But Elliana held her ground. She met Cole’s fiery gaze with a cool one of her own, a silent command for him to stand down before she pivoted back toward Miguel.
“Deal,” she said, her voice steady as stone.
“I want to see the depth of your real strength. I hope you’ll bring everything you’ve got when we cross paths again. Nothing excites me more than a worthy adversary.”
“Ha-ha…” A deep laugh rolled from Miguel’s chest.
“Elliana, you burn with the same intensity as your mother. That fire must be the source of your magnetism. I find it intoxicating. Until our paths converge once more.”
With one last, lingering glance, Miguel pivoted to leave. Just then, the thunderous roar of an approaching helicopter shattered the stillness—his reinforcements had arrived. Miguel lifted his eyes toward the descending aircraft, satisfaction curling his lips into a smirk.
Elliana wrenched her attention from the helicopter and locked it back onto Miguel, derision dancing across her features.
“I may have honored our bargain, but I’m not allowing you to walk away unharmed. I can’t have you mistaking my mercy for weakness.”
Miguel stopped mid-stride, confusion clouding his expression as he turned back.
“What are you suggesting?”
She offered no explanation. Instead, she struck with viper-quick precision, her leg whipping upward in a devastating kick that launched him through the air.
“Ugh!” Completely blindsided, Miguel released a guttural grunt as his body crashed into the snow, crimson blood spraying across the pristine white canvas.
The helicopter touched down, and a squadron of men clad in black tactical gear poured out, charging toward Miguel.
Elliana dismissed them entirely, striding to where Miguel sprawled in the snow. She crouched down and patted his head, the gesture dripping with condescension and…
Humiliation. Her tone carried silk-wrapped venom.
“Consider it a farewell present. Surely, you won’t hold a grudge?”
“You!” Miguel’s features twisted with rage, but when he attempted to speak, he managed only to cough up another stream of blood.
As his men swarmed his position, Elliana rose to her feet and withdrew with unhurried grace.
“Mr. Griffiths, how are you holding up?” one of the men in black asked, hauling Miguel upright.
Swallowing his agony, Miguel pierced Elliana with a glare saturated in hatred.
“We’re leaving!”
.
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