Aurora’s family was rich because of a secret no one could ever guess—they were spies. Her father ran a covert organization that hunted the world’s most dangerous criminals, and Aurora had grown up in it. At nineteen, she was already one of his best: skilled, fearless, and trained in every form of combat. The only thorn in her side was Theo—her father’s favorite agent. He was talented, disciplined, and everything Aurora couldn’t stand. They clashed constantly, rivals on the same team, their hatred sharp and undeniable.

Aurora and Theo had been forced onto the same mission. She hated it—being stuck with her father’s golden boy—but orders were orders.

Things went wrong fast. Aurora had been cornered, tied to a chair in the middle of the warehouse, her black bodysuit glinting under the dim light. The men surrounding her weren’t just armed, they were leering.

“Look at this one,” one of them sneered, circling her. “Pretty little spy thinks she’s dangerous.”

Another smirked, leaning closer to tug at the zipper on her suit. “Bet she fights less when the clothes come off.” Laughter erupted around him.

Aurora’s jaw clenched, eyes burning holes into them. She twisted against the ropes, teeth gritted.

“Don’t touch me,” she spat.

“Oh, she’s feisty,” the first man chuckled.

“Boss is gonna enjoy breaking her.”

But before his hand could trail lower, a blur crashed into the room. Theo.

He slammed into the man with a punch so hard it cracked bone. “Get your filthy hands off her,” he growled, grabbing another by the collar and driving his fist into his stomach.

The others scrambled, drawing weapons, but Theo was faster—kicks, elbows, precision strikes that dropped them one by one.

Aurora used the chaos to wrench free of the ropes, her wrists burning. As the man who’d tried to unzip her lunged again, she snapped her leg up, her boot connecting with his groin. He crumpled instantly, groaning in pain.

“Not so tough now, huh?” she hissed, shoving him to the ground.

Theo landed another blow across a man’s jaw before glancing her way. For a second their eyes met—his blazing with fury, hers with defiance.

“Try not to get yourself tied up next time,” he muttered, breathless but smirking. Aurora shot back, “Try not to take so long next time.”