Chapter 82 - Blood on the Floor (Dante's POV)

Chapter 82 - Blood on the Floor (Dante's POV)

\# Chapter 82 - Blood on the Floor (Dante's POV)

"She fights alone."

Council leader spoke. Voice cold like ice. Eve stood in middle of big room. Three men with knives walked toward her.

I stepped forward. "No. She not fight alone."

"Dante, stop," Eve said. Did not look at me. Eyes on men coming for her.

"This stupid. Three against one not fair."

"Fair not matter," council leader said. "This test of strength. She prove herself or she die."

My hands made fists. "She already proved herself."

"Not to us."

Eve turned to me. Looked tired but strong. "Dante. Step back."

"Eve—"

"Step back. This my fight."

I wanted to grab her. Pull her away from this place. Away from these men who wanted her blood.

But could not. She right. This her fight.

Stepped back. But stayed close. If things went bad, would jump in anyway.

Three men spread out. Made circle around Eve. All big men. All had scars. All looked like they killed before.

First man smiled. Showed missing teeth. "Pretty lady going to die ugly."

Second man spun knife in hand. "Boss Marco pays good for your head."

Third man said nothing. Just stared. Most dangerous one.

Eve looked at each man. Calm. Like looking at weather.

"You done talking?" she asked.

Men looked confused. Expected fear. Got boredom instead.

First man charged. Knife aimed at her heart.

Eve moved like water. Smooth. Fast. Stepped aside. Grabbed his wrist. Twisted hard.

Snap.

Bones broke. Man screamed. Dropped knife.

Eve caught knife before hit ground. Cut his throat in same motion.

Blood hit floor. Man fell. Dead before he knew what happened.

Second and third men backed up. Not expecting this.

"Who next?" Eve asked. Blood on her hand. Did not look bothered.

Second man threw knife. Good throw. Would have hit most people in chest.

Eve caught it. Bare handed. Blade between her fingers.

Threw it back. Faster than he threw it.

Hit him in eye. Went through skull. Came out back of head.

He fell backwards. Also dead.

Third man looked scared now. Started backing toward door.

"Where you going?" Eve asked. Walked toward him slow. Like hunting.

"Please," man said. "Have family."

"So do I."

Eve moved fast. Too fast for normal person to see.

Grabbed man by throat. Lifted him off ground. He kicked. Could not breathe.

"Marco sent you?" she asked.

Man nodded. Face turning blue.

"Tell me everything."

Put him down. He gasped for air.

"He... he knows about challenges. Has spies everywhere. Wants you dead before you get too strong."

"How many spies?"

"Do not know. Many. Some in this room maybe."

Eve looked around room. Council members all watching. Some looked impressed. Others looked scared. Few looked angry.

"Which ones?" Eve asked man.

"Cannot tell. They kill me if I tell."

"I kill you if you do not tell."

Man looked around room. Pointed at skinny man in corner. "Him. And her." Pointed at woman with red hair. "And maybe him too." Pointed at big man near door.

Three people man pointed at went pale.

Eve nodded. "Thank you."

Snapped man neck. Quick. Clean. He fell.

Room went very quiet.

Eve looked at three people man pointed out. "You work for Marco?"

All three shook heads. But sweat on faces told different story.

"Lying not good idea," Eve said.

Skinny man tried to run. Eve threw dead man knife. Hit skinny man in back. He fell. Did not get up.

Red hair woman pulled gun. Eve already moving. Grabbed woman wrist. Bent it backwards. Gun fired into ceiling. More snapping sounds. Woman screamed.

Eve took gun. Shot woman in head. Simple. Done.

Big man near door pulled out phone. Probably calling Marco.

Eve shot him too. Phone shattered. Man fell.

Whole room stared at Eve. Five bodies on floor. Blood everywhere.

"Anyone else work for Marco?" Eve asked. Voice calm. Like asking about weather again.

No one said anything.

"Good. Then we continue."

Council leader looked shaken. "You... you just killed five people."

"Five people trying to kill me. Big difference."

"But the blood..."

"Will clean up. Blood always cleans up."

I watched Eve from corner. She different now. Colder. Harder. Like something broke inside her and sharp edges showed through.

Made me proud. Also made me worried.

Council leader sat back down. Hands shaking little bit.

"You passed second test," he said.

"What next?" Eve asked.

"Final test tomorrow."

"What kind of test?"

Council leader looked around room. Other members whispered to each other.

"Sacrifice test," he said finally.

"What that mean?"

"You must give up thing you love most."

Eve face changed. First time showed emotion since fight started.

"What thing?"

"We decide tomorrow."

"No. Tell me now."

"Cannot. Part of test."

Eve stepped toward council leader. Blood still on her hands. Still holding gun.

"Tell me now or I make you tell me."

Several council members reached for weapons. I stepped forward too. Hand on my gun.

"Eve," I said quiet. "Not here. Not now."

She looked at me. Anger in her eyes. But also trust.

Stepped back. Put gun down on table.

"Fine. Tomorrow then."

Council leader nodded. "Guards will take you to room. You rest tonight."

"What about bodies?" Eve asked.

"We handle them."

"Make sure you do. Blood draws flies."

Four guards came forward. Big men but looked nervous after seeing what Eve did.

"This way," one said.

Eve followed them. I started to follow too.

"Not you," council leader said. "You stay here."

"Why?"

"We need to talk."

Eve looked back at me. "Will be fine," she said. But eyes said something else. Eyes said be careful.

Guards took her away. Door closed.

I alone with council now. And some of them did not look happy.

"Your woman dangerous," council leader said.

"She strong. That what you wanted."

"Too strong maybe."

"No such thing as too strong in this business."

"There is when she kills our allies."

"Your allies were spies. She did you favor."

"Maybe. Or maybe she just likes killing."

I looked at blood on floor. Five bodies being dragged away by other guards.

"She not kill for fun. She kill to protect herself. To protect what matters to her."

"And what matters to her?"

"Her son. Her family. Her life."

Council leader nodded slow. "Tomorrow we find out how much those things really matter."

"What you mean?"

"Final test always hardest. We ask for biggest sacrifice."

"What sacrifice?"

"Cannot tell you. But your woman better be ready to lose everything."

Cold feeling went down my spine. "You not touch her son."

"We not touch anyone. She make choice herself."

"What choice?"

"Tomorrow you find out."

Council leader stood up. Other members stood too.

"You can go now. Rest well. Tomorrow will be long day."

I walked toward door. Stopped.

"Council leader?"

"Yes?"

"If you hurt her son, I burn this whole place down."

"That would be war."

"Yes. It would."

Left room. Guards escorted me to different room. Locked door behind me.

Sat on bed. Thought about Eve. About blood on floor. About tomorrow.

Something bad was coming. Could feel it.

Eve was strong. Strongest person I knew. But everyone had breaking point.

Tomorrow they would try to find hers.

Only question was: would she break? Or would she break them first?

Looking at blood still under my fingernails, I knew answer.

She would break them.

But cost might be more than we both could pay.