I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 563

That afternoon, as Zoe was returning from the classified base, she requested a detour. She wanted to hit the high-end shopping district to pick up a few gifts for Ian and Lily.

The moment she stepped out of the vehicle, a prickle of unease crawled up Zoe's spine. She felt like she was being watched.

The sprawling outdoor plaza was bustling with foot traffic—people leisurely window shopping, businessmen power-walking, and tourists snapping photos.

Children chased each other around the fountains. Zoe couldn't pinpoint the threat, but her instincts screamed that eyes were tracking her every move.

Given the highly sensitive nature of her recent work, a certain level of paranoia was practically a job requirement.

She maintained a state of hyper-vigilance, terrified of compromising the monumental responsibility she now shouldered.

Picking up her pace, she headed straight for the boutiques, determined to grab what she needed and get out.

Shopping bags in hand, Zoe exited the glass doors. As she stepped onto the pavement, a sleek black van violently mounted the curb, and several imposing figures leapt out.

"Watch out!"

Zoe's blood ran cold. The men were armed.

A woman standing just a few feet away seemed entirely oblivious to the lethal danger as one of the men leveled his weapon.

Without hesitating, Zoe lunged, tackling the woman to the concrete just as a bullet tore through the air, grazing past their ears.

The woman shot Zoe a dark, thoroughly unappreciative glare.

With a flick of her wrist, the woman sent a concealed blade flying through the air, burying it deep into the gunman's wrist. He screamed, dropping the firearm. In a blur of motion, the woman swept her leg out, kicking the gun into the air before sweeping the man off his feet. She caught the weapon flawlessly, and with a rapid series of metallic clicks, she ruthlessly unloaded the magazine and dismantled the slide, rendering it useless in a matter of seconds.

The men in the black van, clearly expecting an easy target, were completely outmatched. Panicking, they scrambled back into the vehicle and peeled out into traffic.

Zoe stared in absolute awe. She had tackled the woman thinking she was saving a helpless civilian, but clearly, her heroics had been completely unnecessary.

"You've got quite a few enemies, don't you?"

Zoe was dusting herself off to leave when the woman's sharp voice stopped her in her tracks.

Zoe frowned, confused by the remark. Before she could formulate a response, Garrett's sports car came roaring around the corner, executing a flawless drift before slamming the brakes right in front of her.

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