Page 14 of Stealing Jia

He held up his hands. “Just saying.”

Avarice filled my soul and I asked casually, “Any chance of me getting a belt? I mean, they are shooting at me too.”

“Maybe,” CeeCee hedged.

The younger warrior commanded, “Introduce us.”

“Jia, this is my mate, Jake Jones and my father, Samuel Tsosie.”

“My condolences for the loss of your humanity,” I said politely.

CeeCee groaned.

“I have lost nothing but gained a great deal. You would do well to remember your manners, child,” Samuel Tsosie replied, and a small bolt of lightning zapped me in the ass.

I yelped.

Pepe growled.

CeeCee asked,“You hungry, Uncle Jesse?”

“Now that you mention it, I am.”

Merda! “I apologize. I apologize,” I cried.

Pepe snarled viciously.

Jake pointed at Pepe.“What is that?”

CeeCee shrugged. “Not sure. Giovanni created him. He’s a smart little guy and he can mind speak.”

“Huh. Zarek will definitely want to us to confiscate him.”

“No!” I clasped the little guy to my chest. “Pepe’s mine and I won’t let you take him from me.”

His eyes cold with menace, Jake stated,“Prisoners have no rights.”

“Prisoner?”

“Partner,” CeeCee hurriedly inserted.

Jake slid her a narrowed sidelong glance.

I glared at them. “I thought this was a team effort to stop Giovanni and free his prisoners?”

“We are currently hunting Giovanni and there were no prisoners. Just empty cells,” Jake shot back.

I could feel the color drain from my face.“Dio mio. I knew it. Giovanni killed my brother.”

“You don’t know that yet. There are several drugs that can sever mental links. Once his base was under attack, Giovanni probably had the Rodan transport all his test subjects to another location,” CeeCee quickly interjected.

Jake nodded. “We found several stasis chambers in Giovanni’s lab. If your brother was placed in one, you won’t be able to link with him.”

“Adam could still be alive?” Hope flickered to life. “We’ve got to find him before he turns into one of those horrible creatures. I can’t lose him too.”

“You won’t. You have my word we will find Adam. No matter where the hunt takes us. We will free him. The Coletti cannot make you the same promise,” Loki stated.

“Do you have a ship?”

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