Chapter 4
510 Words
THE MAN WHO NEVER LOST
Elara pushed the Ferrari onto the empty Milan highway.
The speedometer climbed past 180 kilometers per hour.
Lucian sat beside her, completely calm.
“You drive aggressively.”
“You're welcome to get out.”
“At this speed?”
“You said you weren't afraid of me.”
“I didn't say that.”
Elara glanced at him.
For the first time, she noticed the faint scar running beneath his jaw.
“Who are you really?”
“Lucian Vale.”
“I know the name.”
“Then you know enough.”
“No. I know the legend.”
His eyes remained on the road ahead.
“Legends are usually lies.”
“Are you?”
He didn't answer.
A pair of headlights suddenly appeared behind them.
Then another.
Elara checked the mirror.
“Friends of yours?”
“No.”
“Enemies?”
“Yes.”
Three black cars accelerated toward them.
Elara smiled.
“Finally.”
Lucian looked at her.
“You're enjoying this.”
“Maybe.”
The first car rammed their rear bumper.
The Ferrari swerved.
Elara corrected instantly.
Lucian reached for the dashboard.
“Let me drive.”
“No.”
Another impact.
The Ferrari spun halfway across the highway.
Elara counter-steered, recovered, and accelerated.
Lucian stared at her hands.
“You've raced professionally.”
“No.”
“Then where did you learn that?”
“I taught myself.”
His expression changed.
Before he could ask another question, the lead vehicle pulled alongside them.
A man leaned through the window with a rifle.
Lucian's demeanor changed instantly.
He reached beneath his coat and drew a pistol.
Elara glanced at him.
“You brought a gun?”
“You brought a stolen Ferrari.”
“I didn't steal it.”
“You haven't paid for it.”
“It's your car?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“Then technically I'm borrowing it.”
Lucian almost laughed.
Almost.
The rifleman raised his weapon.
Elara slammed the brakes.
The pursuing car shot past them.
Lucian fired once.
The rifleman disappeared from view.
Elara accelerated again.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Switzerland.”
“Why?”
“Because Milan is no longer safe.”
“Switzerland won't be safe either.”
“I know.”
She looked at him.
“Then where is safe?”
Lucian finally turned toward her.
“Nowhere.”
Silence filled the car.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
A frightened voice spoke.
“Sir, ORACLE has issued a global alert.”
Lucian's eyes narrowed.
“What alert?”
A pause.
Then:
“It has identified Elara Veyne as a Class Zero threat.”
Elara heard every word.
Her hands tightened around the steering wheel.
Lucian looked at her.
For the first time that night, something resembling concern appeared in his eyes.
“Drive faster.”
Elara pressed the accelerator.
The Ferrari vanished into the darkness.
Behind them, every intelligence agency watching the road received the same message.
FIND THE VARIABLE.
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