Page 9 of Black Bay Defender
“I’m classy like that.” Grabbing a plastic cup, she held it up to him. “Want some?”
Grady huffed a breath and shook his head before his expression turned serious. “I have to go, Lark. You know why.”
Raising her cup to her lips, she took a sip as she eyed him over the rim with those vivid green, slitted eyes. “No. I don’t. Explain it to me.”
“I’m dangerous.”
“We’re all dangerous.”
He shook his head. “Not like me.”
Grady never saw her move. One moment, she was sitting there, cup in hand, relaxed, in no way a threat, and the next, he was on his back, on top of her on the ground. Her chin dug into the side of his head, keeping it cocked at an odd angle, and her arms and legs were wrapped around him in a hold so tight it would have broken bones if it weren’t for his modifications.
His processor screeched a warning, and his automated defense systems came online, but he had no shot, that arm – all his limbs – pinned so effectively he could barely buck against the restraint.
Christ, she was strong. So much stronger than he ever would have imagined.
“Control it,” she hissed into his ear as her limbs squeezed tighter, cutting off his air. “You’re in control. You. Grady Carter. Not that chip in your head.Control it.”
Chapter Five
Fiveagonizinglyslowsecondspassed, ten… and Grady’s body suddenly stopped straining against her, crushing her into the unforgiving ground. The guy was strong and damn heavy thanks to all that metal.
“You’ve got it?” she asked, only easing her grip on him the barest fraction. Just enough for him to draw air into his lungs.
Attacking him had been a calculated risk on her part, one that could have quickly gone pear-shaped, but some people needed to see to believe; needed to experience the reality of her firsthand. Lark was no easy target.
A grunt. “I’ve got it.”
“Faster than I anticipated. You’re getting better.”
Lark dropped her hold and Grady turned in a flash so he was facing her, his body hovering over her as he supported his weight with his arms. God, she wanted to kiss him so badly, just lift her head and lay one on him, but she needed to deal with this first.
His glare was ferocious but Lark didn’t flinch. She knew he’d be pissed, she’d been expecting it.
“That was stupid,” he snarled.
“That was necessary. You’re no different from Kong, Jace, all the guys, even the General though he tries to hide it behind a whole lot of bluster. You wear it like a second skin. You all think you need to protect everyone.”
Grady’s lips moved like he was about to say something, so Lark reached up and covered his mouth with her hand. “Don’t get me wrong,” she clarified. “I think it’s great. This world needs more protectors. But it’s wasted on me.”
When he continued to give her the death glare, she dropped her hand and waited for the inevitable argument.
“And if my processor deems you a continued threat? Makes you a target? Some of my weapons are long-range.”
“So are some of mine.” She tapped his shoulder to get him up. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
Pushing to his feet, he offered her his right hand – his human hand – which she took, but he was shaking his head as he pulled her up. “This is a waste of time.”
“Humor me.”
His “Fine,” was grudging as he fell into step beside her. “Where are we going?”
“The shooting range.”
“So your answer is to walk around armed all the time?” Grady let out a sarcastic little huff. “That makes me feel so much better.”
Lark shot him a baleful look. “Just wait.”
