Forged in Blood

et's laptop and Noi's quiet unpacking filled the space. She rubbed her eyes, tired but restless. The cot in the corner called to her, but

is arms were strong, a thin scar curving along one forearm. He carried a stack of papers

ile. "I just finishe

ice flat. He leaned against the table, wa

pped. "Why me?" she asked again. "Y

trust easy. Aran vouched fo

ines. Kai didn't leave. He stayed, arms crossed, eyes on her hands. It made her nervous, but she kept goin

d after a while. "Bet

o him?" she aske

" Kai said. "He's

nothing away-just that faint smirk. She focused back on the ID,

erfect," he said. He set it down and sat on the edge

aught me the basics. I

he said. "Too

like that," she snap

s a fool. Left you

fists. "He didn't le

"Or maybe he ran,

s that true? She shook

. "I had a sister once. She trusted

too close to her own fear. "What

he could play both sides. They cut her throat in an alley." His ey

nster. There was pain there, buried deep. She didn't want to fee

ood fast, pulling a gun from his waistband. "Stay here," he said, rushing to the stai

the warehouse, guns flashing. Bullets tore through crates, wood splintering. Lek fired ba

nce-or hers? She could run, slip out in

ung, hitting his arm. The gun clattered down. He cursed, grabbing her wrist, twisting hard. She cried out, but then Kai was

er, breathing h

Her hands shook again, but not ju

ding her the fallen gun.

it, heavy and

ut in, then r

e noise-yells, shots, breaking wood-pressed in, loud and wild. She peeked out. Kai took down another man, his moves smooth,

g man with a shaved head stood at the warehouse door, holdin

like Kai's sister's killers? She gripped the gun t

reloading. "Your tech

ing but not falling. Lek charged, tackling him. They crashed t

hink. Her eyes darted to the loft-wires, screens, Phet's setup. An idea hit her. S

pale. "No signal. T

help's coming,"

A loud crackle burst from a speaker on the wall-static, then

e, shoving Lek off. "Fall back!" he yelled. They ran,

still out. His shirt was torn, blood on his arm-not his, Mi

d at Mira.

. He stepped closer, wiping sweat from his bro

e, but it hit anyway-that spark again, stron

e said. "You

was right. She could've run. Instead,

face, warm and quick from the fight. "You're more than you seem," he said,

captor, her brother's jailer. But his eyes held hers, dark and deep, and

p, blood dripping from his nose. "They're

ng back. "Clean up

Phet crawled out, shaky but alive. Mira stayed where

nced back. "Rest now," h

lingered, dangerous and real. She'd saved him-and ti