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One night with Akiyra won’t be enough, she’s like a drug I’m becoming addicted to. Watching her sleep, I pull myself together. When she wakes it will be time to say goodbye, I doubt our paths will cross again.
Leaning in, I gently kiss her. Her eyes flutter open, making me smile at the sleepy look. “Morning, Honey. I wish I could watch you sleep all day, but I can’t.”
She smiles up at me, “I wish I could sleep here all day, but you’re right. I should be heading back to my ship. Hopefully, I have a new run planned.” Her hand moves up my thigh, “but before I go. . .”
Leaning in, I kiss her nose, “I think we have time.” I rest my lips on hers, taking my time, letting the anticipation build. If this is the last time I will taste her, feel her, I want to savor every second of it.
***
“THANK YOU,” AKIYRA looks up at me. “For everything.”
Her hands clutch her coded purse. There is nothing I want more than to keep her safe, but I know that she can handle herself and that I have to stay here.
“It was my pleasure.” I take her hand and lead her down the stairs. “You know how to get back to the main street from here? Or would you like us to walk you there? I am sure I can get Relly up.”
“No, I should be fine. Thank you.” She stands on tiptoe and kisses my cheek. “Goodbye Fynn.”
I watch her walk down the steps, wishing I was free to go with her. A hand on my shoulder has me turning my head to see Tobis standing beside me.
“You fell, didn’t you?” He says, sadness in his voice.
“It doesn’t matter. Our lives aren’t our own and they never will be.” Bitterness laces my voice as I watch Akiyra make her way down the street. Turning away, I look at Tobis. “Was last night enough for Umbri?”
“Yeah, he will be happy. Might even give us the day off.” Tobis smiles, “and it was fun for us too.”
Leaving the door, I start to make my way to the back of the house and the kitchens when I hear Tobis yell. I turn to see him running out the door. Without thinking I give chase.
Fear grips me as I notice Akiyra in the distance, her profile is unmistakable, and four men are closing in. She kicks one away as another comes up behind. She spins, kicking him in the chest but the third and fourth lunge.
Tobis reaches them first, punches the attacker who managed to get a hold of Akiyra. Akiyra spins and hits the one holding her other arm in the throat. He lets go, allowing her to reach into her boot to pull out a long dagger. Armed, she stands with her feet apart, waiting for the men to approach her. Seeing that she is armed and will not go quietly, the men pull out their own weapons.
“Come nicely with us. No need to get hurt.” One of the attackers says as he moves closer to Akyra.
“Not on your life, Bryce,” she spits, her eyes filled with hatred.
“You don’t have a choice, girlie,” the taller of the men says.
“I left that life, Zayin. He has no hold on me anymore.”
“He doesn’t feel that way, especially after what you took from him,” Zayin replies as he moves closer to Akiyra.
“Akiyra?” I look at her.
Her eyes never leave the men, “They have no hold over me, Fynn. I swear it.”
“Gentleman and I use that term loosely, you need to leave. Akiyra is not going anywhere with you.” I move to stand next to Akiyra.
“Fine,” the leader huffs. “We will do this the hard way.”
As one the four men move to attack. Tobis and I don’t have weapons but being raised on the streets leaves you with skills that you never forget.
I land a kick in the head to the man I had been fighting and he drops to the ground. Looking around I see that the other men are down as well. I run over to Akiyra, needing to reassure myself she is alright.
“I’m fine, Fynn,” she says. Though I can see her eyes clouded in pain from where one of the men hit her, the area around her eye red and starting to turn purple.
She looks around us, at the four men, two with blood pooling under them. “Now what? The authorities won’t be happy about this.”
“It was self-defense. They will see it that way, I hope.” I say.
Tobis shakes his head, “I don’t know, bro. Xistrosie law can be weird. But one thing is for sure, we tell them as little as possible. Akiyra was attacked, she nor us know why. We came to help her and the two were killed in the process.”
Akiyra bends down and rips a pendant off the assailant closest to her. She repeats it with the other three men. I look at her curiously, but she shakes her head.