Page 41 of Blade

A branch snapped nearby. Too close.

Lily froze, pressing herself against a large pine tree. Through the foliage, she could make out a figure moving cautiously through the forest. It was one of the men, hunting her. He hadn't seen her yet, but he was heading in her direction.

She had two choices: engage or evade. Fighting would reveal her position to the others. Fleeing might lead her further from the road, further from Blade.

The engine sound grew louder. Closer. Almost to the cabin now.

No choice then.

She took a deep breath, steadied her grip on the Glock, and stepped out from behind the tree.

"Stop right there," she commanded, aiming at the hunter's chest.

The man froze, his own weapon half-raised. For a heartbeat, they stared at each other, a silent calculation passing between them.

Then he smiled, a slow, confident smile that made her blood run cold.

"Well, well," he drawled. "Quite the little wildcat, aren't you? Zeb said you'd be a handful."

"Drop your weapon," Lily ordered, trying to keep her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her.

"I don't think so, sweetheart," he replied, his gun now leveled at her. "How about you drop yours instead? Make this easy on yourself."

"So you can take me to Zeb?" she spat. "I know what he has planned for me."

The man shrugged. "Not my concern. I'm just the delivery boy."

"And if I refuse to be delivered?"

His smile widened. "Then I bring you in with a few more bruises than strictly necessary. Zeb wants you alive. He didn't specify what condition."

Lily's finger tightened on the trigger. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

Something shifted in the man's expression, A hardening, a loss of patience, terrifying her. "Have it your way."

He lunged forward with surprising speed, batting her gun hand aside before she could fire. The Glock discharged harmlessly into the forest floor as they grappled.

He was stronger, more experienced in hand-to-hand combat. But Lily was fighting for her life, for Blade's life, and desperation lent her strength.

She drove her knee upward, connecting solidly with the man's groin. He grunted in pain, his grip loosening just enough for her to wrench free. She scrambled backward, bringing the Glock up again.

Too slow. He recovered quickly, closing the distance between them with two swift strides. His fist connected with her jaw,snapping her head back and sending her stumbling. The Glock flew from her grasp, disappearing into the underbrush.

Stars exploded behind her eyes. Copper flooded her mouth, blood from where her teeth had cut into her inner cheek. She shook her head, trying to clear her vision as the man advanced on her again.

"That was stupid," he growled, all pretense of casual confidence gone. "Now I'm going to hurt you."

Lily backed away, searching desperately for a weapon, an escape route, anything. Her heel caught on a root and she nearly fell.

The man's hand shot out, grabbing her by the throat. "Zeb's going to love breaking you," he hissed, his face inches from hers. "And I'm going to enjoy watching."

Spots danced at the edges of her vision as his grip tightened, cutting off her air. She clawed at his hand, his arm, fighting for breath.

No. Not like this. Not after everything.

With the last of her strength, she reached for the only weapon left to her, the tactical knife strapped to the vest Blade had given her. Her fingers closed around the handle, withdrew it from its sheath.

The man saw the movement too late. His eyes widened in surprise as she plunged the blade into his side, between his ribs, angling upward just as her father had taught her.

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