Page 26 of Harmless
I laughed, the sound wild and maniacal. “You said you let me go because I was a woman. What did you think was gonna happen?”
My first shot was fast and low, an aim from my hip. The electric prod clattered to the ground as he screamed. The guard clutched his maimed hand, blood pouring from the wound in the back of his palm.
“You like that? Neat little trick my dad taught me.” I held out my free arm. “Come here, Paige. I got you.”
The poor girl thankfully had enough sense to listen, hurrying to my side and allowing my arm to fall around her shoulders protectively. Holding her trembling form close to me, I took proper aim with my shooting arm, lining up my wrist, elbow, and shoulder.
Now it was the guard staring at me in fear, his mangled hand held tightly against his chest.
“You shouldn’t have let me go,” I told him. “Your biggest mistake was believing me to be harmless.” I fired, and he fell dead in a crumpled heap.
Immediately, I turned to Paige, wrapping her up in both arms. “Are you okay? Did any of them hurt you?”
“W-what’s going on?” She shook like a leaf, practically vibrating in my embrace. “I’m scared, I don’t know what’s happening.”
“We’re closing down the resort and freeing everyone.” I pulled away, taking her face in my hands. “You’re getting out, and then we can get you in touch with your family. You’ll be able to go anywhere you want, but you have to listen, okay?”
Paige nodded shakily, and I tried not to take it personally that she probably had some amount of fear of me as well.
“Stay hidden and out of harm’s way until this is over. We’ve got to fight our way out, but none of my people will hurt you, okay?” I wasn’t so sure about the gladiators, but I knew at least my cousins and the Valkyrie Network riders wouldn’t harm a hair on her head.
“Ah, ma’am? Aurora?”
“Yes?” I turned to face the fighter who had walked up behind me and stepped between him and Paige.
It was the Hunter, panting slightly, his bare torso slicked with sweat and blood. He held a hatchet in one hand and a short sword in the other.
“We’ve found the pitmasters with the brass knuckles. They’re bringing them to the center of the pit now.”
“Excellent, thank you.” I immediately decided that I liked this guy. He seemed noble and honest, not to mention a stellar fighter.
He is trustworthy.A featherlight breeze over my skin and Astarte’s words confirmed it.
“Hunter? Would you please watch over her?” I stepped aside to reveal Paige, who seemed calmer since he arrived. “Paige is my friend and was almost taken hostage. I need to make sure nothing happens to her.”
The young gladiator straightened, his chest puffing out slightly. “I will guard her with my life.”
“Again, thank you.” I turned to Paige, giving her shoulder a little squeeze. “Stick with him, okay? You’ll be safe.”
Even though I had nothing to worry about, I stepped in close to whisper in the Hunter’s ear, holding my weapon loosely at my side. “I will know if you hurt her or touch her in any way that she doesn’t want. And I won’t be merciful on you.”
His jaw tightened. “I would never.”
“Good.” I gave his shoulder a little pat as I slid past him, heading back to the fighting pit.
Shouting and gunfire, with the occasional explosion of a smoke bomb, came from all around me as I walked. Someone had released the rest of the gladiators who hadn’t been in the pit, and those were the ones the uniforms seemed to be going after at the moment.
LJ, Carter, and their riders were mostly guarding the exits—allowing guests to escape but not staff. A few others were combing through all rooms and offices of the resort, flushing people out of hiding places or hidden passageways. We knew there had to be procedures in place in case of a breach and figured there would be some amount of escapees.
That was fine with me. I wanted word to reach whoever was at the top of this operation. I wanted to remind them that they weren’t all powerful, and they wouldn’t get away with enslaving people for much longer.
I wanted them to know I would soon come knocking.
With head bent low and hands tied behind their backs, the three guards sat in a circle on the sandy ground. Two gladiators stood over them, one of them being the man with cross tattoos next to his eyes.
“A gift for you, Aurora,” said the tattooed man with a smile, gesturing to the three guards.
“Thank you.” I spent a quick moment taking him in. “What are you called?”
