Page 117 of Beyond Enemy Vows

I start pacing, glancing over at Stavros's corpse from time to time.

Time to think like an innocent person.

If I was in here meeting him under normal circumstances, I wasn't planning on killing him. I came in here without the knowledge that death was slowly working through his veins. What would I do? How would I react?

I close my eyes, trying to imagine myself as someone else. Someone innocent. Someone who would walk into this room expecting to discuss business and instead find their host collapsed on the floor.

I would panic. I would be scared.

I would…

I stop pacing and open my eyes.

I take a deep breath, filling my lungs, and then I let out the most bloodcurdling scream I can manage.

"HELP! SOMEBODY HELP!"

The door handle rattles violently before three guards burst through, their weapons drawn, eyes scanning for threats.

"Oh my god." I press my hand to my forehead, making my voice shake with what I hope sounds like shock. "He was just talking and then he just collapsed. I think he's having a heart attack!"

I stagger backward, pointing in the direction of his body, and the men follow my gaze and see him.

"Shit," one of them yells, holstering his weapon and running toward the corpse. I see him flinch when he sees him. The foam, blood, bulging eyes making him pause.

"Get a doctor," the guard yells, kneeling down beside Stavros. "Now!"

One of the guards immediately turns and sprints from the room, leaving just two behind. I inch my way toward the door, trying to look like someone in shock who just wants to escape this nightmare.

But the guard closest to me turns in my direction. His dark eyes are sharp, suspicious.

"Tell me exactly what the fuck happened."

"I… I don't know. He got a drink. Sat and then?—"

I flinch. The sound of gunfire erupts. It sounds close. Too close.

The guard kneeling beside Stavros jerks his head up, his face tense. "Go see what the hell that is," he orders the man closest to me.

The man nods and rushes from the room, his boots pounding against the floor with heavy feet as he runs.

I walk toward the door again, acting scared, but the remaining guard approaches me fast and grabs my arm.

"You're not fucking going anywhere."

More gunshots ring out. There's shouting in the distance I can't quite make out.

I look up at the guard holding me and Niko's words come into my head.You're stronger than you think.

The man's focus is on the door, listening to the chaos erupting throughout the mansion. This might be my only chance.

I take a second and do something that I hope I won't regret.

I square up, remembering my fighting stance and what my trainer taught me. Feet shoulder-width apart. Weight balanced. Power comes from the legs and core, not just the arm.

With all the force I can gather, I swing. My right fist connects with his jaw in a perfect hook. The impact sends a shock of pain up my arm.

The guard stumbles backward, letting go of me.