Page 44 of A Cyborg for the Alien Mercenary

“About that,” the doctor butted in, a greedy glint in his eye. “I think this information is worth more than we initially agreed. After all, I’m taking quite a risk here. With aliens here and all that. My clients?—”

The soldier’s face hardened. “Don’t push your luck, Doctor. You’ll be compensated fairly for your cooperation. Any attempt at extortion will be… poorly received.”

Rettnor blanched. “Of course, of course. I just thought?—”

“You thought wrong,” the soldier cut him off. “Secure the subject and her companions. We’ll be there within the hour. Do not let them leave.”

The call cut off abruptly, leaving the room in stunned silence.

Davis’s blood ran cold as the full implications of what he’d just heard sank in. They had been betrayed, and they didn’t have much time.

With a swift movement, Davis knocked the doctor out, the man’s body crumpling to the floor with a dull thud. But Mira wasn’t done, leaning forward to type rapidly.

“What are you doing now?” he asked, moving closer to look at the screen.

“Sending all the dirt on him to the news outlets,” she replied crisply.

He raised an eyebrow. “Not the authorities?”

She barked out a small, bitter laugh. “Not a chance. He and his buddies would just pay them off. Once the news gets a sniff of this, though, they’ll be after him like sharks with blood in the water. It’ll be a feeding frenzy. They’ll keep going until they’ve got him.”

“Nice work,” he said gruffly, reaching out to grab her arm. “But we need to move. Now.”

She jerked away from his touch, her eyes flashing with anger. “I’m not going anywhere with you,” she snapped. “I don’t even know who you are!”

Davis clenched his jaw, frustration rising. They didn’t have time for this.

“Look, sweetheart, I get that you’re scared and pissed off. But those guys on the call? They’re coming here, and trust me, you don’t want to be around when they show up.”

She crossed her arms, her chin jutting out defiantly. “I can handle myself. I’ve dealt with Rettnor for years. I can?—”

“This isn’t about Rettnor anymore,” Davis cut her off by the simple act of bending down and throwing her over his shoulder. Ignoring her screeching, he set off at a run back through the corridors.

He needed to get back to the others because they were about to have company…

13

Davis burst through the door, a woman thrown over his shoulder. “We’ve been sold out. They know we’re here. We need to move, now!”

“Put me down, you jackass,” his captive snarled, struggling against his grip. “I can walk on my own.”

“Ryke,” Davis bit out, holding on to her with effort, “we’ve got a plus one.”

He tightened his hold, his jaw clenching. “Now’s not the time for stubbornness. We need to move fast.”

“And I need you to stop treating me like a damsel in distress,” the woman shot back, her voice gaining strength. She pushed against his chest, finally breaking free and landing unsteadily on her feet.

Jesh arched an eyebrow at the exchange, tension crackling in the air between Davis and the mystery woman. Their eyes locked in a fierce battle of wills, neither backing down.

“You’re being an asshole,” the blonde spat, straightening her disheveled clothing. “I can take care of myself.”

The world exploded as the windows shattered. Jesh ducked and turned, automatically shielding her face from the shower ofglass raining down. Light glinted off the deadly shards as they cascaded over her shoulders like a deadly waterfall. Smoke filled the room, cutting off her vision as the stench of ozone and burnt circuitry filled her lungs, choking her.

She solved that by not breathing anymore as her body hummed with sudden energy, her mind racing at an impossible speed. Covak’s huge hands reached through the smoke as he tried to push her behind him for protection.

Something inside her refused. Time slowed, the world around her coming into sharp focus as she reached for a nearby tray of medical instruments. The first soldier burst through the door, but she was already moving, letting the tray fly as it and its contents headed for his face in a lethal flock.

Covak roared, his massive form barreling into the two soldiers who stepped over the first one she’d taken out. The sight of him in action sent an unexpected thrill through her. She pushed the feeling aside, focusing on the task at hand.

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