The Governor''s office was filled with crystal chandeliers, exotic wood furniture, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sprawling expanse of the undercity.


    Matilda perched gracefully on the edge of an overstuffed leather chair, watching as the Governor poured two glasses of amber liquid from a crystal decanter.


    "You must try this," he said, his voice dripping with self-satisfaction. "Imported from the Outer Section. Cost me a small fortune."


    ''I bet it did,'' Matilda thought, accepting the glass with a practiced smile. "How thoughtful of you to share something so precious."


    The Governor leaned against his desk, too close for comfort, and Matilda fought the urge to lean away. "Only the best for you, my dear. You''ve brought such... vitality to our little corner of the galaxy."


    She smiled and took a delicate sip of the liquor. It was good – probably worth every credit he''d spent on it. "Speaking of vitality," she said, steering the conversation, "those distribution numbers you mentioned..."


    "Always business with you," the Governor chuckled, moving to stand behind her chair. His hands came to rest on her shoulders, and she tensed slightly before forcing herself to relax. "Surely we can discuss more... pleasant matters first?"


    A knock at the door saved her from having to respond. The Governor''s face darkened at the interruption. "Enter!"


    A guard stepped in, looking apologetic. "Pardon the interruption, sir, but there''s someone here for Ms. Matilda. Says it''s urgent – her assistant and another woman."


    Matilda stood quickly, perhaps too quickly, but covered it with a smooth smile. "My deepest apologies, Governor. Business never rests, it seems."


    "It can wait," the Governor said, a note of command in his voice that made her skin crawl.


    "I really should see what this is about," she insisted gently. "Perhaps we can continue our discussion later? Over dinner, maybe?"


    The suggestion mollified him somewhat, though his expression remained thunderous. "Very well. But I''ll hold you to that dinner, my dear."


    Matilda hurried out, her heart pounding despite her calm exterior. In the hallway, she found Zafron and Sakura waiting, both looking tense.


    "What happened?" she demanded in a harsh whisper, leading them away from the office.


    "We need to leave," Zafron said urgently. "Now. An Enforcer attacked me in the lower sector."


    "Damn," realization struck Matilda as she breathed, her composure cracking slightly. "That explains it – I saw someone following me from the fighting pit. A woman, professional bearing, trying too hard to look casual."


    Zafron''s head snapped around, scanning the corridor. His enhanced healing had taken care of the worst injuries, but Matilda could see the tension in his movements.


    Back inside the office, the Governor was a bit worried by the sudden appearance of Matilda''s assistant so he moved to the window.


    His eyes narrowed as he spotted Matilda outside, her usual composed demeanor notably absent.


    She stood with Zafron and that pink-haired woman, the fighter – what was her name? Sakura? – their heads bent close together in urgent conversation.


    "What''s got you so rattled, my dear?" he murmured against the glass, his breath leaving a faint fog. His eyes tracked her hands as they made sharp, agitated gestures – so unlike her usual graceful movements.


    Zafron kept glancing over his shoulder, scanning the area like a hunted man. The Governor had never liked him, never trusted how close he seemed to be to Matilda, especially since she cared about him. And now, here he was, clearly bringing troubling news or something else to disturb the good time they were having.


    "He shouldn''t have come here," the Governor muttered softly, his grip tightening on the glass until his knuckles whitened. "But whatever the problem is, I''ll handle it. I need to show her I''m capable."


    He watched as Matilda pressed her fingers to her temples – a gesture of stress he''d never seen from her before. That decided him. Sёar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Setting down his glass with perhaps more force than necessary, he strode to the door, determined to insert himself into whatever crisis was unfolding.


    "Let''s see what''s troubling your pretty head," he muttered, reaching for the door handle.


    His reflection in the polished metal showed a man unused to being excluded, to being denied what he wanted. And right now, what he wanted were answers.


    "We need to move," Sakura insisted outside the office, her tail lashing anxiously. "Before that other Enforcer shows up. This whole place could be compromised."


    Matilda''s mind raced through options. "The Governor''s estate has security, guards. We could—"


    "No," Zafron cut her off. "Think about it. We''d have to explain why we need protection. And if they tracked you here, they already know where to find us."


    "Shit," Sakura muttered. "He''s right. We need to disappear, fast."


    The sound of a door opening made them all turn. The Governor stood in his office doorway, watching them with narrow eyes. The hushed, urgent tone of their conversation hadn''t escaped his notice.


    "Is everything alright, my dear?" he called to Matilda. "You seem... distressed."


    Matilda smoothed her features into an apologetic smile. "Just a small crisis that needs my attention. I''m terribly sorry, but I really must go."


    "What kind of crisis?" he pressed, stepping forward. "Perhaps I can help?"


    "Nothing that requires your concern," she assured him, already backing away. "I''ll contact you about dinner."


    The Governor watched them leave, his expression darkening with each step they took. In all their dealings, Matilda had never seemed rattled – until now. Something was wrong, something she wasn''t telling him.


    "You think you can''t trust me?" he murmured to himself. "After everything I''ve done for you?" His fist clenched. "I''ll show you what I''m capable of, my dear. Whatever you need, whatever you''re running from... I can protect you."


    Meanwhile, Zafron led Matilda and Sakura through back alleys and service corridors, avoiding the main thoroughfares. Every shadow could hide an Enforcer, every passing face could be reporting their movements.


    "We need to get home," he said quietly. "It''s the only safe place right now. We keep our heads down, wait for them to lose our trail."


    [Because hiding worked so well last time,] Calista commented sarcastically.


    "Shut up," Zafron muttered, earning a concerned look from Sakura.


    "The voice again?" she asked quietly.


    He nodded shortly. "We need to focus on Raxus''s staff. The plan we discussed at Hector''s – it''s our only way out now."


    "Are you sure about that?" Sakura''s voice was hesitant. "It''s risky as fuck, even without Enforcers on our tail."


    "It''s the only way," Zafron insisted, checking around a corner before motioning them forward. "We''re out of options and out of time."


    *******


    Across the sector, in their sparse safehouse, Maze helped Steele into the worn chair, wincing at his labored breathing. "Don''t move," she ordered, heading to the back room. "I''m getting the med kit."


    Alone, Steele''s face contorted with rage. Blood dripped from a cut above his eye, but he barely noticed it. His mind replayed the fight, each blow, each moment where Zafron had outmaneuvered him.


    "Fucking freak," he spat, his hands clenching despite the pain. "Think you''re so... special with your slimy trick?" The green energy flickered around his fingers, responding to his anger. "I''ll show you... what real power looks like. When I''m done, there won''t be enough...


    left of you."


    "I will... destroy you," he growled, just as Maze returned with medical supplies.


    "Talking to yourself again?" she asked, setting down the kit. "That''s never a good sign."


    He turned his face away, not wanting to talk to her about that.


    Despite that, she began cleaning the cut above his eye, her touch professional but gentle. Steele hissed as the antiseptic stung.


    "We need to be smarter about this," she said, dabbing away dried blood. "He''s more dangerous than we thought. And if he has the Governor''s protection—"


    "I don''t... give a fuck if the Emperor himself... is protecting him," Steele growled, wincing as she prodded a particularly nasty bruise on his ribs. "I''ve spent too long... tracking him down. He''s not...


    getting away again."


    Maze moved to a deep gash on his arm, her fingers steady as she applied a healing gel. "Steele—"


    "No." His eyes flared with that eerie green light, making the shadows dance on the walls. "I''m close. So close. I can feel it. Whatever it takes, whatever the cost... I''m ending this."


    The resolve in his voice sent a chill down Maze''s spine. She''d seen that look before – the look of a hunter who''d forgotten everything except the kill. Her hands stilled on his wounds.


    "Just be careful," she murmured, but she knew he wasn''t listening anymore. His mind was already on the hunt, already planning his next move.


    Suddenly, Steele stood, gently but firmly pushing her hands aside. The movement reopened one of his wounds, sending a fresh trickle of blood down his arm. He didn''t seem to notice.


    "I''m going to find him," he said, his voice deadly calm now. The green energy crackled around him, casting an otherworldly glow across his battered face.


    "And when I do, he''s going to learn... what real justice feels like. No more running. No more games." His fist clenched, energy sparking between his fingers. "This ends... with one of us in the ground, and it won''t be me."