Chapter 6 Bring Him In

A sleek black Maybach rolled up and glided to a stop near Kellan and Avery. The special license plate gleamed in the morning sun as the door creaked open. Clayton sat stiffly in the front seat, his jaw dropping the moment he spotted Avery.

Before anyone could speak, Kellan extended his arm, his movements filled with authority that left no room for argument. He made it clear that in his territory, nobody would dare to cross him.

"If you think you can mess with me and get away with it, you're mistaken," said Kellan, his voice cutting through the silence. His cold stare could have sent shivers down anyone's spine.

Clayton recoiled, fear twisting his features.

Avery's pulse skipped when Kellan's hand clamped onto her collar. She refused to show weakness and instead flashed a playful grin. "Mess with you? Please. I just think there's something fateful between us. You sneaked into my room last night, and now here you are again. Fate keeps throwing us together, don't you think?"

She drew out her words, making sure every syllable dripped with mischief. Clayton watched with disbelief, certain this fool had lost his mind for daring to tease Kellan.

Kellan's expression grew even grimmer, and the air around them turned sharp with tension.

Lifting her brow, Avery met his gaze, her eyes sparkling with both defiance and humor.

Kellan paused to steady himself, but Avery was already moving. Her hand darted to her cufflink, and in a blink, a blade shimmered between her fingers.

"I guess this round is mine, don't you agree?" She chuckled under her breath and thrust the blade at Kellan's chest.

In a flash, the tables turned. Kellan caught her wrist, forcing the blade's edge against Avery's neck instead. "You've got five seconds to make a choice. Live or die?" said him.

A cold spark flickered in Avery's eyes as she registered just how fast he was.

She dropped her eyes to keep her feelings in check, then lifted her chin with stubborn resolve and pushed back anyway. "Die? That sounds foreign. But if you are the one who ends me, I suppose it would not be the worst way to go."

Calm settled into her gaze as she met him directly, showing no panic at all. "If you plan to do it, then be quick about it. Hesitation only makes you look weak."

Ever since she joined Horizon Group, Avery had been thrown into situations far worse than this. Threats no longer rattled her, even when they came from the man who technically ruled her professional life.

Kellan shifted his attention away from her and flicked the blade toward Clayton. Having just stepped out of the car, Clayton staggered for a second before snapping his hand out and catching it cleanly.

"Interesting. Looks like my judgment was not wrong," said Kellan, his brow lifting slightly. "You have guts, and I respect that. How about working directly for me from now on?" A slow smile appeared on Kellan's face as he looked back at her.

Confusion creased Avery's forehead as she tried to read what he was really after.

Shock flashed across Clayton's face as well. Only yesterday, Kellan had suspected Avery of being a planted operative, yet now he was inviting Avery to stay close. Clayton stared at Kellan, clearly struggling to understand the shift.

"So what is this really about? Are you saying this because you actually like me?" Avery asked with a light laugh, teasing curling through her tone as she clasped her hands behind her back.

Behind her playful front, her thoughts raced. She had been looking for a way to get closer to Kellan, and now he was offering it himself, placing the opportunity directly in her hands.

Maybe Kellan had picked up on something she did not intend to reveal?

Suspicion flickered in her eyes as she glanced over at him, as though worried he might actually be interested in her after all she had just said.

Clayton suddenly yanked a gun free and pressed it to Avery's temple. "You better watch what you say and remember who you're talking to! Who do you think you are? Show any more disrespect to Mr. Wright, and your life ends here!"

Every muscle in his hand tensed as his finger lingered over the trigger, the tension in the air thick enough to choke on.

"That's enough." Kellan's voice cut through the standoff as he motioned for Clayton to back off. Clayton nodded and slowly lowered the weapon, but his stare never left Avery.

"You'd better mind your words. Push me again, and you will regret it," said Kellan, fixing Avery with a steely glare.

Avery's response was to size him up from head to toe, then turn her back on him and walked away with an audible scoff.

Clayton started to move after her but froze when Kellan shot him a warning look. Kellan had no intention of forcing Avery's decision. A person with Avery's spirit would never rush into anything without careful thought. Avery had accomplished in months what others needed years to achieve, and that spoke volumes about his drive.

Someone like that would never be easily swayed once she made up her mind.

He preferred not to push. Deep down, he already knew how Avery would react.

Avery had talent that could rival anyone in his circle, but his disregard for authority grated on him. Both times they met, Avery had found some way to get under his skin.

Kellan found himself silently questioning whether Avery was really into men.

As Kellan settled into the back seat, Clayton hesitated for a moment, stealing a glance at Avery's retreating figure before slipping into the passenger seat without a word.

Letting someone walk away after multiple attempts on his life was not typical for Kellan. Clayton could not recall a single instance where Kellan had shown such leniency.

In Wruosas, both the criminal world and those on the straight path knew better than to challenge Kellan's authority.

It took a rare kind of courage-or recklessness-for Avery to keep pressing his luck the way he did.

A deep breath helped Clayton steady himself, still reeling from everything he had just witnessed.

"If you have a question, then spit it out," said Kellan, his tone low and commanding, impatience written clearly in his brow as he fixed Clayton with a sharp look.

Turning slightly in his seat, Clayton swallowed his nerves before speaking up. "Mr. Wright... that troublemaker really doesn't know his place. He keeps testing your limits without a care. Should I arrange for someone to handle it quietly?"

For a moment, Kellan said nothing, his gaze sliding toward the driver. The driver caught his eye in the rearview mirror and immediately exited the car without needing further explanation.

"Take the wheel," said Kellan, his words flat and cold.

Clayton's pulse jumped, but he did as he was told, quickly climbing into the driver's seat and starting the engine.

The car sped out of the club's lot, tires whispering against the pavement while Clayton's nerves only grew tighter with every passing second.

Kellan explained, lines creasing his forehead, "His instincts are razor sharp, and he's got far more going on beneath the surface than most people. If someone sent him after me, he's not just a problem-he's a serious threat. But killing him reveals nothing..."

Kellan let the thought trail off, his fingers rhythmically drumming on the padded armrest.

A cold shiver ran down Clayton's spine as he picked up on the unspoken meaning in Kellan's tone. In the rearview mirror, he caught a glimpse of Kellan's smile-one that was more dangerous than reassuring.

"Are you planning to bring him in for further probe, Mr. Wright?" Clayton asked, choosing his words with care.

"That's right. But if he jumps at the offer without a second thought, I'll know he's hiding something."

With a flick of his wrist, Kellan straightened the cuffs on his tailored suit, his movements deliberate and calm, the picture of someone in absolute control. He fixed his gaze outside, then spoke without turning his head. "Hand me the blade."

Memories of the compact blade Avery carried came rushing back, and something keen flashed in Kellan's eyes.

Clayton wavered for a moment, then placed the tiny blade in Kellan's waiting palm.

Kellan studied the handle, noticing the letter "A" etched into the metal. Kellan's voice was low and thoughtful as he remarked, "Avery... you keep getting more intriguing."