Ann lay sprawled on the cold floor, her vision swimming with stars after the force of that staggering blow. She groaned, clutching her throbbing jaw, still so clouded by lust and shock that she hadn't fully processed the reality of the room.
"Evan..." she slurred, squinting through the haze. "I didn't know you had... such strong hands..."
She was still lost in her delusional heat, unaware of the towering, figure standing between her and her prize. It wasn't until the cold sweat broke across her skin that she looked up and saw the obsidian-hard gaze of Maya staring down at her.
"Maya... Maya? How could it be you?" Ann's voice cracked as she scrambled backward, her naked skin squeaking against the wood. "Why are you here?"
Maya snorted, the sound like a predator's growl. She slowly clenched her fists, the leather of her gauntlets creaking with a lethal, rhythmic pop-pop-pop.
"My brother-in-law mentioned a certain gutter-rat had been sniffing around his doorstep lately," Maya said, her voice dropping to a dangerous register. "So, I made a show of heading to the Court, only to double back through the rear garden and wait in that cupboard. I expected a thief, Ann, but I didn't expect you to be this suicidal. You've been beaten for your crimes before, but coming into my home? You're looking for a grave."
"Misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding!" Ann shrieked. Realizing she was cornered and exposed, she didn't wait for a reply. She lunged for the door, tearing it open and sprinting into the yard in her birthday suit, driven by pure, primal terror.
Maya didn't run. She walked out slowly, like a hunter who knows the trap has already snapped shut.
Outside, the yard was no longer empty. As soon as Ann's bare feet hit the dirt, she was surrounded. A dozen officers and soldiers, swords drawn and faces grim, moved in a coordinated circle.
"It's a mistake! Forgive me!" Ann wailed, spinning in circles, her pale, flabby body trembling as the cold steel of a halberd was pressed against her jugular.
"Secure her!" Maya commanded as she stepped onto the porch.
With a rough surge, the soldiers forced Ann to her knees. Maya walked up to her and, with a casual, backhanded swing, sent Ann's head snapping to the side. "You have a lot of courage, targeting my family. Did you forget what I do to people like you?"
"Miss Maya, please!" Ann sobbed, pressing her forehead into the dirt. "I'll never do it again in future! Spare me!"
"The future? You think you have a future?" Maya's eyes flashed with a cold, ruthless light. Without warning, she delivered a brutal, lightning-fast kick directly into Ann's groin.
A sickening crack echoed through the courtyard. Ann's scream was cut short as her face went bone-pale, her body curling into a fetal ball of agony. The soldiers nearby winced, shifting uncomfortably; they knew Maya's strength—that kick carried enough force to shatter stone. Ann's "happy life" was effectively over; she would never look at a man with lust again.
"Take her to the barracks," Maya ordered. "Forty lashes, and make sure she receives a... 'good visit' from the senior guards before she hits the cell."
The soldiers dragged the broken, sobbing woman away. Once the yard was clear, Maya turned to Evan.
"Brother-in-law, are you alright?" She moved closer, her eyes scanning him for injuries. Her breath caught. Evan's robes had been torn in the scuffle, the silk hanging open to reveal the smooth, firm planes of his chest. Maya found herself unable to look away, a flush rising to her own cheeks.
"I'm fine, Maya. The plan worked perfectly thanks to you," Evan said. He stepped toward her, closing the distance, and pulled her into a firm hug. "You really are incredible."
Feeling his warm, masculine body pressed against her armor, Maya felt a sudden, sharp jolt of warmth. Her heart hammered against her ribs—this was her sister's husband, her brother-in-law—but the scent of him and the strength in his arms made her dizzy. She didn't move away.
Evan, sensing her tension, felt a smirk tugging at his lips. So the bold, violent Guard Captain is shy after all, he thought. He looked at her toned physique and her devastatingly beautiful face. My sister-in-law is truly the second most beautiful woman I've ever seen. No bitch can compare to the beauties under this roof.
Just then, the gate creaked open. Elara rushed in, her eyes wide with panic. Seeing her, Evan smoothly broke the embrace with Maya.
"Evan! Are you hurt?" Elara cried, throwing herself at him and clutching his hands.
"I'm fine, don't worry," he soothed, patting her hair.
"Everything is handled, Sister," Maya added, regaining her composure though her heart was still racing. "Ann was caught red-handed. She'll be locked up for decades."
"Well done, Maya! You truly are the best sister," Elara said, beaming with relief.
Maya smiled shyly. "I'll head back to the court to finalize the paperwork. Sister, you take good care of him." With a final, lingering glance at Evan, she hurried away.
That afternoon, Maya returned home, parched and dusty. She grabbed the teapot and drank greedily, some of the water spilling down her chin and wetting the fabric over her chest.
"Drink slowly," Elara teased. "So, what's the word?"
"Ann is finished," Maya said, wiping her mouth. "Forty lashes and a dark cell. She's a cripple now. My kick ensured she'll never bully another man."
"Good," Elara said, slamming a hand on the table. "She deserved every bit of it."
"Maya's kick was truly something," Evan added with a wink. "I was trembling just watching it."
Maya scratched her head, blushing. "I was just punishing a thief, Brother-in-law. I'm actually very gentle usually... not violent at all."
Evan laughed. "I know. Why so nervous?"
Maya cleared her throat, her expression turning serious. "Anyway, I got an important clue during the 'interrogation.' Ann didn't act alone. Someone gave her the idea and the timing."
Elara's eyes narrowed. "Mrs. Gable?"
"Exactly. That old viper told Ann when we'd be gone and promised to look the other way. She basically handed Evan to her on a silver platter."
Elara's face contorted with fury. "That woman! I have given her so much money and treated her kindly, and she repays us by selling out my husband?"
"I've wanted to deal with that old bitch for a while," Maya said coldly. "But because of her age and being a neighbor, I let it slide. This time, she's crossed the line."
Evan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The problem is, she only provided the idea. She didn't actually touch me or break any laws herself. It'll be hard for the Court to judge her."
"He's right," Maya sighed. "The law is tricky with instigation."
"Should we just let it go?" Elara asked, her voice tight. "For the sake of being neighbors?"
"Let it go?" Maya's eyes flashed dangerously. "Sister, if we don't show her the consequences of crossing the Ashcrofts, she'll just find a more clever way next time. No. We must show her some 'color.'"
"What are you going to do?" Elara asked.
Maya leaned back, a dark, confident smirk playing on her lips. "Don't worry. I have my own arrangements. She's about to find out that being a neighbor won't save her from me."