Page 21 of Maar's Girl

"We need to get out of here," I say, scanning for an escape route. "Can you take off your heels and run when I give the word?"

Alyssa nods, her jaw set in determination despite the fear in her eyes. "Yeah, I can manage."

"Good," I grunt, laying down cover fire as we make a break for the nearest skimmer. "Because this is about to get a whole lot messier."

CHAPTER 16

ALYSSA

Ican't believe what I'm seeing.

I always knew he was a soldier and capable of great violence, but this is something else entirely.

I freeze in place, my heart pounding as I watch Raaj move with a deadly grace I've never seen before. The first attacker lunges at him with a vibroblade, but Raaj sidesteps effortlessly, grabbing the man's wrist and twisting. There's a sickening crack, followed by a scream.

"Who sent you?" Raaj growls, his voice colder than I've ever heard it.

The attacker spits in response. Raaj doesn't hesitate. He snaps the man's neck with a quick, efficient motion that makes my stomach lurch.

"Raaj, what—" I start, but he cuts me off with a sharp look.

"Stay back, Alyssa. This isn't over."

As if on cue, two more figures emerge from the shadows. One carries a plasma rifle, the other a wicked-looking knife. Raaj doesn't wait for them to make the first move. He charges, ducking under a plasma bolt that sizzles past his ear.

The knife-wielder slashes at Raaj's face, but he catches the attacker's arm, using the momentum to slam them into thewall. The sickening crunch of bone meeting duracrete makes me wince.

"Last chance," Raaj snarls at the remaining assailant. "Who. Sent. You?"

The rifle-bearer laughs, a harsh, grating sound. "You know who, traitor. The Fist sends its regards."

Raaj's expression hardens. In a blur of motion, he closes the distance between them. The rifle goes off, but Raaj is already inside the attacker's guard. His hands move in a series of rapid, brutal strikes. I hear ribs crack, see blood spray from a broken nose.

The attacker crumples, gasping for air. Raaj stands over him, his chest heaving.

"Raaj," I whisper, my voice shaking. "What's going on? Who are these people?"

He turns to me, and for a moment, I don't recognize the man I thought I knew. His eyes are cold, calculating. The warm, gentle soul I'd fallen for is gone, replaced by something dangerous and unknown.

I barely have time to process what I've just witnessed when another wave of attackers emerges from the shadows. My heart races as I count at least five more, all armed and closing in fast.

"Raaj!" I shout, but he's already moving.

He tackles the nearest assailant, driving him into the ground with a bone-crushing thud. I hear the sickening crunch of a broken collarbone.

"Stay back, Alyssa!" Raaj yells, his voice strained as he grapples with another attacker.

I try to retreat, but strong arms suddenly wrap around me from behind. The stench of sweat and cheap cologne fills my nostrils as a gravelly voice hisses in my ear, "Don't move, sweetheart."

"Let go of me, you bastard!" I snarl, struggling against his grip.

Across the alley, Raaj's head snaps up at the sound of my voice. His eyes lock with mine, and I see a flash of pure, unadulterated rage.

"Get your hands off her," he growls, low and dangerous.

The man holding me laughs. "Or what, traitor? You're outnumbered."

Raaj doesn't waste time with words. He moves like a blur, ducking under a swinging fist and driving his elbow into an attacker's solar plexus. The man drops, gasping for air.

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