The Bigshot's Superstar Wife-Chapter 174: Stay Close

Athena’s breath was shallow as she pressed against the wall, her heart hammering in her chest.

The air was thick with tension, the echo of the gunshot still ringing in her ears. Xavier crouched beside her, his sharp eyes scanning the rooftops with the precision of a predator.

His grip on her wrist was firm but not painful, his fingers warm against her skin. Whoever was out there had just fired two shots, and both had been dangerously precise.

This wasn’t a panicked survivor taking random shots, it was a trained marksman. Someone who knew exactly what they were doing.

Xavier’s smirk hadn’t faded, though his expression had hardened into something cold and calculating.

"They’re good," he murmured, more to himself than to her. "But not good enough."

Athena exhaled sharply. "Do you always treat assassination attempts this casually?"

He tilted his head, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. "Only when they’re predictable."

Another shot rang out, striking the wall just above Xavier’s shoulder. He barely flinched. Instead, he moved with practiced ease, pulling Athena further into the shadows.

She felt the tension in his grip, the subtle shift in his stance as he calculated their next move.

"We can’t stay here," he murmured. "They’ll flank us."

Athena nodded. "Then what’s the plan?"

Xavier let out a slow breath, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "We hunt them instead."

Before she could react, he pulled a small earpiece from his pocket and pressed it into her palm. "Put this in," he instructed.

She obeyed without question, slipping it into her ear. Almost immediately, his voice came through the other end.

"Stay close. Follow my lead. Don’t fall behind." And then he moved.

Athena didn’t hesitate. She followed him through the alleyway, her senses sharp, her body tense with anticipation.

The base was still active behind them, soldiers moving supplies, civilians trying to survive, but right now, none of it mattered.

Whoever was after them had made one mistake, they had failed to kill them in the first shot. Now it was their turn to strike.

Xavier led her through the maze of alleys, his movements swift and decisive. He knew this base well, as if he had memorized every exit, every blind spot.

Athena kept pace, her mind already running through the possible identities of their attacker. Was it someone from his past? A rogue faction? Or was it someone targeting her?

The thought sent a chill down her spine. They reached a narrow street lined with abandoned buildings. Xavier motioned for her to stop, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder.

She barely had time to process the warmth of his touch before he pressed a knife into her palm.

"Just in case," he murmured.

Athena tightened her grip on the weapon. "I prefer guns."

Xavier smirked. "Knives don’t run out of bullets."

Before she could argue, he vanished into the shadows, his movements eerily silent.

Athena exhaled slowly, steadying herself. She listened intently, straining to hear any sign of movement. The sniper was still out there, waiting.

And then...

A rustle.

Athena turned sharply, raising the knife just as a figure dropped from the rooftop.

Her instincts took over. She dodged to the side as a blade sliced through the air, narrowly missing her shoulder.

The attacker moved swiftly, their face obscured by a dark hood. Athena retaliated, striking with precision, but they were fast, too fast.

The fight was brutal, silent except for the clash of metal and the sound of rapid footsteps. Athena’s muscles burned with exertion, but she didn’t falter.

She had trained for this, fought for her survival more times than she could count.

Then, in a sudden shift, her opponent faltered. Athena took the opening, twisting the knife in her grip before driving it forward.

The figure let out a strangled gasp, their body jerking as the blade found its mark.

She stepped back, breathing heavily. The attacker collapsed to the ground, their hood slipping away to reveal a scarred face, one she didn’t recognize.

Before she could process it, Xavier reappeared, his expression unreadable as he took in the scene.

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"Not bad," he said, his voice low.

Athena wiped the blood from her blade. "You took your time."

Xavier chuckled, kneeling beside the fallen attacker. He searched the body with practiced efficiency, pulling out a small emblem from their pocket. He turned it in his fingers, his smirk fading.

Athena frowned. "Who are they?"

Xavier’s jaw tightened. "Trouble."

She narrowed her eyes. "That’s not an answer."

He met her gaze, something dark and dangerous lurking beneath the surface. "It’s all you need to know."

Athena clenched her fists. "If they’re after me, I deserve to know why."

Xavier studied her for a long moment, as if debating whether to tell her the truth. Then, with a sigh, he slipped the emblem into his pocket.

"They’re mercenaries," he admitted. "Hired killers."

Athena’s heart pounded. "Hired by who?"

Xavier hesitated. "I don’t know yet."

She didn’t believe him. But before she could press further, another gunshot rang out, this time from the distance.

Xavier’s eyes darkened. "Time to move."

Without waiting, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into motion. They disappeared into the night, leaving the fallen attacker behind.

Athena’s mind raced. Who was after her? And why did Xavier seem to know more than he was letting on? She would get her answers. Even if she had to fight for them.

As Xavier led her through the maze of abandoned buildings, Athena’s mind churned with questions.

What did she do to deserve hired assassins trailing her every step? And most importantly, who exactly was Xavier?

His grip on her wrist was firm, his movements precise. He knew exactly where to step, how to avoid being seen, as if he had done this countless times before.

Athena gritted her teeth. "You’re hiding something from me," she accused.

Xavier didn’t glance back. "I’m keeping you alive."

She yanked her wrist free, forcing him to stop. "That’s not an answer."

He turned to face her, his dark eyes unreadable. Then, with a sigh, he leaned in slightly, his voice a whisper against the cold night air.

"Athena… there’s a reason you can’t remember me."

Her breath caught. And in that moment, she realized, Xavier was far more dangerous than she had ever imagined.