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Their sneers turn into curious looks as they listen to me. I continue, "You boys leave the lady alone, and we all just walk away. No harm, no foul."
They look at each other again, considering my proposal. It's clear that they realize now that I'm not someone they should be messing with, but their pride won't let them back down without a fight.
"You expect us to just walk away?" One of them snorts incredulously. "We'll take our chances against you."
I nod my head understandingly and shrug nonchalantly. "Suit yourselves." And with that, the fight is on.
The men charge at me all at once, and I brace myself for impact. The sounds of fists connecting with flesh and the scuffle of shoes against the damp asphalt echoes down the alley.
My body is a lethal weapon, trained in various forms of martial arts that allow me to take down multiple opponents at once. The adrenaline pumping through my veins only enhances my abilities, making my movements quicker and more precise. I dodge the first punch thrown at me, spinning around to deliver a solid kick to the attacker's gut. He doubles over in pain, and I seize the opportunity to deliver a swift uppercut to his chin.
The woman behind me screams in fear as one of the attackers grabs her by the arm, trying to drag her away. I turn on my heel and lash out with a roundhouse kick that connects with his jaw, sending him sprawling across the pavement.
I'm aware of the other three men closing in on me, but I remain calm and focused. I dodge their attacks with ease, delivering powerful blows that send them reeling backwards. One of them tries to grab me from behind, but I twist out of his grip and send him flying with a well-placed elbow strike.
The remaining two attackers look at each other, realizing they're outmatched. But instead of retreating, they charge at me with renewed vigor. I duck under one of their punches, pivoting to kick the other in the stomach. As he doubles over in pain, I grab his collar and deliver a fierce knee to his face. He crumples to the ground, blood streaming from his nose.
The final attacker backs away slowly, fear etched on his face. I step forward, relishing in his terror as I raise my shirt to reveal the pistol tucked into my waistband, then a bit higher to flash an insignia tattooed on my abdomen. The man's eyes widen in recognition and he mutters "Oh, shit" before turning tail and running off.
Without another word, they all scramble up and run, leaving us alone in the quiet alleyway once again. I turn back to the woman, who is still staring at me with wonder in her eyes. For the first time, I'm able to observe her entirely.
She wears a pair of tight-fitted, ripped skinny jeans and a shimmery cropped top that reveals her toned midriff. Her features are symmetrical with full lips and almond-shaped eyes that sparkle in the dim light. I struggle to look away as she stares back at me with awe written all over her face.
"That was... insane."
3
MIA
"Insane?" the dark-haired man repeats with amusement.
With my clutch still pressed against my chest, I take a few steps away from the darker end of the alley, which just happens to bring me closer to him.
"I mean, thank you," I murmur, relieved to have those pigs out of my life. "For helping me. For all I know, you could have handed me over."
His strong gaze stops me in my tracks, the intensity of it enough to send shivers down the length of my spine. "You should really be more careful. It can be dangerous to just wander around alone at this time of night."
My cheeks flush with embarrassment. "Well, I was supposed to be with a friend of mine, but..."
"But?" he prompts curiously.
I shrug one shoulder and fiddle with the clasp of my clutch. "I don't think we're really friends anymore."
My gaze locks with his again. Something in his eyes... or maybe it's what he did for me, but there's something that makes me feel safe. Like he'll protect me again if I need him to.
"I wouldn't have 'handed you over,' you know," he confesses with a slight smirk.
My blush deepens as I thank him again.
His smirk broadens into a full-blown smile, and it's then that I notice how truly handsome he is. The shadows of the alley had previously hidden his features from me, but now that we're standing under the soft glow of a nearby streetlight, I can see that he's got chiseled cheekbones and a strong jawline. The way his hair falls messily over his forehead only adds to his appeal.
"You're welcome," he says, pulling me out of my thoughts. "But like I said before, you shouldn't be out here by yourself."
I nod, glancing down at my shoes. "Yeah, I know."
He steps closer and I can feel the warmth radiating from his body. "Tell you what," he suggests. "I can be your bodyguard for the rest of the night."
My head snaps up. "What? You don't have to do that." But in truth, the idea of being escorted by him sends butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
