Page 149 of Lethal Danger

It reversed, dropping quickly down like it had after the other swings, surging Jazz’s stomach up toward her chest with the fall.

She stared straight ahead, trying to prepare for the next swing and imminent death.

But the dragon settled at the bottom. Slowing…stopping.

“Welcome back.” The female voice jerked Jazz’s gaze to the loading platform on the right.

Sofia?

Jazz stared at the woman’s beaming smile that shone in the darkness, the hood of her black rain jacket covering most of her wavy hair.

“I’d ask if you enjoyed the ride, but it’s probably more fun if you can yell and all that.” Only Sof, and maybe Nevaeh, could joke at a time like this. But if Jazz’s hands weren’t tied right now, she might just hug the woman for it.

Sof leaned over to remove the duct tape from the closer girl’s mouth first and untie her hands.

Just as well. With the mix of shock and joy tumbling through her, Jazz was pretty sure she wouldn’t be able to talk anyway.

“Jazz?”

The sound of Nev’s voice instantly sprang tears to Jazz’s eyes.

Jazz searched for her best friend, looking past Sof as she helped the girl from the compartment and off the loading platform.

Nev’s black curls were visible first before she sprang around Sof and clambered into the compartment next to Jazz.

Nev ripped the tape off Jazz’s mouth, glistening tears falling from her eyes to join the sprinkles of rain on her cheeks.

Jazz barely noticed the sting of the tape, her gaze locked on the love and forgiveness in her precious friend’s eyes. “Nev.” Her dry throat croaked on the word. She swallowed quickly and kept going. “I’m so sor—”

Her apology was lost in the tightest hug Nev had ever given her. And Nev was known for her breath-sucking hugs.

Jazz’s tied arms yearned to hug her back. But she savored the hug anyway. The love behind it.

This was belonging, too. How had she lost sight of that?

“I am so thankful you’re okay.” Nev spoke the words next to Jazz’s ear, still not letting her go.

More tears flooded Jazz’s eyes. “Thank you.” She managed to get the whisper out past the lump growing in her throat.

“Hate to break this up.” Bristol’s voice came from somewhere behind Nev, but Jazz couldn’t see her past Nev’s cloud of curls. “Now that Nev stopped this monster, we’ve gotta get the other ones.”

Uncle Pierce.

Jazz jerked back. “Quick. Untie me.” She twisted toward Bris as her phrasing fully registered. “Did you say ones?”

Nev spoke before Bris could as she started to undo the knots. “I can’t believe Butch was the one behind the sabotage. And your own uncle was trying to kill you. I knew Pierce was a rotten dude, but I—”

“Wait. You know?”

Nev glanced up as she worked on the knots. “Just since Cora told us when she said to get over here.”

So that’s what had brought the PK-9 team there, just in the nick of time like always.

Amazement filtered through Jazz’s exhausted system as her wrists split apart, finally free. “I don’t know how Cora or Phoenix figured it out. But I’m glad.”

“Are both monsters here?”

Jazz pulled her legs out from the compartment and grabbed the knife at her ankle. “Butch is dead and Uncle Pierce is getting away.”

---