The Ghost and the Vixen

Curiosity Grows

Kade stood in the shadows of the forest, just beyond the estate’s perimeter, watching the mansion as the night wore on. His mind wasn’t on Volkov anymore. It was on her—the other assassin, the woman who had moved with such precision and grace that he couldn’t help but be intrigued. She wasn’t just skilled, she was flawless, and it gnawed at him that she had slipped away so easily.

He had encountered other assassins in his line of work, but there was something different about this one. She was patient, just as he was. She hadn’t made any reckless moves, hadn’t tried to ambush him, and that was what set her apart. The mutual recognition, the silent exchange in that hallway—he couldn’t shake it from his mind.

For the first time in a long while, Kade felt something unfamiliar stirring within him. It wasn’t fear or apprehension; it was curiosity. Who was she? Another hired gun from a rival group? A bodyguard for Volkov? It didn’t seem likely—bodyguards didn’t move like that. Whoever she was, she was after something, and their goals might be aligned. But even as that thought crossed his mind, Kade knew better than to trust another player in the game.

He knelt down near the treeline, pulling out the tablet he’d been using for surveillance. The blueprints of Volkov’s estate flickered on the screen as he scrolled through, looking for any signs of changes in security since the encounter. His eyes scanned the live feed from the camera he’d hacked earlier, but everything seemed as it was before—quiet, methodical.

As the silence of the night pressed in around him, Kade’s mind returned to her face. Or rather, the glimpse of her in the darkness. The Vixen, he thought. That had to be who she was. He’d heard rumors, whispers of an assassin who used seduction and strategy as her greatest weapons, but he had never crossed paths with her before tonight.

He leaned back against the tree, the shadows of the forest blending with his dark attire. He wasn’t entirely sure what to make of her yet, but he knew one thing: she wasn’t just any assassin. She was a professional, like him, and if they were both after Volkov, things were about to get complicated.

—

Elara slipped back into the safety of the wooded path beyond Volkov’s mansion, her thoughts spinning as she put distance between herself and the compound. The cool night air brushed against her skin, and she took a deep breath, calming the slight adrenaline rush from the encounter. She wasn’t rattled, but she was intrigued.

That man—whoever he was—had moved with the kind of quiet, calculated precision that few could pull off. He was good. Very good. And that worried her more than she’d admit. Was he a threat? A bodyguard, perhaps? Or another assassin contracted for the same job?

Her lips curved into a thoughtful smile as she considered the possibilities. It wasn’t unusual for a target like Volkov to have multiple assassins on his trail. The man had made enemies across the globe, and there were likely plenty of people willing to pay a fortune for his head. But Elara had always been the best. She wasn’t used to competition, and the idea of sharing a mission didn’t sit well with her.

She moved silently through the trees, her mind racing. Whoever this man was, he hadn’t engaged her. That meant he was either unaware of who she was or he didn’t see her as a direct threat yet. Either way, it gave her time to assess him. She had caught enough of a look to know that he was well-trained. His movements had been calculated, his retreat as measured as hers.

Elara frowned slightly. She had been doing this long enough to know when someone was on her level. And he was. But was he after Volkov? Or was he part of Volkov’s security? The thought nagged at her, but something in her gut told her he wasn’t working for the crime lord. No, this man was like her—a predator hunting his prey.

As she made her way through the woods, she couldn’t help but replay the brief encounter in her mind. The tension in the hallway, the silent acknowledgment of each other’s presence—it was as if they were both waiting, both testing the waters to see who would make the first move. Elara had chosen to retreat, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t interested. If anything, the encounter had only sharpened her focus.

She slipped into the shadows of a small outbuilding near the edge of the forest, a temporary hiding spot she had scouted earlier. Once inside, she pulled out her encrypted phone, her fingers moving quickly as she sent a brief message to Gregor.

“Encountered another player. Male. Highly skilled. Need more intel on potential competition.”

She hit send and leaned back against the cold stone wall, her mind already working through the new possibilities. If this man was after Volkov, then she needed to know who he was and what his endgame was. The last thing she wanted was to be blindsided by another assassin in the middle of the mission.

But despite the professional calculation running through her mind, there was something else—something unexpected. A flicker of interest, of curiosity. She hadn’t seen his face, but she could sense that he wasn’t like the others. He wasn’t just another mercenary. There was a level of control in the way he had moved, a deliberate lack of aggression that suggested he was as much a strategist as she was.

Elara smirked, her thoughts drifting to the next phase of her plan. She wouldn’t avoid him forever. Sooner or later, their paths would cross again. And when they did, she wanted to be ready.

—

Kade sat in his safe house on the outskirts of Budapest, the dim light casting shadows across the walls as he poured over the details of the mission. But his mind wasn’t on the blueprints or the guard schedules anymore. It was on her —the other assassin. The way she had moved, the way she had matched his precision, had struck a chord with him.

There was something off about her, something that didn’t fit with the typical profile of an assassin. Most were brutes—efficient killers, but lacking the finesse that she had shown. She hadn’t rushed to attack him. She hadn’t panicked. Instead, she had observed, just as he had, and then slipped away without making a sound. That kind of restraint took years to master.

Kade stared at the map of Volkov’s estate, but his thoughts kept returning to the hallway. She was a threat, no doubt about that. But she was also… fascinating. He couldn’t deny it. Her skills were impressive, and the way she had handled herself was unlike anything he’d encountered in a long time. Who was she? And what was her objective?

He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his dark hair as he considered the situation. She hadn’t attacked him, which meant she either didn’t see him as a direct threat or wasn’t sure of his intentions. That worked in his favor—for now. But he knew it wouldn’t last. Eventually, they would have to face each other. And when that happened, he needed to be ready.

For now, though, curiosity gnawed at him. He wasn’t used to being intrigued by another assassin, but there was something about her that drew him in. He needed to find out more.

“Who are you?” Kade muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the map. There was no doubt in his mind that their paths would cross again. And when they did, he would be ready.

But the real question was: who would strike first?