Page 26 of Maar's Girl

"It’s hardly any kind of choice," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

Maar's eyes soften, a flicker of vulnerability passing across his face. "It is the only choice I can offer. You can come with me, or you can walk away. I won't force you either way."

I laugh, but it's a hollow sound. "Some choice. Run away with the man who lied to me, or face assassins on my own."

"I know it's not ideal," Maar says, his jaw clenching. "But it's the best I can offer right now."

I look out at the bustling spaceport, my mind racing. People hurry back and forth, oblivious to the drama unfolding in our aircar. A family passes by, a little girl skipping alongside her parents. For a moment, I envy their normalcy.

"And if I choose to leave?" I ask, turning back to Maar. "What then?"

He meets my gaze unflinchingly. "Then I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe from a distance. But Alyssa, I can't guarantee-"

"You can't guarantee anything," I cut him off. "That's the problem, isn't it?"

Maar nods, a pained expression crossing his face. "You're right. I can't. But I can promise you this: whether you choose to come with me or not, I will never stop fighting for you."

His words hang in the air between us, heavy with meaning. I close my eyes, trying to sort through the chaos in my mind. When I open them again, Maar is still watching me, waiting.

"I need to know something," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "If I go with you, what happens next? Where do we go from here?"

Maar's hand moves from the door release to rest on the console between us. "We disappear. I have contacts, safe houses. We keep moving until we can figure out a way to neutralize the threat."

"And then what?" I press. "We live on the run forever?"

He shakes his head. "No. We find a way to to make it safe for you to live your life again."

I raise an eyebrow. "And you? What happens to you in this scenario?"

Maar's expression turns grim. "I face the consequences of my actions. Whatever they may be."

I step out of the car, unsure what my decision is going to be.

CHAPTER 19

MAAR

"Iwill go with you then," Alyssa says. "I have no other choice."

I breathe a sigh of relief as Alyssa agrees to come with me. We make our way through the bustling spaceport, my eyes constantly scanning for potential threats.

"Keep close," I murmur, guiding her with a gentle hand on her lower back.

At the ticket kiosk, I purchase passes for six different destinations. Alyssa raises an eyebrow but stays silent until we're safely aboard the star liner.

Once we're settled in our cabin, she turns to me. "Okay, what's with the travel agency act back there?"

I can't help but smirk at her quip. "Throwing off the scent. Makes it harder for them to track us."

"Them?" Alyssa's voice drops to a whisper. "Who exactly is after us, Maar?"

The name sounds strange coming from her lips. I've gotten used to 'Raaj'. "The Numerian Fist," I reply, watching her face carefully.

Her brow furrows. "Never heard of them."

"Count yourself lucky," I say, leaning back in my seat. "They're not the kind of people you want knowing your name."

I lean forward, my elbows resting on my knees. Alyssa's eyes are fixed on me, hungry for information. I take a deep breath, knowing I owe her the truth.

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