Elena Harlan—formerly known in shadowy circles as "The Viper"—had left her old life behind. As one of the world's top assassins, she had danced with death for a decade, her blades silent and her poisons undetectable. But meeting Alex changed everything. His genuine smile, his unwavering kindness—it melted the ice around her heart. She retired, buried her past, and built a new identity. No more contracts, no more blood. Just him.
But she was possessive. Deadly so. Anyone who looked at Alex too long, who dared to encroach on her territory, met with… accidents. Subtle ones, of course. A flat tire here, a hacked email there. Nothing traceable. She couldn't risk him finding out. He was her anchor to normalcy, her reason to stay human.
Lately, though, the shadows stirred. Whispers in the underworld: "The Viper has gone soft. She's got a weakness now—a husband." Elena felt eyes on her, but she dismissed it as paranoia. Until one evening, as she sipped tea in their cozy apartment, a knock echoed at the door.
Alex was in the shower, humming off-key. Elena approached cautiously, her hand instinctively reaching for a hidden knife in the drawer. Peering through the peephole, her breath caught.
Sophia Kane—her old "sister in arms" from the agency. Tall, athletic, with short-cropped blonde hair and a scar across her cheek from a mission they shared in Prague. Sophia was a legend too, but more reckless, always chasing the thrill.
"Elena? Or should I say, Viper?" Sophia's voice was muffled but teasing. "Open up. I come in peace… mostly."
Elena glanced toward the bathroom, then unlocked the door. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"
Sophia stepped in, her leather jacket creaking. She scanned the room like a predator. "Word gets around. Heard you vanished after that last hit in Tokyo. Figured you'd gone legit. But a husband? That's rich. Where is he? I gotta see the guy who tamed the Viper."
As if on cue, Alex emerged, towel around his waist, water dripping from his toned chest—a remnant of his fighting days. He froze, eyes widening at the stranger.
"Uh, honey? Friend of yours?"
Sophia's grin widened. "Well, hello there. Tall, handsome, and built like a fighter. No wonder you quit. I'm Sophia, old colleague."
Elena shot her a warning glare. "Yes, from my design firm days. Sophia, this is Alex."
Alex extended a hand, polite as ever. "Nice to meet you. Want some coffee?"
Sophia shook it firmly, her eyes appraising. "Sure, why not? Let's chat."