Page 62 of Serving my Dragon
“The pilot?” Matias inquired as he led Kayleigh to the exit.
“Sleeping a lot harder now.” Juan grunted as he heaved my cage from the floor. He smartly made no remark about my weight.
We emerged from the plane—which I didn’t approve of because machines shouldn’t fly—into a well-lit building. Kayleigh stood waiting at the bottom of the steps while Matias climbed them to help his uncle with my prison.
The wide-open hangar doors displayed the majesty of the storm outside and the two bodies lying on its threshold. At least now we knew who’d been shot. When we’d heard the crack of a gun, Kayleigh had trembled fearing she’d be next. No trepidation for me. My importance kept me safe.
“Quickly. Vamoose,” the old man hissed as we reached the floor. “I cannot fight with my hands full.”
“Are you sure we shouldn’t find a bolt cutter? There is a toolbox over there,” Matias noted with a tilt of his head.
“No time, unless you want to see how good you are at dodging bullets.”
Given Matias’ expression, he preferred not to. They didn’t make protectors like they used to. My memories had them standing as shields against enemies. Then again, in my time they only had to worry about arrows and blades. Guns brought a whole new level of danger.
The men carried the cage between them, their stride rapid as they headed for the open hangar doors. Kayleigh stepped first into the storm and her drying clothes got immediately drenched.
“Where to?” she asked.
“Head for the fence to the left and behind the hangar.”
“I thought the family was meeting us here,” Matias noted as he continued to help Juan lug my prison.
“Not anymore. I texted them after I handled the pilot. They’re supposed to bring the cars around and snip a hole in the chain link for us to slip through.” The old man glanced at me. “Those same bolt cutters will get you out of the cage.”
Good. It really was undignified.
A yelp of pain had Matias stopping dead and his head swiveling left. “Kayleigh fell.”
And remained on the ground, face twisted in pain. “I’m sorry. I slipped and twisted my ankle.”
“Help her. I’ve got Pollita,” Juan stated, spreading his grip on the bars.
The cage rattled slightly as Matias let go and went to Kayleigh, kneeling to scoop her in his arms, but before we could get moving again, calamity!
“Stop right there,” Blake snarled as he emerged from the hangar, pointing a gun.
“It’s over, go home,” Matias declared, showing more cojones than I would have expected in the face of such danger.
“I’m not going anywhere without the dragon. Put the cage down.”
Before anyone could tell him where to put that suggestion, Blake fired the weapon and Matias cried out as he crumpled to the ground, his leg oozing blood from a wound. Since he held Kayleigh, she fell too, smacking her head on the ground hard enough she didn’t make a sound. She’d have to be conscious to do that.
That left only Juan to protect me. Not great odds, but I didn’t lose faith yet. The old man could be wily.
“You going to make me shoot you, too?” Blake threatened.
“Mierda,” Juan cursed as he lowered my cage to the ground.
“Hands on your head.” Blake approached, revolver pointed, looking entirely too smug. “Did you really think you could steal my ticket to billions?”
Billions? Nice to know I was worth so much, but, at the same time, how dare this human think he could profit off me!
Juan lifted his hands and laced them behind his neck. “A dragon isn’t something anyone should own.”
“You’re just saying that because I took it from you before your dumb ass could figure out how to profit from it.” He waggled the gun. “Move away from the cage.”
Juan shuffled a pace sideways, standing unafraid in the face of danger, undaunted by the storm buffeting his frame. His bravery might have been bolstered by Matias who, despite his injury, had risen, his lips flat and tight, his eyes blazing with anger. He stood silent and unseen behind Blake who’d foolishly dismissed him as a threat.
