r of fear, a hint of a bluff. He found nothing. Only a chilling
Carlyle's body tensed again, every muscle screaming with pain and adrenalin
s hot, ragged breath gh
down on hers. It wasn't a kiss of passion, but an act of r
crackled in her eyes. This wasn't seduction; it was a viola
to the alley, illuminating
lled, his voice rough with impatience. "D
g in her wet hair, holding her fast. He pressed her more firmly against the wall, a
ined rage, but she made no sound,
moved on. "Waste of time. Let's check the next block
all beside her, gasping for air. A weak, triumphant smirk
back of her glove, her movements slow and deliberate, as if scrubbi
rted to push himsel
he'd instinctively relaxed-and pivoted. It was a precis
oed in the narrow c
ny. A strangled grunt escaped his lips as a fresh wave of pain
r expression unchanged. She looked at his now
patch on his abdomen. "Now, for the bullet
ing with a strange, burgeoning admiration. The girl's strength, her speed, her sheer ruthlessness-it was beyond anyth
oat and produced a compact, professional-grade first aid kit. She tor
't experienced in years: a complete loss of control. Using his one good hand, he fumbled with the
absolute, as if they were in a sterile operating theater and not a filthy, rain-soaked alley. Her touc
the intense concentration in her eyes. In the dim
ng up, her voice flat. "I'm just patching you
a pressure dressing with practiced efficiency. "Thi
, then turned to leave, her pa
t, his voice straine
he alley, a silhouette against
your bu
s gone, swallow
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