Page 118 of Beyond Enemy Vows

"What the fuck," he says, his hand going to his face. "You stupid little bitch."

He lunges at me, but I'm already moving. I duck and shift to the side, just like I've practiced hundreds of times. His momentum carries him past me, and he stumbles into the side table, sending a vase full of flowers crashing to the floor.

I hear more gunfire. Whatever's happening out there is getting worse, but I can't react. I need to stay focused.

I swing again, this time aiming for his nose. My fist connects and blood immediately starts trickling from his right nostril.

Shit, that hurt my hand.

The guard swings back at me, his fist cutting through the air where my head was a second before. I manage to block with my forearm, and while it sends a jolt of pain up to my shoulder, it's better than my face.

I punch him again with my left hand. It's weaker than my right, and I can tell it doesn't do much damage, but my right hand hurts too much to use again.

He rushes at me, trying to tackle me to the ground. I know I can't match his strength, so I do what my trainer always called the failsafe strike.

I twist my body hard and drive my knee up between his legs with everything I have.

He grunts hard from the pain and immediately drops to one knee, his hands going to his groin.

"You fucking?—"

He reaches for his gun with one hand while the other clutches his balls. His face is twisted with pain and rage as he raises the weapon, pointing it directly at my chest.

"Fuck this."

Time slows to a crawl. I can see every detail of the gun barrel, dark and perfectly round, aimed at my head.

I see everything in flashes. Niko's face, my brothers, Keira laughing, the life growing inside me that will never get a chance to exist.

I close my eyes and brace for the inevitable.

But instead of hearing a gunshot, I feel a warm spray hit my face. I flinch and stagger back, opening my eyes.

I see Niko.

He's on top of the guard, his arm raised in the air, holding what looks like a marble bust. He brings his hand down on the man's face. More sprays hit my dress.

I wipe my face with the back of my hand. Blood.

Niko raises his hand and brings down the bust again.

And again.

The guard's body convulses, then goes completely limp. Blood pours from his head and a horrible gurgling sound comes from his throat before that too falls silent.

Niko drops the bust, and it hits the floor with a heavy thunk. He breathes hard, his chest heaving.

He looks at me, and I can see he's been beaten. His lip is split and swollen, there's blood on his shirt, but the wild fire in his eyes fades when they see me.

"Calli," he says, reaching for me.

"Niko!"

He hugs me and immediately starts kissing my face, my hair, anywhere he can reach. "Thank god. I heard you screaming. Are you okay?" he says, shifting me from side to side, inspecting me. "Did he hurt you?"

I shake my head no.

"Where is he?" Niko asks.