29. Maar

CHAPTER 29

MAAR

" I will avenge you, my brother," I say to myself that evening as I watch Laar's body getting carted onto an ambulance. "You died to protect my mate. I had no idea this would happen."

I watch as Laar's lifeless body disappears into the ambulance, my chest tightening with each passing moment. The sirens fade into the distance, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the weight of another senseless death.

"Fuck," I mutter, running a hand through my hair. "This galaxy's burning itself to ashes, and for what?"

I can't help but remember how Laar took me under his wing when I first arrived on Glimner. His easy smile, his terrible jokes, the way he'd clap me on the back after a good night at the tables.

"You're gonna make it big here, Maar," he'd said. "Just don't forget us little people when you do."

Now he's gone, another victim of this endless cycle of violence. And for what? To protect Alyssa? To protect me?

I shake my head, trying to clear the fog of grief and anger. The neon lights of Glimner blur around me as I make my way back to the Nova Casino. The gaudy facade looms over me, a stark reminder of the life I've built here – a life built on lies and deception.

The elevator ride to my penthouse feels longer than usual. Each floor ticks by, a countdown to the moment I'll be alone with my thoughts again. The doors slide open, revealing the lavish interior of my condo.

I step inside, the silence deafening. My eyes land on a framed photo of Laar and me, taken just a few months ago after a particularly lucrative night at the tables.

"You didn't deserve this, brother," I say to the empty room. "None of us do."

I pour myself a drink, the amber liquid sloshing in the glass as my hand trembles slightly. The first sip burns, a welcome distraction from the pain in my chest.

As I look out over the glittering expanse of Glimner, I can't help but wonder how many more will die before this is over. How many more friends will I lose? How many more lies will I have to tell?

And Alyssa... god, Alyssa. Does she even know what's happening here? Does she realize the cost of keeping her safe?

I down the rest of my drink in one gulp, the burn in my throat a pale echo of the fire raging in my heart. Tomorrow, I'll have to face the consequences of Laar's death. Tomorrow, I'll have to keep playing this dangerous game.

But tonight, I mourn. For Laar, for myself, and for a galaxy that seems determined to tear itself apart.

I stare out the floor-to-ceiling windows of my Glimner penthouse, the city's neon glow a stark contrast to the emptiness I feel inside. The news feed on my padd flashes: "Vakutan Criminal Enforcer Killed in IHC Raid." A smirk tugs at my lips, but it doesn't reach my eyes.

"Well, Maar, you're dead," I mutter, tossing the padd onto the plush couch. "At least to the rest of the galaxy."

The realization hits me like a punch to the gut: Alyssa's safe now. From me, at least.

"One more loose end," I growl, knocking back the drink. The burn in my throat is nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

I pull up the encrypted files on my secure terminal. The Numerian Fist's hierarchy flashes before my eyes, a web of corruption and violence. At the center, one name stands out: Kraz Vorn.

"You're the only thing standing between Alyssa and freedom," I say to the holographic image of the crime lord. "Time to cash out, you son of a bitch."

I start planning, my fingers flying over the keyboard. Contacts are called, favors are pulled in. The pieces of a deadly game start falling into place.

As dawn breaks over Glimner's skyline, I lean back in my chair, exhausted but determined. The plan is set. Kraz Vorn's days are numbered.

"I'm coming for you," I promise the empty room. "And when you're gone, Alyssa can finally live without looking over her shoulder."

I stand, stretching my aching muscles. The loneliness of the apartment weighs on me, Alyssa's absence a physical pain. But I push it aside. There's work to be done.

"One last job," I mutter, heading for the shower. "One last kill, and then... then maybe I can find peace."

As the hot water cascades over me, I can't help but wonder if Alyssa will ever forgive me. If she'll ever understand why I did what I did. But it doesn't matter now. Her safety is all that counts.

I step out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my waist. In the mirror, I see a man with a purpose, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"Time to end this," I say to my reflection. "For Alyssa. For us. No matter how long it takes."