Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 283

Cecilia and the mute woman scrambled backward in sheer terror.

They huddled closely behind Stella like frightened animals.

Tugging frantically at Stella's sleeve, Cecilia whimpered, "Stella, w-what do we do?"

"Just step back and don't get in my way," Stella said evenly. She shoved the flashlight into the mute woman's hands, noting she seemed much more composed than Cecilia.

"O-Okay. Please be careful," Cecilia stammered, pulling the mute woman further back. In reality, her legs were turning to jelly and she was just using the poor woman for physical support.

Determined not to be a burden, they stayed out of the way while the mute woman kept the beam focused on the fight.

"Listen, you little tramp," one thug snarled. "Come quietly, and maybe we'll save you a beating."

"Stop wasting breath and just grab them!" his partner snapped. "The cops are crawling all over the place. We need these hostages now, or we're never making it back to the house!"

Stella smirked, crooking two fingers in a 'come here' motion. "Both of you. Right now."

Enraged by her blatant disrespect and pressed for time, they rushed her simultaneously.

As they closed in, Stella unleashed a devastating left hook that shattered a jaw, seamlessly following it with a brutal roundhouse kick to the other's ribs. They hit the dirt in perfect synchronization.

They never even laid a finger on her. It was over in a matter of seconds.

Cecilia's jaw dropped. It took her a solid ten seconds to recover before she started clapping enthusiastically. "Stella, you're a total badass!"

She had been certain they were doomed, but Stella had just casually dismantled two grown men like a trained assassin in an action movie.

She had never respected anyone in her life as much as she respected Stella at that moment.

From this day forward, Stella was her absolute idol.

Stella, however, threw an arm out to stop Cecilia. She locked eyes with Wade. "Officer, could I borrow your phone for a second?"

"Now's not the time for calls," Wade deflected seamlessly. "You need to follow me right now. The perimeter is secure; we'll get you home safely."

Her internal alarms blared. In a flash, Stella drew a confiscated combat knife and pressed the cold steel flush against Wade's throat. "No. I am making a call right now. Give me the phone, or we aren't going anywhere."

Her eyes were dead serious; one wrong move, and she was going to open his jugular.

The sudden escalation terrified Cecilia and the mute woman, sending them scurrying back behind Stella for safety.

Cornered and realizing he couldn't talk his way out of a blade, Wade slowly reached into his pocket and handed over his phone.

Stella tapped the screen. "Unlock it."

Saying nothing, Wade took it back, pressed his thumb to the sensor, and returned it to her.