Page 24 of Charged By the Razorbacks

Two hybrids came at them immediately, fast and coordinated in a way that told her these weren’t the early failures they’d seen before. These were refined. Controlled.

Aleksy met the first one with precision, redirecting its momentum and ending it in a single, efficient movement.

And God—even in motion, even in violence, he was controlled.

Black tactical gear molded to him like it had been built for his body—broad shoulders, powerful chest, every movement clean and economical. Dark hair shorter, rougher, a slight beard framing a mouth that looked like it spent more time smirking than behaving.

Jarek hit the second hybrid head-on, and there was nothing controlled about it. He was pure force and impact.

Power wrapped in muscle and momentum, his combat gear stretched across a heavier build, thicker, broader, built to break things rather than outmaneuver them. Dark hair pulled back off his face, sharp jaw set, eyes focused and cold in a way that should have been intimidating—but wasn’t. Not to her.

He moved like a wrecking ball with intent.

Aleksy ended fights. Jarek dominated them.

And the contrast—her pulse kicked.

Tamsin didn’t pause to watch.

Didn’t let herself linger. But she registered it anyway. Stored it.

Because even under fire—even here—she noticed.

She moved through the space they created, already pushing deeper, her attention narrowing on the pull she couldn’t ignore.

“She’s this way.”

It wasn’t a guess. It wasn’t hope.

It was certainty.

They followed without question.

The deeper they moved into the structure, the more resistance they met. Not chaotic, not random—deliberate. Positioned. Designed to slow them, to measure them.

“They’re herding us,” Aleksy said.

Tamsin’s lips curved faintly. “Good.”

Because she was going exactly where they wanted her to go anyway. The corridor tightened, funneling them forward, and then—she saw her.

Naomi.

Restrained, head slumped forward, barely conscious but alive. Everything else dropped away. Jarek moved first, fast enough to be reckless.

Aleksy caught him, his hand locking around his arm. “Wait.”

Tamsin was already scanning, her gaze flicking across the room, mapping the space in seconds. “Trip lines, motion-triggered.”

Her focus sharpened. “Smart.”

Aleksy stepped forward, already working through the system, his movements quick and precise as he disabled the triggers one by one. “Not smart enough.”

The last connection died. “Now.”

Jarek didn’t hesitate. He crossed the room in seconds, breaking Lena free and catching her before she could collapse.

“She’s alive,” he said, his voice rough with something he didn’t bother to hide.