Just as Yvonne took down thest guy, thinking the night was finally over, two


    more ck SUVs rolled up at the mouth of the alley-and this time, even more


    men piled out.


    Yvonne muttered under her breath, "Oh, for crying out loud... Do these guys have


    it out for me tonight or what?"


    Skye shot her a look. "Well? What are you standing around for? nning to fight


    the whole city?"


    Yvonne blinked in disbelief. "Wait, you mean... run?"


    Skye raised an eyebrow. "You got energy left for another round?"


    Yvonne huffed, trying to hide how winded she was. "You think I''m tapped out,


    huh?"


    Truth was, she was running on fumes. Afterst night''s marathon with that guy-


    plus sprinting through half the city chasing Skye, then brawling with a dozen


    goons-her legs were jelly.


    Skye just rolled her eyes and, without another word, nimbly vaulted up the iron


    back gate behind them.


    Yvonne gaped. "Are you kidding me? Unbelievable..."


    Just then, Xander finally arrived-only to see Yvonne being chased down by a


    mob.


    A dangerous glint shed in his eyes. He spun, popped open his trunk, and pulled


    out a shotgun. Without hesitation, he let loose a barrage at the men swarming


    Yvonne.


    They never saw iting. As Yvonne scrambled up the gate after Skye, Xander''s


    ambush sent the whole group sprawling to the pavement.


    Only one guy was left conscious, and when he saw Xandering, he shrank


    back like he''d just seen the Grim Reaper.


    Xander strode forward, each step heavy as a sledgehammer.


    "Mr. Schultz!" the guy stammered, recognizing Xander, his voice trembling.


    Xander pressed his boot to the man''s chest. "Talk. Who sent you?"


    "W-we... I..."


    The thug hesitated, mming up.


    A secondter, Xander jammed the shotgun''s muzzle against his forehead. "Try


    again. Was it Aira?"


    The man''s eyes went wide, panic written all over his face-but he stayed silent.


    Xander smirked. "Dan, then?"


    At the name, the man''s eyes flickered-just a sh, but enough for Xander to


    catch.


    He gave a cold, humorlessugh. Before the guy could even beg, Xander sent


    him on a one-way trip to the afterlife.


    He turned, ncing down the now-empty alley. No sign of Yvonne.


    He remembered her fiery re from a moment ago and couldn''t help but crack


    the faintest smile.


    Dan didn''t wake until well past midnight.


    Aira had been sitting at his bedside


    the whole time, eyes red from worry.


    When his eyes finally fluttered open,


    she let out a shaky sigh of relief.


    "Dan, thank God. You scared me half


    to death."


    Her voice quivered with concern.


    Dan, on the other hand, shot her a cold, almost imperceptible look of disgust-a


    wall of ice between them.


    "Why are you here?" he asked, his tone like frostbite.


    Aira flinched at his words, her heart twisting. She forced the words out: "What, you


    wish Yvonne was here instead?"


    "She wouldn''te," Dan replied, his face even more closed off.


    Aira lowered her gaze, swallowing hard.


    "Were you with herst night?" she asked, pain leaking into her voice.


    Before he could answer, she


    suddenly broke, her voice raw and


    desperate. "Why, Dan? After all these


    years, have I meant nothing to you?"


    Dan''s eyes grew even colder.


    "She''s your past, Dan! Why can''t you let her go?" Aira''s voice cracked.


    How many years had she loved him? She''d lost count-loved him so long, it felt


    like even a dog would have been moved by now.


    But Dan''s heart... was it made of stone?


    She looked up at him, voice breaking. "You''ve remembered everything, haven''t


    you?"


    She could see it-the memory in his


    eyes, the way he looked at her now.


    Her heart sank with a despair she''d


    never felt before.


    Dan''s gaze was arctic. "You''re the one who messed with my memory, Aira."