Page 103 of The Seducer
“These men took their punishment already. Unless they’re given a life sentence they’re allowed back out when they’ve served their time.”
Pearl and I exchanged worried glances, while Laura flicked her long ginger-red hair back and squared her shoulders. “If the Motherlands won’t allow any of our male warriors to go, then I’ll do it. I’m the best female warrior that we have.”
Boulder snorted. “A female warrior – ha, that’s a good one.”
Laura pushed her chest out further and narrowed her eyes. “You won’t be laughing when I track those fuckers down and bring them back here.”
All of us grew silent as if waiting for her to laugh and say that she was just joking, but Laura didn’t break a smile.
“You’re serious?” Pearl’s question woke us all from the initial shock.
“Why not? I’m not letting the Motherlands deal with those twisted Nmen by themselves. I’m the perfect person for the job since I can blend in and get close to the men. They’ll think I’m a helpless Motlander.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Magni told his wife. “You’re staying right here where I can keep you safe.”
“That’s not up to you!” Laura hardened her jaw. “None of your soldiers will be allowed in, and…”
Magni cut her off “The fuck you are. You just got back and the two of us have things to discuss.”
“I know, but you’re too busy cleaning up this mayhem for us to talk anyway. You deal with it on this side and I’ll track down and bring those men back before they hurt innocent people.”
“No!” Magni said in a nonnegotiable way, his brows lowered and his stance intimidating.
“Yes!” Laura exclaimed and placed her hands on her hips. “
“Laura dear,” Pearl said with a small frown. “This is a job for the most skilled mediators in the Motherlands; I doubt they will let you put yourself in danger.”
“We’ll see about that,” Laura said and crossed her arms. “I want to give back after everything the Motherlands have done for me, and they’ll be fools not to take my offer.” Laura held out her hand to Khan. “Give me every file you have on those shitheads, and I’ll find them.”
Magni grabbed her outstretched hand and a loud argument erupted between them when he pulled her aside, hissing at her that she’d lost her damn mind. Neither of them would give in and when Magni couldn’t talk her out of it with his words, he threatened to lock her in their room for her own protection.
Both Pearl and I objected when Magni pulled Laura onto his shoulder and walked up the stairs. We pleaded for the other men to help her, but Laura was resourceful and planted her teeth in Magni’s neck, making him growl and smack her behind hard.
“Put her down,” Khan commanded in a loud booming voice and the distraction that it caused gave Laura a chance to get out of Magni’s hold.
With fury on his face, Magni stood halfway up the staircase looking at Laura running back down to our group again.
I stroked her back in a gesture of sympathy, and Pearl moved forward, shielding Laura from Magni’s vision.
“Argh,” he snarled from the stairs, turned around, and ran up three steps at a time.
My shoulders relaxed again when he was gone.
“Laura, Magni is right,” Khan said and rocked back on his heels with a deep frown. “Chasing down criminals is no job for a woman.”
“Don’t listen to him, Laura,” Pearl said and shook her head at Khan. “When will you accept that women are as capable as men?”
“When will you accept that when it comes to handling violent Nmen, they aren’t?” he said in a sharp tone.
Pearl wasn’t intimidated. “You’re forgetting that women were police officers and soldiers before the Toxic War.”
“And you’re forgetting that they had training,” Khan pointed out. “Laura doesn’t.”
“I’m the best qualified person for the task,” Laura said with confidence. “I’m not afraid of Nmen and I have fight training now.”
Khan took a step closer, pinning Laura with his eyes. “If you aren’t afraid of those men, then you’re the least qualified person for the task. I’m not sending a fool on a suicide mission.”
“I’ll be cautious,” she said quickly. “I’m not stupid.”
