The moment they crossed paths, not a single word was exchanged.
They just went straight for the kill.
Resulting in this bloody, ridiculous mess.
Seeing them still glaring at each other like they were itching to rip out the other's windpipe, a migraine spiked right behind Serena's eyes.
She honestly had to wonder how two men with zero impulse control had survived long enough to become apex predators in the criminal underworld.
She cast a cool, warning look at both of them. "Are you quite finished? Or do you need me to rent out a boxing ring so you can properly vent your frustrations?"
Jasper was highly adaptable and knew exactly when to retreat.
He took two quick steps back, rubbing his dead arm with a sheepish chuckle. "We're done, we're done! If he's working for you, Ms. Panacea, then he's a friend. It was just a misunderstanding."
Serena gave him a withering glance before checking her watch, mentally calculating how long it would take the extraction team to reach them.
Not one to stay quiet for long, Jasper arched an eyebrow and shamelessly closed the distance between them.
The creepy silver mask seemed to reflect his current cocky mood.
He grinned, his eyes darting between Serena and Jerrick. "I have to admit, you've got some wild connections."
"First, you're wrapped around The Sterling Sovereign's finger. Now, you've got the ship's hired muscle playing lapdog for you."
"You are far more connected than I realized."
Not a flicker of emotion crossed Serena's face. She shot him a deeply unimpressed look. "Do you have a problem with my networking skills?"
Jasper laughed lightly. "Of course not! Who you decide to play with is entirely up to you. I'm just an outsider. The latecomer. Who am I to judge?"
Serena suppressed a groan.
The sheer, unadulterated jealousy dripping from his tone was bizarre.
He hadn't tracked their trajectory.
By the time his brain recognized the threat, the paralysis had already set in.
If she had aimed for a lethal artery instead of a pressure point...
Jerrick's pupils contracted sharply.
He knew the answer without a second thought.
If she had wanted him dead.
He would currently be bleeding out on the cold steel floor.
He finally understood exactly why this woman—who looked so fragile and sickly that a strong gust of wind could knock her over—carried herself with such infuriating arrogance.
It was the exact reason why she had boldly walked right into a death trap like Project Zero-Transit, completely alone.

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