She looked to her bag on the table he leaned against. Could she get to her blaster?
As if he could read her thoughts, he glanced to the bag. With a swipe of his arm, he knocked it to the floor. Kiara took a step, then froze as her blaster landed at his feet with a heavy, soul-wrenching thud.
He laughed cruelly and retrieved it in his large paw of a hand.
"Help!" she screamed, knowing the guards outside would come to her rescue.
Clucking his tongue, the assassin shook his head. "They can't hear you. They're dead."
All thoughts left Kiara's mind in a wake of helpless terror. He moved toward her.
Her breathing became labored and rapid. Kiara wished herself out of the room, but her legs wouldn't cooperate. She was dead, she knew it.
Suddenly, her mind and body began working as one. The door! She had to get out and find help. She tossed a chair at the assassin and ran.
Her hand touched the icy knob. She grasped it like a lifeline, but before she could twist it open, a blow struck her across the back, knocking her away.
Dazed, she hit the floor.
Desperately, she wanted to scream again, but her lungs were incapable of anything save the cold rasping breaths rattling in her chest. She pushed herself along the floor in an effort to put more distance between them. Terror twined through her, blinding her eyes.
The assassin grabbed her by the throat, pulled her from the floor and shoved her across the table. Her bottles of perfume and m akeup rattled, biting into her back, tearing at her flesh while he tightened his grip. Tears fell uncontrollably as she stared into the assassin's unfeeling face.
Kiara knew she would never leave this room alive.
The assassin held his blaster to her cheek. His twisted laughter was filling her ears as she waited for the final explosive sound that would end her life. She closed her eyes and prayed.
The door burst open with a resounding crash.
"Drop it, Pitala."
Kiara went cold in relief at the deep accent. It was him! Opening her eyes, she turned her head to see her tall, blond savior.
Nykyrian stood calmly in the doorway, his arms braced on either side of the frame.
"I'll kill her, hybrid," Pitala answered in a raspy serpentine voice.
"Then I'll kill you. Release her and you can walk away alive."
Kiara's blood drained from her face. She trembled, wishing they weren't so nonchalant about her life.
Pitala glared at her in indecision.
His blaster moved away from her cheek. She took a shaky breath, offering a prayer of thanks. "Do you think I fear you, half-ling?" Pitala sneered, refusing to release his grip on her throat.
Nykyrian shifted to one side of the door frame. "You really are pathetic. Do you honestly think I intend to stand here waiting for your partner to come up behind me?" He snapped his fingers.
An unconscious man was shoved through the door. Pitala cursed.
"I really hate taking out the trash," Rachol said, joining Nykyrian.
Pitala released her. Kiara rubbed her bruised throat and slid from the table. She jumped in reflex as Pitala moved his weapon toward the pair standing in the doorway.
Before he could aim it at either m an, two blasters came out of nowhere to balance their sights at his heart.
"Think," Nykyrian said ominously, clicking back the release of his blaster with his thumb.
Pitala gave a nervous laugh, and held up his hands. "I wouldn't actually try to shoot you.
I just wanted to see if you were as good as they say."
"Better," Rachol said, pulling Pitala's blaster from his hand.
Nykyrian holstered his weapon. "Apologize to Tara Biardi and you can leave."
Angry, black eyes focused on Kiara with an unspoken promise he would be back. A wave of terror consumed her. "My apologies," he rasped.
Cold sweat beaded on her body as Pitala bent and slapped his partner awake. Within seconds, the pair of assassins were gone.
Her relief at their departure quickly ebbed. "What are you doing here?" she asked, not quite certain of Nykyrian and Rachol's intent.
"Saving you," Nykyrian said absently, looking down the corridor.
The words only calmed her to a slight degree. Kiara wasn't sure the danger had passed.
The OMG had turned down the contract to protect her. Maybe they had only saved her from Pitala so they could collect the bounty on her life.
Rachol stared at her. "She's not quite in shock, but I bet she faints before you get her home."'
Kiara opened her mouth to remind him she didn't faint, but was silenced by Nykyrian returning into the room.
"Did they go out the back?" Rachol asked.
"Yes. Fifty dorcas they're setting up an ambush near my ship."
Rachol laughed. "No bet. I know they are. They're too stupid not be obvious and predictable."
Nykyrian nodded. "You know what to do. I'll meet you at rendezvous point and time."
Rachol returned his nod and gave Kiara a cheerful smile.