Leonard flinched instinctively, and the de sliced past his face by a hair''s breadth.


    A sudden chill grazed his cheek, followed quickly by a searing pain.


    Before he could even react, the knife shed again.


    This time, Leonard was ready-he barely dodged aside.


    But the cramped car offered little room to maneuver. No matter how quick he was, there was only so much he could do in such tight quarters.


    And the woman in front of him-she looked like she was ready to fight to the death.


    Ste''s attacks were wild, but every strike had the intent to kill, aimed straight for vital points.


    All Leonard could do was dodge as best he could, scrambling for safety.


    He suddenly noticed that Ste gripped the knife with the very hand she''d smashed herself.


    In that instant, realization dawned, and rage red in his voice. "You cunning witch!"


    Ste''s lips curled into a cold smile. "If anything, I should thank Mr. Lerman for handing me this chance himself."


    She''d spent years at Mr. Burton''s side. She hadn''t just picked up a few cooking tricks.


    She knew a thing or two about nerves, joints, and pressure points.


    When Keen''s stomach acted up, it was usually Ste who gave him a massage to help.


    Leonard thought he could break her by forcing her to smash her own fingers. She''d done it, but she''d struck a joint that wasn''tpletely useless yet.


    Of course, smashing your own hand with a hammer hurt like hell.


    But at least she''d left herself a sliver of hope.


    Earlier, when they ran into that checkpoint, she hadn''t cried out for help. She figured even if she screamed, the driver could just hit the gas and be gone.


    If she wanted to survive, she''d have to rely on herself.


    So she waited, saving her strength, biding her time until Leonard let his guard down. The moment he did, she quietly slipped the knife from the hand he''d stabbed, waiting for the perfect moment to strike back.


    But she was injured, bleeding too much, and Leonard was no amateur-he was always on alert.


    The de that should have shed his throat missed by inches and only caught his cheek.


    Regret flickered in Ste''s eyes.


    Leonard had plenty of scars all over his body, but never on his face.


    If it hadn''t been for those


    Kor-sharp instincts, that knife


    t have just cut his chet


    would have opened his neck.


    The driver, catching sight of the chaos in the backseat, instinctively mmed on the brakes.


    The car jerked forward, inertia throwing both Leonard and Ste toward the front. Leonard lunged, trying to grab the knife.


    But in that moment, the bnce shifted in Ste''s favor.


    From her position, she couldn''t go for his weapon right away.


    But in that brief window, Ste plunged the knife straight into Leonard''s thigh.


    She wanted to go for his heart, or at least his throat, but the angle wouldn''t let her.


    Without hesitation, she yanked the de free and stabbed again.


    By now, the driver had stopped the car, flung open his door, and rushed toward the back.


    He yanked open the door on Ste''s side.


    His n was to help Leonard-two men against one woman. Leonard had only gotten caught off guard; together, they''d have her under control in no time.  fo


    But Ste''s ferocity caught him off guard.


    The moment he pulled the door open, she thrust the knife at hima clean, lethal strike aimed right at a vital spot. If itnded, he''d be out ofmission, if not dead.


    The driver recoiled, just barely dodging the attack.


    As he twisted away, the knife flew past his face, forcing him to duck even further.


    That''s when Ste hurled herself out of the car, moving like a wildcat unleashed.