Page 37 of Her Lawless Prince

An announcer’s voice boomed over them, broadcasting the next round of games.

“Not her.” Nyle pushed away from the bar and tried to cross toward Payton. The crowd thickened, and the rowdy gathering blocked her from view as they made their way toward the gamers.

The demon stepped into his path. “Eighty.”

“No.” Nyle wasn’t sure he could take the man in a fight, but he would try if it came down to it. He attempted to sidestep him.

The man put the tips of his fingers to his chest and said, “One hundred twenty.”

Nyle slapped the hand away and quickly ducked around him. He pushed into the crowd, moving as quickly as he could through the dense press of bodies. He forced his way between fur and leather before coming out the other side near where Payton should have been.

Her table was empty.

“Payton?” he called out, panicked. He spun in a circle, searching the sea of alien faces. “Payton!”

His voice barely carried over the crowd. Nyle stood on a chair. He found her being escorted away from the bar back toward the docks. Yevgen walked beside her. She looked back over her shoulder, but someone took her by the arm and kept her moving forward.

Nyle pulled out his blaster and leaped from the chair. When those near him saw the weapon, they backed away to give him room. He shoved past those who didn’t.

Desperation gripped his chest. He had to get to her. Nothing else mattered. The crowd thinned, and he was able to run faster.

Payton and her escorts passed from the main complex into the docking lot. He lifted his weapon, ready to shoot anyone who threatened her.

“Hold up there.” An older man fell into step next to him as he passed through the doors, gripping Nyle by the arm as he tried to disarm him. Gray streaked his dark brown hair. He gave a self-assured smile. “No need to go off halfcocked.”

Nyle jerked his arm down and spun away from the man’s grip. He lifted the weapon. “Back off.”

A dark blond beast of a man appeared next to the first. He carried himself like a soldier. “Stop playing around. We should take to the skies.”

Nyle didn’t lower his arm. He backed away from them, trying to run sideways as he went after Payton. The demon appeared through the doors and joined the others. He should have known the demon was the distraction.

“Payton,” Nyle yelled, not seeing her. “Don’t get on a ship!”

She appeared from behind the nose of a ship. He rushed to her, ready to pull her toward safety. A man stepped up behind her. Nyle lifted his gun.

“Oh, wait!” Payton jumped in front of the weapon with her arms lifted. “Nyle, don’t. It’s all right.”

“But…” Nyle swung around to look at the three men following him.

“What did you guys do?” Payton demanded.

The older man laughed. “We’re just having fun, starshine.”

Starshine?

“Payton?” Nyle asked, confused. “You know them?”

“Nyle, these are my uncles.” Payton pointed at the man laughing, “Rick,” then at the demon, “Dev,” and finally the soldier, “Jackson.”

“How…?” Nyle frowned as Yevgen joined them. His heart still beat a little fast from fear.

“Well, as good as uncles. They were part of my mother’s old crew,” Payton explained.

“I told you, this is my plan,” Yevgen stated. “I am in charge of this mission. I have it under control. She is my wife, not yours.”

“Wife?” the man next to Payton demanded.

Payton kept an even expression. “Nyle, this is my brother, Ryland.”

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