6

Chapter 6

"Not a threat. A condition."

The Volkov patriarch's voice is frigid. "Either this woman disappears, or I take my daughter and all our cooperative resources out of New York."

The air freezes.

After a moment's silence, Ethan finally speaks. "I'll handle it."

"I'll be waiting." The man turns and leaves, only Ethan's cold silhouette remaining.

...

By the time I'm brought to the Lancaster Group's outdoor shooting range, the night wind is sharp.

Miranda is already waiting, flanked by two armed guards, their expressions cold.

When she sees me dragged in, she says softly, "You can go. Leave us."

The guards step back. Now it's just me, her, and two guns.

Miranda takes a pistol from one guard, checking the magazine, her voice gentle yet sharp. "Lana, you're too much of a problem. I don't like difficult women around my fiancé. Any last words?"

I smile faintly. "Yes. Your people are idiots."

Before she can react, I feign collapse toward the nearest guard. He instinctively reaches to catch me. I twist his wrist—

Crack.

He cries out. The gun flies up. I snatch it mid-air. Almost simultaneously, I fire at the other guard's knee.

Miranda screams, stumbling back. Her shot goes wild into the bushes.

I step forward, grabbing her throat, gun pressed to her temple.

She shrieks, "Ethan—!!"

Less than ten seconds later, lights and footsteps converge. Ethan arrives with a security team. Seeing me holding Miranda hostage, his face darkens instantly.

"Lana."

His voice is cold as a blade.

I smile lightly. "Got here fast."

Dozens of guns now trained on me. I press the barrel harder against Miranda's forehead. "One more step and I pull the trigger."

Miranda trembles with fear. "Ethan! She's going to kill me! Shoot her!"

Ethan raises a hand, signaling everyone to halt. His dark eyes are icy, yet unfathomably deep.

After a long silence, he finally speaks. "Get out of New York."

Miranda gasps. "What? No! She knows too much! You promised my father—"

"Shut up."

For the first time, Ethan snaps at her in front of me.

She freezes, staring at him in disbelief.

I tighten my grip on the gun but don't release her.

Ethan looks at his team, voice like frozen steel. "From now on, she's a Lancaster traitor. Drive her out. Issue a statement—anyone who shelters her is our enemy."

I let go of Miranda. She collapses into Ethan's arms.

I raise my hand and toss the gun to the ground. "As you wish, boss. After today, New York won't have me."

The enforcement team rushes forward, dragging me away.

I don't resist.

...

They dump me on the highway at the city's edge.

Night wind slices across my wounds. My body can barely stand.

The black SUV speeds off, leaving only cold and silence.

I lean against the railing and slide to the ground, breathing shallow and ragged.

Then a car pulls up in front of me.

Several men in black suits step out, gold-threaded emblems on their cuffs—the mark of the Cruz military family.

The leader removes his sunglasses, respectfully saying, "Miss, we're here on Mr. Augusto's orders."

I close my eyes, exhaling a long breath.

"You're late."

"Minor delay on the road. But not too late."

They help me into the car.

As the door closes, the New York night—Ethan's night—is shut out.

"Over the next few days, we'll prepare a new identity for you. Once you're in Italy, you'll no longer be a Lancaster engineer. You'll be the heir to the Cruz family."

I lean back in the seat, voice soft. "Good. Let's go home."

The vehicle turns around, heading away from New York.