The storm roared through the forest.
Snow swirled around the black cars parked outside the cabin, covering the ground in a thick white sheet. The tall man in the long coat stood calmly in front of the broken door, his gun resting loosely in his hand.
His eyes were locked on Luca.
Adrian stepped forward, blocking Luca from view.
"The Hunter…" Adrian muttered under his breath.
Luca whispered from behind him, "Who is he?"
Adrian didn't take his eyes off the man outside.
"One of the Syndicate's best assassins," he replied quietly. "He doesn't miss."
Outside, the Hunter smiled faintly.
"Adrian Volkov," he called out, his voice calm despite the storm. "Still protecting people who are already dead."
Adrian's grip tightened around his gun.
"You shouldn't have come here, Viktor."
Luca frowned.
"Viktor?"
The Hunter tilted his head slightly, amused.
"Ah," he said. "So the heir doesn't even know my name."
He took a slow step closer to the cabin.
Snow crunched under his boots.
"Let me introduce myself properly then," he continued. "Viktor Dragunov."
The name hung heavily in the air.
Behind him, the other men began spreading out, surrounding the cabin.
Adrian noticed immediately.
"They're cutting off our escape," he whispered.
Luca's pulse quickened.
"What do we do?"
Adrian exhaled slowly.
"We survive."
Outside, Viktor lifted his gun slightly, not yet aiming.
"You know why I'm here," he said.
Luca stepped slightly to the side, just enough for Viktor to see his face.
Viktor's eyes lit up with interest.
"So it's true," he murmured. "The Nero heir is alive."
Luca forced himself to stay calm.
"You've got the wrong person."
Viktor chuckled softly.
"No," he replied. "The Syndicate has been searching for you for fifteen years."
He pointed the gun directly at Luca.
"And tonight… the hunt ends."
Suddenly—
Bang!
Adrian fired first.
The bullet struck the snow near Viktor's feet.
Not a kill shot.
A warning.
Viktor laughed.
"So that's how we're playing?"
He raised his gun.
"Fine."
Chaos exploded.
Gunshots echoed through the forest as Adrian grabbed Luca and pulled him toward the back of the cabin.
"Move!" Adrian shouted.
Bullets tore through the wooden walls behind them.
Luca's heart pounded as they ran through the back door into the freezing storm.
Snow blinded him.
Wind howled in his ears.
Behind them, Viktor's voice echoed through the night.
"Run if you want!" he shouted.
"But the snow remembers every footprint!"
Luca stumbled through the deep snow as Adrian pulled him toward the trees.
"We can't outrun them," Luca said breathlessly.
Adrian shook his head.
"We don't need to."
He pointed deeper into the forest.
"Just reach the ridge."
Luca followed his gaze.
A steep cliff edge lay beyond the trees.
His eyes widened.
"You're not serious."
Adrian gave a grim smile.
"We don't have a better option."
Behind them, flashlights appeared between the trees.
Viktor and his men were closing in.
And the cliff edge was getting closer.
Very close.
Too close.