Page 103 of Radar

She knewsomething.

As the man gripped his knife with the blade running along the inside of his arm instead of pointed outward like an amateur, he’d lowered his body for stability and started the rounding tai-chi-like movements that would mask the setup for a strike.

The knife guy had to be seeing double. He had to be fighting with a concussion.

Xander pulled off his coat, wrapping it around his left arm to use as a shield since there were no trash can lids in the garden to readily snatch up.

Xander, too, was on the balls of his feet, keeping himself loose, swaying and curving his arms to-and-fro to hide his tactics. He used his footwork to position himself closer to his weapons of opportunity. A chair in his hand like a lion-tamer of old would be helpful right about now.

The man flipped the knife forward as he thrust out.

Xander skated his foot out to the side at an angle, using his height and the length of his arm to crash a fist into the man’s jaw.

The knife guy staggered to the side.

The gunman stood solid with his weapon at point-blank range.

Xander needed to fight, but his being dead wouldn’t help anyone.

Xander was weighing his options when a fierce roar startled his system, making him jolt.

The next moment, Radar was a streak of energy as he dashed forward, sailing through the air toward the gunman. Hisjaw clamped on the forearm, making the weapon fall to the ground.

Screams of agony ricocheted around them.

And there was Elyssa, lamp in hand, bulb and shade removed, bludgeoning the knife wielder, who was reduced to a puddle of clothes on the ground.

“Elyssa, stop. He’s out. Elyssa, stop.” He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her into a hug. “Elyssa, he’s out.” She looked up at him, red-faced and sweaty, anger and tears in her eyes.

Xander called Radar off as he made sure that Elyssa was steady, then moved to the gunman. Grabbing the man by the collar, Xander twisted the gunman around until he was wrapped in the crook of Xander’s arm. Xander squeezed his forearm to bicep, clamping down on the man’s artery.

Xander knew the man had skills and could fight his way out of the hold.

But there was Radar, teeth bared, frothing at the mouth, rumbling his chest in warning.

Xander thought he, too, would choose a nap over the bite.

Xander dragged both assailants into the shadow of the corner and piled them up. Breathing. But out for at least long enough that he and Radar could disappear Elyssa.

Standing, panting next to their bags, Xander pulled Elyssa into the crook of his elbow and planted a lingering kiss on her head. “You didn’t listen to me,” he whispered into her hair.

“You’re not the boss of me,” she said, leaning almost all of her weight on him. “And never will be.” She was spent. She’d used everything in her to come to his aid.

“Agreed. Let’s talk about being good teammates later. For now, thank you.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Elyssa

Monday

Paris, France

Xander must have developed a plan while he was on his jog earlier.

Thank the Heavens she wasn’t alone, blow drying her hair when those men had shown up and attacked Xander.

She had been terrified in the aftermath of the snowmobile. But seeing someone point a gun at Xander was an out-of-body, otherworldly experience.