Page 45 of Stripe Theory (The Matchmaker’s Book Club #8)

FORTY-FOUR

“ I wasn’t—” Alora started to protest, then caught a whiff of Rehan’s sandalwood scent still clinging to her suit. “Shouldn’t you be focused on the homicidal mercenaries instead of my love life?”

“Multitasking is my superpower. Also, your lipstick is smeared.”

The roof access door burst open under Maya’s kick. Evening air hit Alora’s face, carrying the metallic tang of weapons and something else – a chemical undertone that set her scientific instincts on high alert.

Mentally, she caught flashes of his battle – claws extended, enemies falling, his power a controlled storm.

“Two teams converging,” Maya reported, her playful tone shifting to pure predator. “They’re boxing us in. Whatever Leeta’s planning with those environmental controls?—”

“It ends tonight.” Alora pulled up the building’s maintenance systems, fingers flying over the interface. “I’m thinking if we reverse the pressure gradients in sectors three through seven?—”

“That’s your ‘about to do something crazy’ face.”

“It’s my ‘about to do something scientifically improvised’ face. There’s a difference.”

“Yeah, the crazy ones usually involve more explosions.” Maya’s head snapped up. “Down!”

Gunfire erupted as they dove behind an HVAC unit. Bullets pinged off metal mere inches from their position.

Focus on the mission , she sent the words to him. I’m okay.

His response carried equal parts love and frustration: If you get shot, I’m never letting you leave the lab again.

The mercenary leader’s voice carried across the roof: “Surrender now, Dr. Sky. Genesis Corp would prefer you alive.”

Maya snorted as she shoved Alora behind larger equipment. “Do bad guys actually take classes in cheesy dialogue? Because that was straight out of Evil Villain 101.”

“You should hear their monologues,” Alora muttered, never pausing in her hacking attempts into the environmental controls. Just three more firewalls to crack. “Last week, one of them actually used the phrase ‘resistance is futile’ without irony.”

The distinct click of a weapon being armed cut through their banter. A mercenary had circled behind their position, his rifle aimed at Alora’s head. Maya moved faster than human eyes could track, shoving Alora clear as the shot rang out.

White-hot pain blazed across Alora’s shoulder as the bullet grazed her. Great, just when the previous injury stopped hurting, her other shoulder was shot.

Rehan’s fury – his roar echoing up from the lower levels, could be felt more than heard. His rage and fear crashed through their connection, nearly overwhelming her.

Stay focused . She grit her teeth against the pain. Just a scratch .

“Your tiger boyfriend is definitely going to murder someone over that,” Maya commented, taking down two mercenaries with brutal efficiency. Her tiger’s speed made her nearly invisible in the dim light. “Also, you’re bleeding on your tablet.”

“It’s seen worse.” Alora pressed her hand against the wound, mind already calculating angles and trajectories. “Remember the protein synthesis incident?”

“We agreed never to speak of that again. Also, duck.”

Alora dropped as another burst of gunfire sailed overhead. The maintenance systems finally yielded to her hacking attempts, and she allowed herself a fierce grin as she triggered a cascade of emergency protocols.

Steam erupted from multiple vents, creating a swirling maze of cover. All the contamination was systematically sucked out of the air ducts of the building. Electrical systems surged and popped, throwing sparks that disoriented enhanced shifter senses. And then the entire HVAC system shut down completely.

Whatever Leeta had planned with the ventilation was now moot.

Each movement pulled at her injured shoulder, sending fresh waves of pain through to him. She felt Rehan fighting the urge to abandon his position and come to her aid. Below, his battle intensified – she caught flashes through their connection of him coordinating pride warriors, keeping Leeta’s forces from reaching the upper levels.

Stay focused , she sent. The ventilation is shut down. Leeta is no longer a threat.

The smile his colorful mental response sparked died instantly as she caught movement in her peripheral vision. A mercenary had gotten too close, his weapon aimed at her chest. Maya appeared out of nowhere, placing herself directly in the line of fire.

The sound of the shot seemed to echo forever.

Blood bloomed across Maya’s tactical gear as she stumbled, but somehow took down the shooter anyway. Her expression remained fierce even as pain etched new lines around her eyes.

Through their years of friendship, Alora had never seen Maya’s animal so close to the surface – her pupils elongated, teeth sharpening as she fought to maintain control.

“Next time I play hero,” Maya gasped, “remind me to wear better armor. And maybe dodge faster.”

“Maya...” Alora’s heart clenched as she moved to support her friend. The scent of blood – Maya’s blood – made her stomach roll.

“Don’t you dare stop.” Maya’s voice held steel despite her injury. “Besides, it’s just a flesh wound. The Black Knight had worse.”