Page 16 of Twist of Fate

Or breathe hard.

They just kept coming.

Then the lightbulb nearest the SUV exploded with a sharp pop. Glass rained down in a brief glittering cascade.

Everything dimmed and the shadows grew darker.

Luke’s pulse kicked harder.

That wasn’t normal.

The first attacker charged.

Fast.

Too fast.

Luke barely got his hand up in time to deflect the strike. The impact rattled through his bones, stronger than it had any right to be. He twisted, redirecting the force, using the motion to try to create space.

But the second man was already there.

No delay.

No hesitation.

Like they knew where he’d be before he moved.

“Yeah,” Luke bit out, his breath sharp as he ducked under another strike. “I’m officially over this.”

He dove forward, aiming for the narrow gap between them. He managed to slip through and almost reached the end of the alley.

Then he slammed into something that hadn’t been there a moment before. Something heavy. Solid. Final.

He bounced back and spun as he fell against the brick wall once again. He surged to his feet, looking back at his attackers.

Both men stood frozen in place.

Not for long.

But long enough for Luke to know something had changed.

A strange pressure moved through the alley.

His head throbbed.

Slowly—very slowly—Luke turned.

A figure stood in the shadows, framed in the dim spill of light from the street beyond. Tall. Broad. Still, in a way that didn’t belong in the middle of a fight.

Luke’s breath caught.

No. No way.

The man from the airport stepped forward, his expression hard, his gaze locked on the two figures advancing on Luke again, like he’d been waiting for this exact moment.

Connal.

Relief hit first followed immediately by something else.