Page 95 of The Last True Hero
"I want to see her fall," Zarina continued in a dangerously soft voice. "I want to see this hellhole burn. And I want out. Vex controls everything that comes within her radar, especially me. She's decided she wants her legacy to continue, which means she wants to offer me up to her favorite reiver until I fall pregnant. That was Rykker until a few hours ago, provided he brought her a new haul. I can't live like this anymore. And as far as I can see, you're my best chance at getting out of here. I knew you were up to something the other night, when I saw you and that tall one, McClain, hovering around Vex's stronghold."
"You saw us?"
Zarina rolled her eyes. "I wanted to know more about why you were here. You didn't look like reivers, and Vex was suspicious."
"Enough talk. I trust her," Ellie said, "and we don't have the time to question her motives further. Open the door, and you've got my vote."
Zarina strode toward the door with predatory grace, and pressed her thumb down on the glass pane. The green light blinked, and then the door opened up.
Both Mia and Ellie gaped.
"It's keyed to Vex and me," Zarina explained. "Biometric tech the General's men use to pay for black market slaves. They throw something fancy at Vex every now and again to get her salivating."
"You don't seem impressed."
"There's one thing I hate more than my mother. And that's men who pretend they're morally upright citizens, while they're keeping slaves in dark holes."
"Didn't hear you protesting before," Mia pointed out. "When she was talking slave trades in your parlor."
Zarina shot her a dark-eyed look. "Youhavemet my mother? The last time I tried to run she whipped me bloody. I'm her only surviving offspring. That means she won't kill me. It doesn't mean she won't hurt me, and if I push her too far she'll have me bred, and then she'll take the child and I'll become collateral damage. I'm as powerless here as anyone else."
"Let's do this," Ellie said, stepping through the doorway first.
"You in front of me where I can see you at all times," Mia said, and pushed Zarina in the back with the shotgun.
There were five doors with the same fingerprint scanner inside the narrow hallway within.
"This one is your sister." Zarina pressed her finger on the panel. The door blipped again, and then opened.
Mia's heart suddenly pounded in her ears. She stepped closer.
Sage faced the door, her hands curled into fists, and her whole body quivering. Her mouth fell open when she saw who was standing there. "Mia!"
Sage slammed into her, and Mia curled her arms around her sister. She couldn't squeeze her tight enough. All this time, she'd been focused on marching toward this moment, but a part of her had doubted if she'd ever see Sage again.
McClain had done this. Without him, they'd have never gotten this close. Tears leaked from her eyes. "You're safe," she said, over and over again.
"I can't believe you guys came," Sage whispered, drawing back. She rubbed her face dry. "Are you stupid, or what?"
"Definitely stupid."
Sage hugged her again.
"We've got to go," Mia said reluctantly. She held Sage's hand, leading her back into the hallway. "Jake's fighting off the guards."
"Is he okay?" Sudden concern turned Sage's voice dark.
"Don't know." She wouldn't lie to her sister ever again. "He might need backup."
Ellie and Zarina reappeared, with Thea behind them. Thea sobbed quietly, as if she couldn't quite believe it either.
"We've got to move fast," Mia told them. "I know you've both been through one hell of an ordeal, but this isn't over yet. We need to hit the slave markets and get the others out, and then we still have to escape. Questions will have to wait until later, got it?"
Both women nodded. Sage held out her hand, and Mia realized her sister wanted the spare pistol tucked in her belt.
"I'm not being defenseless ever again," Sage said, when Mia hesitated. "And I won't let them take me if this goes to shit. Not alive."
She could understand that.
"Let's go rescue Jake," Mia said, nudging Zarina ahead of them.
