Page 52 of Heat Me

"For fuck’s sake, you really are an alien."

"And one you’ll hire."

Ragu snickered, but then coughed. "No question about it—you’ve got the job. The important thing is that Lowen is alive."

"I’m not sure he’ll be too happy. The building wasn’t secured like he requested, and now there’s been another attack. That’s a pretty big breach of contract."

"Hey, I almost died too!" He pouted his lips. "I can’t predict everything. He’s the one who brought trouble here; why should I be punished? It was my bodyguard who saved him—his own were useless!"

I chuckled. "You don’t need to justify it to me. But I wouldn’t bet on him signing a deal with you after this. Still, isn’t it more important that you’re alive? Business is secondary."

Suddenly, a noise from the distance caught my attention.

"Some people are approaching fast!" I hissed, leaping to my feet.

"Fuck!" Ragu cursed, scrambling deeper under the damaged table.

Footsteps thundered closer, growing louder and more chaotic by the second. I rushed out of the conference room door, heart hammering in my chest. What the hell was this? Did they bring a whole SWAT team? My mind raced, half-expecting one of them to roll in with a bazooka or some other high-powered weapon. If that happened, I’d be in serious trouble.

The sheer number of them was unnerving.

I darted into the room where Blue and Damien were huddled and yelled, "There are more of them—brace yourselves!"

Then, I turned to face the doorway, planting myself there like a human shield. Whatever was coming, I wanted to stop it from reaching Damien and Blue.

My adrenaline surged as shadows moved into view down the corridor. About ten of them appeared, their heavy armor glinting under the flickering lights. This wasn’t just another ragtag group—they were better equipped and clearly trained. Some kind of rescue team sent to help their colleagues?

Some of them indeed paused by their fallen comrades, checking something. But six of them pushed forward, charging straight at me.

I realized if I stayed in the doorway, they’d see Damien and Blue behind me. There was no way I was going to let that happen. Gritting my teeth, I made the split-second decision to draw their attention away.

It was going to hurt like hell. I dove into the hallway, fully exposing myself as a target. A deafening burst of gunfire erupted instantly. Bullets slammed into my chest and stomach, the force staggering me. One round grazed the side of my head, just above the temple—a searing, disorienting pain that nearly knocked me out. I staggered, blood running hot down my cheek, but I couldn’t stop.

Through the haze, my gaze flicked back toward the room behind the broken door. Damien’s eyes locked onto mine, wide with sheer panic as he saw the blood pouring from my head.

But I didn’t have time to reassure him. Another volley of bullets tore into me, the impacts nearly toppling me. My body screamed in pain, but I clenched my jaw, got my shit together, and prepared to charge. If I didn’t act now, we were done for.

I leaned forward, coiling myself in preparation for a leap, ready to launch myself into their formation—and then something extraordinary happened.

A blinding light burst from the center of the room behind me, so bright it seared through my vision. I froze mid-step, stunned, as a massive sphere of electrical energy expandedoutward, crackling and humming with raw power. The bubble surged through the corridor, engulfing everything in its path.

The attackers never stood a chance.

They were thrown off their feet, weapons clattering to the ground as the discharge rolled over them like a tidal wave. Even I staggered, the force pushing me back a step.

In shock, I turned toward the source of the explosion.

Damien stood at the center of the bubble, arms outstretched and eyes closed, long arcs of electricity radiating from his chest like living tendrils.

Blue lay crumpled on the floor nearby, unconscious but otherwise unharmed.

The attackers shared his fate. They were all sprawled out on the ground, motionless.

The lights throughout the building flickered, and darkness fell. My night vision, however, allowed me to see what was happening.

I stared at Damien, my heart pounding with disbelief. Slowly, he opened his eyes, their sapphire glow shimmering faintly in the dim light.

And then he smiled. I couldn’t help but grin back.

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