"Why did you come alone?"

I went limp with relief at Ashur's low voice, closing my eyes for a second.

He moved his hand only when he felt me relax.

"They left me a note," I murmured, turning to see his unreadable face. "Told me to come alone. I was worried they might do something to Jacob if I didn't." I sighed. "I'm sorry." I searched his face. "How did you know?"

"I heard you leave. So I followed you." He glanced at me. "We are going to have to have a talk about your constant need to hide things from me," he murmured, but his eyes returned to the large window as well. "Look at them. Either they're that stupid or they want you to see them."

I didn't touch the “hiding things from him” statement. He was right. Maybe he'd forget and I could avoid that conversation later. . . .  For now, I just nodded.

His assessment of their visibility sounded about right to me too. Maybe they were being so obvious so I wouldn't doubt they had Jacob. I looked at the street below, searching for the entrance and any other exit points.

"We're going to have to split up," Ashur finally said, coming to the same conclusion I had.

"If I go in from the front,” I said, “you can go in from the side and get to Jacob."

His mouth tightened, his eyes worried. "That does look like the best option," he said reluctantly. "Or I can call for backup and we take a safer approach."

"No. I'm not going to take a chance with Jacob's life," I said firmly. "The only reason he's hurt is because of me in the first place. And that will take too much time in any case."

He met my eyes, frustrated. "Why is it that you always have to be in danger?" he murmured.

"I guess it just comes with the territory," I said, smiling slightly, apologetic. "I promise I'm not out looking for trouble."

He rolled his shoulders, nodding. "I know you're not." He scanned the building across from us again. "All right. You'll have to wait for me to get into place first, okay?"

I leaned in and kissed him softly, just a peck.

"Thank you," I said just as softly. "For everything."

"Hey, I'm racking up points left and right here," he replied with a slight smile. "And don't think I won't collect."

Then he grabbed me by the back of the neck and gave me a much more thorough kiss, tongue and all. When he pulled back, I let out a breath.

"Always when we can't do anything about it," I muttered accusingly.

He grinned. Then he moved over to the side of the building where there was one fire escape, miraculously. I was happy I wouldn't have to go back down using an internal staircase. I waited until Ashur was down, keeping an eye out in case they did something that would change our plans. Everything was still the same by the time I figured Ashur would be down at street level again.

Following his path, I stayed low. When I reached the street below, Ashur was nowhere to be found. I looked down at my watch to check my messages. I'd turned off any sounds and vibration.

In place.

Okay.

Here we go.

The street was empty here, never a good sign in a city dome where the population was so dense. I walked down the sidewalk, staying out in the open. I wanted them to see me and notice that I was indeed alone—or at least I looked like I was. I reached the large doors in the front, the kind that slid to either side to make an adjustable opening, depending on how big the shipment was.

One side slid open before I even came to a stop in front of it. Two of the now-familiar men stood in the opening.

"Right on time," the slightly balding one said quietly. "Why don't you come in, Mia Hill?"

Was the use of my name supposed to strike fear in my heart? They'd obviously been watching me and had my friend incapacitated. Hearing my name in these circumstances didn't mean squat.

"Don't mind if I do," I said with a small smile. Hey, we were all polite here. None of us wanted to kill anyone.

They stepped back.

This was not a great idea.

I stepped into the narrow opening, the dim interior. Immediately I froze at a scream that ended abruptly.

I guess Ashur couldn't get to Jacob quietly.

No time to waste.

Kicking into high gear, I grabbed the balding man and hit him in the temple with a closed fist. He went down for the count immediately.

Then I palmed my knives again and turned to slice at the other guy, but he was already moving smoothly away. He was too smart to be distracted by the scream like his friend was.

Too bad.

He pulled out a sword.

A big one.

He smirked at me as he spun it, loosening up his wrist.

"Come on in, little girl," he said in a whisper voice. Probably had too many cigarettes. Or maybe he just thought it made him sound cool. "Let's see how good you are with those cute knives."

Was this where I was supposed to engage in useless banter? I just didn't have the time or the energy.

I let one knife fly in response instead. It spun end over end towards his face, fast and deadly, but he simply wasn't there when it arrived, bending to the side to avoid it, his eyes still on me, his expression smug.

Great.

A show off.

I pulled out my short sword. This wasn't going to be easy.

He attacked.

I moved to the side to avoid it, but he turned the blade mid swing and came from another direction. I barely blocked it with my sword, immediately sliding away again. I didn't want to get into a strength contest. So I kept parrying and looking for an opening as I scooted back towards the commotion now behind me.

What the hell was Ashur doing back there, anyway?

I let myself be distracted by a loud thump and slipped up.

I was rewarded with a stinging slice across the outside of my thigh, shallow only because I moved right before he made contact. If I hadn’t, he would have hacked right into me, deep enough that I would be done.

Okay, I had to focus. This was a guy who didn't just play with swords. He'd obviously been training his whole life. I was nowhere near that level.

He swung his sword in a complicated pattern that was difficult to follow with my eye.

Where was he going?

I stumbled back to avoid the swing as it came at me from a completely unexpected direction.

As I made the move, I knew this was it.

I could feel myself losing my balance, falling. If I hit the floor, he had me. No way I could avoid an attack from that position.

But I didn't hit the floor. Large hands grabbed me from behind and hauled me back to my feet with ease.

I looked up into Ashur's face and saw Jacob come out from behind him, looking rock solid.

Definitely not unconscious.

The cavalry had arrived just in time.

When I turned back, the man I was fighting was staring at them too.

And he didn't look quite so cocky anymore.