Diana, Cassandra, Damon and some of their best men went to rescue the recruits from Nikolai's base.
It wasn't easy. Nikolai had been expecting them. Men were stationed at every corner. Armed. Ready.
The moment Diana's team stepped in, bullets started flying. They lost some men within minutes.
"Fall back!" Damon shouted, dragging one of the injured.
Diana gritted her teeth. They were outnumbered.She had no choice. She pulled out her phone and made the call.
Ava.
Ava didn't hesitate The moment she heard what was happening, she geared up, grabbed her weapons and drove straight to Nikolai's base.
When she arrived, she didn't wait. She removed the safety from her gun and started firing. Every man that stood in her way dropped. Her face was cold. Focused. She moved like a storm.
Meanwhile, Cassandra had been shot in the side.
She fell to her knees, clutching the wound.
Diana quickly covered her. "You okay?" Diana asked urgently.
Cassandra forced a weak smirk. "Yeah… If I don't survive this, tell Ava I said she's a bitch."
Diana rolled her eyes despite the chaos. "Relax. You'll tell her yourself. She's here."
She turned to Damon. "Ava's here. Get to the cells and rescue the recruits."
"On it," Damon replied, disappearing down the hallway.
Soon, the gunshots started reducing. Silence slowly filled the air.
Diana exhaled. That could only mean one thing. Ava had handled it. She helped Cassandra up and they carefully made their way outside.
Ava headed toward the cells to check on them, but before she could enter, three of Nikolai's men surrounded her.
"Boss knew you'd come," one of them said smugly.
"Drop your gun and follow us nicely," another added.
Ava smirked and pulled the trigger.
Click.
Empty.
She didn't panic.
Plan B.
She delivered a sharp kick to one of them, sending him crashing to the floor. The other two lunged at her. She ducked, elbowed one in the stomach and kicked the other hard enough to make him collapse.
One of them dropped his gun.
Big mistake.
Ava grabbed it and shot them without hesitation.
When Damon came out with the rescued recruits, he found her standing over three bodies.
"Where are the others?" Ava asked calmly.
"Outside. Cass got shot."
They quickly joined the others.
"Are you okay?" Ava asked Cassandra.
Cassandra smirked. "Your plan of getting me killed didn't work."
Ava rolled her eyes and walked to her car.
When they got back to the mansion, Ava stepped into the living room and froze.
Nikolai was sitting there like he owned the place.
"I'm glad you're back," he said with a twisted smile. "And look at that… you rescued them."
"Why don't you get it?" Ava said slowly. "I. Don't. Want. To. Marry. You."
"I know you like me," he said, stepping closer and playing with a strand of her hair. "You're just playing hard to get."
She pushed his hand away.
In a second, he pulled out a gun and pointed it at her.
"I hate when women play hard to get."
The rest of them instantly aimed their guns at him.
Ava didn't even flinch.
"I suggest you drop that," she said calmly. "You're in my territory."
He slowly lowered his gun.
"What do I have to do to make you like me?" he asked, almost frustrated.
Ava sighed. "I'm a lesbian."
Silence.
His face twisted. "How can you be lesbian?"
"I am. So accept it."
He laughed bitterly. "I can turn you straight."
"Okay, that's disgusting," Diana said, pretending to gag.
"I'm tired of this. Get out," Ava said coldly.
"You're too pretty to be gay," Nikolai snapped. "What do you even see in a girl?"
That was the last straw.
Ava raised her gun and shot him in the arm. He shouted in pain, grabbing his bleeding arm.
"There's your answer," she said. "Now get out."
He left, furious and wounded.
"Very mature," Diana said sarcastically, taking the gun from Ava.
Ava didn't reply.
She just walked away.
Later, Diana found her in the training room, punching the bag aggressively.
"Hey," Diana said softly, handing her a bottle of water. "You okay?"
Ava nodded and took a sip.
"You know we'd never judge you for being a lesbian," Diana added gently.
"I know," Ava sighed. "I just don't understand why people can't accept it."
"It's your life, Ava. Don't let anyone make you feel wrong for it."
"Thanks."
Weeks passed and no word from Nikolai. Things went back to normal. Until Diana forced everyone out for coffee. Ava didn't want to go, but she was dragged anyway.
They ordered and sat down. "I'm bored, can we—" Ava stopped mid-sentence.
A waitress approached with their drinks.
Blonde hair. Soft eyes. Gentle smile.
Ava froze. She stared.
"Thank you," Cassandra said, noticing Ava's silence.
When the waitress left, Diana leaned forward.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
Cassandra laughed. "Shut up, you pervert. You looked like you wanted to eat her."
Ava coughed. "She's hot— I mean… never mind."
They burst into laughter.
"Love at first sight," Damon teased.
"Shut up."
Back home, the teasing continued until Ava escaped to her room.
She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
She had never felt like that before.
This was different.
What if the girl wasn't into girls?
There was a knock.
"Go away, Diana."
"It's me," Damon said.
She opened the door.
He handed her a file. "Read it."
When she opened it, her heart skipped.
Name: Adrianna Lodge
Age: 22
Status: Single
Job: Waitress
Family: Mother and younger brother. Father deceased.
Degree: Business Studies
Lives alone near the coffee shop.
Ava smiled slightly.
For once, she wanted something normal.
The next day, she dressed differently.
White crop top. Black baggy trousers. Hair down.
No heavy makeup. Just lip balm.
Cassandra stared. "What is happening?"
Diana touched her forehead. "Are you sick?"
"I'm fine. I just feel happy."
She grabbed an apple. "I'll be back."
"That girl is crazy," Cassandra muttered.
Ava returned to the coffee shop. Adrianna was there.
She ordered and waited.
"Here's your coffee, ma'am," Adrianna said sweetly.
"It's Ava. And you are?"
"Adrianna."
"Nice to meet you."
"Weren't you here earlier?" Adrianna asked.
"Yeah… but I loved the coffee so much I had to come back."
Ava mentally praised herself for the smooth lie. She took her drink and went to sit in her car.
She waited. Ignored Diana's calls.
Around 9 p.m., Adrianna came out. Ava pulled her hoodie up and followed from a distance. Adrianna walked into a quiet neighborhood and entered her apartment safely.
Only when Ava was sure she was inside did she call Diana. "Where the hell are you?" Diana shouted.
"I need something," Ava said quickly, already making requests.
Diana sighed but agreed. Ava hung up and smirked.
For the first time in a long time, war wasn't the only thing on her mind.