Page 72 of Dragon's Code

Jerrick,Darius, Gavin, and I head out of the hotel entrance. We’re immediately greeted by two big men with heavy artillery.

“Stop right there.” Thug One holds up his weapon, trains it on Jerrick at the front.

Jerrick flashes them a friendly smile. “No need to point that at us. We’re here to help.”

Thug Two chuckles. “You’re the owner of The Dragon’s Lair, Jerrick Carmine. There’s a long profile on you. You’re a fucking dragon.”

“I want to speak to whoever is in charge.”

Thug One and Two gesture with their guns. “Sure, we’ll take you right over to see her.”

Two more men come running up and the four of them surround us, pointing their guns at us. We walk calmly to the center of the road where there is a tank parked. On the tank are three women on lounge chairs, tanning reflectors leaning against them like they were trying to catch some sun while they seized an entire city.

“What have you brought me?” The woman doesn’t get up from her chair, she leans forward and puts her elbows on her spread legs. She’s wearing a pair of camouflage pants and a camo green bikini top. Her blonde hair is pulled into a high ponytail. There’s a dark gray mutt of a dog sitting by her who has a pitbull face and a stocky body.

“Jerrick Carmine, the owner of The Dragon’s Lair, and his associates,” the man says. “They wish to speak to our leader.”

“Well, you’re speaking to her. I’m Alisha Towns. Captain Alisha Towns. I’m in charge here. What can I do for ya?” The woman is cursed with a high pitched girly voice that doesn’t get any respect in the real world.

It’s deceiving. I can tell this woman is not someone to be messed with. She probably uses it to her advantage. A lot of people, especially men will underestimate a woman on her best day, but a beautiful woman with a voice like that, they’ll underestimate her before she even gets a chance to say much at all and they’ll be proven fools by the time they’re done with the interaction.

I can tell by Jerrick and the other’s stiff bodies, they’re ready for anything and they’re not underestimating anyone.

“Captain Towns,” Jerrick starts, keeping his tone neutral, “I’m Jerrick Carmine. I would like to discuss exactly what you’re doing and who sanctioned this action.”

She tilts her head, studying him. Her eyes flicker to each of us and then back to him. She stands up and climbs down the tank so she’s standing in front of Jerrick. She’s probably about five foot eight inches, but still looks small next to Jerrick. She’s got a thigh holster on each leg, a nine millimeter in each one. She’s got a knife in her boot, and I’m guessing a couple of hidden weapons too.

“It’s none of your business who sanctioned this action,” she says. “What we’re doing is exactly what my spokesman said when we arrived. We’re gathering all of you shifters, fae, witches or whatever else is out there. You’ve all been living with us, next to us, around us without us humans knowing. It’s unacceptable. How do we know if our missing persons are because of you or others like you? The abilities you have, the power you carry, we can’t just let that go.”

“Why do you think this is the place to start this?”

“This isn’t the only city chosen. We’re going where there are high amounts of you freaks. Miami. Minneapolis. Chicago. Portland on both coasts. A few other choice places. We’re gathering you up. Chipping you, so we can track you. Registering you so we know who you are. If any of you try and fight us, then we’ll kill you too. They’re working on legislation right now. If you’re not human, you can’t live in the US. You can’t be in the US. Most of the UN countries are doing the same. Those that aren’t part of the UN have already started killing people they suspect of being like you.” She gestures at our group. “Are you all dragons? Or something else?”

Jerrick shifts his weight but doesn’t make any other movements. “Why are you scared of us?”

She throws her head back and laughs. “Scared of you? Honey, I’m not surrounded by an army with itchy trigger fingers.” She holds out her arms and the sounds of guns being lifted, safeties being flicked off, and hammers being pulled back.

“Have you ever been face to face with a pissed off dragon?” Jerrick asks in a calm voice.

Towns grins. “Not yet, but I’m itching for it.” She pats the tank behind her. “Why do you think I brought a few of these babies? I have no idea what it’ll take to bring a dragon down, but I’m eager to try it.”

“What’s the difference?” I snap.

Towns turns her attention to me. “What’s the difference between what, sugar?”

“You don’t even know what the real danger is. We’ve never hurt anyone.” I have hurt people before, killed, but they assaulted someone I loved. Maybe it doesn’t make me any better than they are in this moment, but I don’t care. I would’ve killed them just the same if they were shifters. The fact that they were human had nothing to do with it. “We don’t want to hurt anyone.”

Towns crosses her arms over her chest. “What’s your point?”

“What’s the difference between us hurting you or you hurting us?”

“Huh. I guess there isn’t a difference, but I’d like to be on the side that’s doing the hurting, rather than being hurt.” She shrugs. “And that’s what they’re paying me for. I have a job to do. I appreciate you making it easier by coming out. Are there others in your employ, guests of your hotel that are also freaks like you?”

Jerrick shakes his head. “I’m not going to help you with your terrorism.”

“Sure you are, sweetheart. We’ll go room by room. We’ve been doing that anyway.” She glances back at one of the women on the tank. She twirls her finger in the air and the woman stands.

“Tabitha?”

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