The Golden Trail

When the Hart Group announces it has decoded a map to the legendary Saint Aurelia War Vault, heiress Evelyn Hart hires legendary gunslinger Wyatt Cross—“Deadeye”—as her bodyguard for $1 million a month. Three powerful families hunt the map. Wyatt, who vanished five years ago, saves Evelyn from ambushes and traps, proving his skill with Russian roulette, a slingshot, and impossible shots. Their business arrangement becomes a life-and-death bond. They discover Wyatt was part of the original Operation Midas team, codename Deadeye.

After traitors, kidnappings, and a desert journey, they reach a massive stone gate. Evelyn manipulates rival lords Silas and Adrian into destroying each other. Crime queen Chizuru Jingu betrays them, but Evelyn deciphers her bullet-slicing technique; Wyatt wounds her with a finger-launched projectile, and Evelyn kills her. The gate opens, and Wyatt and Evelyn enter the Land of Gold. Years later, he tells their son the story—but never reveals what was truly beyond the gate.