"Guests?" Razi asked. The two guards in front of us cocked their guns, their gazes fixed on their boss. He was in deep discussion with another guard and had decided to ignore our presence, for now.

Sam and I stared at each other, communicating through our expressions. How was he so young? How had he sounded so much older?

She widened her eyes and gestured to her face. I knew she was asking about his facial features but we could only see his back.

I could only tell that he wore a well-fitted charcoal suit that emphasized his physique. I could make out two rings on his right hand, one on his forefinger and the other on his pinky. No ring on his left hand, hmm. Sam wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and I bit down a smile.

"Okay, this has been great. We have got to go. It was lovely meeting you" I muttered grabbing Sam's hand and towing her out. Two guards came up to block our way. "Seriously, where are you guys coming from?"

"In a hurry?" Pseudo Robin Hood asked from behind me, his voice dangerously low. I stiffened and counted till ten.

"A little bit... we're late for something and you seem to be busy. We'll show ourselves out. Ask your henchmen to move"

"Who are these people?"

"Who is who?" Sam asked, turning around.

Damn it. Sam and her insatiable journalistic curiosity. I sighed and turned around, shuffling to hide behind Razi's shoulder.

Robin Hood moved into the light and I gasped internally. This man couldn't be much older than I was. We had to be around the same age. I roamed my eyes over his features.

He had dark, thick hair that curled at the nape of his neck. His cheekbones were high and wide, nose slightly crooked. His jaw was firm, and his mouth well...

I blanched as his dark brown eyes met mine. Red crept up my face and I moved my gaze to the right, pretending to look at the guards, questions piling up in my mind.

"The guys who are currently setting themselves to attack our compound" Say what now?

"We don't know who those people were. We only came here for my father"
"What's your name?"
"I..." Sam looked at me, her eyes questioning. I nodded. Might as well. His eyes flicked between us, his face impassive "I'm Sameera Mehr, daughter of Mehr Ali Bakht," Something flickered on his face, too quick to be read. Was that recognition? Did he know Uncle Bakht? He looked at the rest of us, his gaze questioning.

"Razi Makhdoom..." Razi answered his eyes on the guards. Robin Hood's gaze switched to me, a slight smirk on his lips. I rolled my eyes and then glared at him.

"Elena. Elena Khalil Khan" he nodded, picking up a large Kalashnikov that had been placed on a nearby table. "Who are you?" he ignored the question and moved towards us.

Suddenly, loud gunshots echoed around us and everyone ducked. The ceiling rattled and shook but nothing collapsed on our heads. The one remaining light went out and the room went dark. I could barely make out body shapes.

"Seems like we're all stuck here together. Do you know how to fight?" he asked us. Someone lit a bunch of candles casting an eerie glow on his face. Sam shook her head, her eyes wide from fear. He turned to his guards. "Take them out, I'll follow close behind. You know what to do"

"Take us out? Take us out where?" Razi asked, coming to stand by my side, his arm around Sam and his gaze hard.

Before urban Robin Hood could answer us, the windows shattered and glass flew everywhere. Guards shouted and the room rang with the sound of gunshots. Men in black clothing rushed towards us from all sides. Sticking to the ground I started to navigate my way around them, trying to find a safe spot.

"El!" I heard Sam scream from my left. Moving my head, I saw her being dragged by one of the men who had barged in through the window. Panicked, my hands moved around trying to find something I could use as a weapon. Picking up a discarded pipe, I charged, hitting the guy on the back of his head. He stilled and turned around, his gaze murderous. Uh oh.

Instinct sparked, seizing control. I spun and twisted under the arm that held mine, ignoring the faint burn along my arms. Popping up behind him, I ducked, rolled and swept his legs out from underneath him. Feeling his grip lax, I snatched the gun out of his hands and used the butt to hit him on the back of his head, knocking him unconscious.

"You okay? Grab this" I said, handing her the pipe.

"Fine... thanks"

"Don't mention it... where's Razi?" We peered, squinting our eyes and slowly moving towards the exit.

"There!" she pointed to the other side of the room. I groaned. Two men had converged on him and were attacking him from both sides. He had managed to disarm both of them but he needed help. I winced as he doubled over after receiving a punch in the gut.

"Stay here and hold this..."

"What? I don't know how to use this!" she screeched, holding it at an awkward angle.

"You shoot from the other end" I shouted rushing to Razi's aid.

Using the shadows to my advantage, I crept up behind one of the guys. Placing a piece of wood between his legs, I moved as the man stumbled forward losing his balance. Taking the opportunity I kicked him in the face, sending him flying backward into the wall.

"Good one" Razi groaned as he took down his opponent. I smiled, grabbed his hand and ran to find a safe spot.

"Going somewhere?" Another individual shrouded in black, intercepted our path. Where in the world were these guys coming from? And why were they all wearing black? Were they all video game fans? We were surrounded by five of them.

Razi ducked as a fist came flying towards his face and moved to take the fight away from me. I watched in horror as the guy in front of me took out his pistol and aimed it at Razi. Sprinting forward, I grabbed his arm and twisted it towards the ceiling. Dust rained on our heads the moment that bullet hit the rafters.

He shouted a bunch of profanities and backhanded me using his other hand. The air whooshed out of my lungs as I went down hard on my hip, swallowing the cry of pain as it lanced up my lower back. I watched him come near me, his hand coming down in a slow arc, ready to hit me again. With immense effort, I rolled away in time and smiling at the satisfying thud. He cursed and reloaded his gun, aiming it at my forehead.

I froze in shock. This was it. I was going to die. No hero was coming to save me. Blood pounded in my ears and I closed my eyes, saying one final prayer. A loud voice yelled my name and I saw the guy in front of me jerk once, then twice and then collapse at my feet. Blood pooled on the dark floor and I skittered back in fear.

Robin Hood rushed towards me, his eyes hard.

"Are you okay?" I looked at him dazed. Blood coated his suit and his hair was ruffled but he seemed to be unhurt. I could hear someone shouting in the distance but could not focus on the sound.

He kneeled down to my level and his face came into focus. He moved closer, checking me for any injuries. Dark shadows fell over that well defined jaw and I sighed. He really was beautiful. Annoying but definitely hot. Those eyelashes...

"Answer me, Elena, are you okay?" I nodded, snapping out of the haze and trying to get back on my feet. He grabbed my arm and I stilled. "Just getting you on your feet. You might be concussed..."

"They've retreated..."

"Good job Waleed. Any casualties? Has anyone informed the police?"
"No and they'll be here in ten minutes" the police?

Oh my God, Ammi would kill me if I went to jail. It would ruin my career and any chance of a fellowship. She'd kill me, raise me back from the dead and kill me again.

I shuffled out of sight, moving quickly and quietly, along the wall.
"Where do you think you're going?" His clipped voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Away from here?"
"We've got much to discuss"
"I'm sorry but I'm not going to argue with you"
"Evidence would suggest you already are."
"I have no idea of whatever's going on. This seems like a personal matter... I'll leave you to it. I'll just grab my friends and go"

"You mean them?" He asked gesturing towards Razi and Sam, both of whom were now contained by his guards but were thankfully unharmed.

"Uh huh"

"No one's going anywhere until I know why we were attacked tonight"

********************************************
Thank you for the votes! Share this story if you're enjoying it :)