrists behind me.
The bindings bite into my skin.
Tight.
But not perfect.
They never are.
I inhale slow.
Steady.
Feel the give.
Measure it.
Then I pull.
Skin tears.
Heat flares sharp across my wrists.
Wetness follows.
Blood.
Good.
I use it.
Twist harder.
Slide against the restraint.
Force it.
It gives—just enough.
Voices outside.
Footsteps.
Closer.
I don’t have time.
I wrench my hands free the rest of the way, ignoring the burn, ignoring the raw skin, ignoring everything but movement—
and roll to my feet.
The room tilts.
Hard.
I grab the edge of a table, steadying myself until the world snaps back into place.
Focus.
One guard inside.
Three outside.
The one inside steps toward me.
“Stay where—”
I’m already moving.
Fast.
Silent.
I drive my elbow straight into his throat.
The impact is solid.
He chokes, collapsing forward—
I catch him, rip the weapon from his grip before he hits the ground.
Gun up.
Door swings open.
Two more.
They don’t hesitate.
Neither do I.
Shots crack—
Controlled—
Precise—
One drops instantly.
The second dives, firing back—
A round grazes my arm.
Heat slices across skin.
I don’t stop.
Don’t flinch.
Don’t slow.
I step forward—
Fire—
End it.
Silence slams back into the room.
My chest rises and falls hard.
Adrenaline surges through me, sharp and electric.
I swipe blood from my lip with the back of my hand.
“Yeah,” I mutter under my breath.
“Still dangerous.”
Then—
the alarms start.
Loud.
Blaring.
Echoing through the building.
Perfect.
I lift the weapon, turning toward the door.
“Come on,” I whisper.
“Let’s do this.”