Page 22 of Maar's Girl

Two more rush Raaj simultaneously. He pivots, using one attacker's momentum to throw him into the other. They collide with a sickening crunch.

"Impressive," my captor sneers, tightening his grip. "But one wrong move and the girl gets it."

I feel the cold press of a blade against my throat. Fear courses through me, but I refuse to show it. "Raaj," I say, keeping my voice steady, "don't worry about me. Just take these assholes out."

Raaj's eyes narrow, assessing the situation. Then, faster than I can blink, he hurls something – a small, sharp object I hadn't even seen him draw. It whistles past my ear and embeds itself in my captor's shoulder.

The man howls in pain, his grip loosening just enough. I seize the opportunity, stomping hard on his instep and throwing my head back. I feel the crunch of cartilage as his nose breaks.

As I stumble forward, Raaj is there, catching me and pushing me behind him in one fluid motion. He turns back to my former captor, who's now on his knees, clutching his bleeding shoulder.

"You should have listened," Raaj says coldly, before delivering a vicious kick to the man's head. He crumples to the ground, unconscious.

The sound of sirens pierces the air, and I feel a momentary surge of relief. Mars Security is here. Maybe now we'll get some answers.

"Drop your weapons and put your hands where we can see them!" a stern voice booms through a megaphone.

Raaj tenses beside me, his eyes darting around the alley. "Something's not right," he mutters.

Before I can ask what he means, all hell breaks loose.

A group of figures emerges from the shadows, moving with military precision. They're not Mars Security. The real officers don't even have time to react before they're cut down in a hail of plasma fire.

"Shit," I breathe, my heart pounding. "Raaj, what?—"

He grabs my arm, pulling me behind a dumpster. "Stay down," he orders, his voice tight with tension.

The new attackers fan out, their weapons trained on our hiding spot. "Come out, traitor," one of them calls. "We know you're there. Bring the girl, and maybe we'll make it quick."

Raaj's jaw clenches. He looks at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of determination and... is that regret?

"I'm sorry, Alyssa," he whispers. "I never wanted you to see this side of me."

Before I can respond, he's moving. He vaults over the dumpster, landing in a crouch. Two plasma bolts sizzle past him, but he's already rolling, coming up with a knife in each hand.

The first attacker doesn't even have time to scream before Raaj's blade finds his throat. The second manages to get off another shot, but Raaj is inside his guard, driving a knife up under his ribs.

I watch, horrified and fascinated, as Raaj moves through the group like a force of nature. He's outnumbered, outgunned, but it doesn't seem to matter. Every movement is precise, brutal, efficient.

One attacker manages to land a glancing blow, opening a gash on Raaj's cheek. He doesn't even flinch, just grabs the man's arm and twists. I hear the sickening pop of a dislocated shoulder, followed by a scream cut short as Raaj's other hand drives upward, crushing the attacker's windpipe.

In less than a minute, it's over. Raaj stands amidst a scene of carnage, his chest heaving, blood dripping from his knuckles.

He turns to me, and for a moment, I don't recognize him. This isn't the man I thought I knew. This is someone else entirely – dangerous, lethal, and utterly terrifying.

"Alyssa," he says, his voice rough. "Are you alright?"

I stare at him, my mind reeling. "Who... who are you, really?"

CHAPTER 17

MAAR

"Who are you really?" she asks me again.

I want to answer. But I know this area isn't safe. I've made it into a war zone.

"Come with me, and I'll explain everything," I says. "Please trust me one last time."

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