Page 32 of Crossing Quinn

Chapter Seven

Armed to the teeth and wearing a spiffy new battle suit, Quinn escorted us to the cargo bay. “Once I win, I expect obedience. No arguments. No whining. You will do as I say. Immediately. Got it?”

I shot Mami a disbelieving look.

She shrugged and sat on a metal bench.

Clio climbed on my mother’s lap. “No like him.”

“Me either.” Why had I thought kissing him was a good idea?

A touch of impatience in his voice, Quinn growled, “Do we have an agreement?”

“Does that macho crap work on your sister?”

Quinn blew out an aggravated breath. “Leave my family out of it.”

“I didn’t think so.” I pointed to his weapons. “I thought this was hand-to-hand combat?”

“It is.” He walked over to locker, placed his awesome trove of weapons inside, and locked it. “You don’t have to do this. You have my word I will search for Lysis.”

Gnawing on her lower lip, Mami stroked her communications bracelet. Quinn hadn’t taken it from her. Nor had he searched her. Big mistake. Her necklace was a blowgun. The long, black metal tubes held tranquilizer darts guaranteed to knock out a rampaging warlord. Papa had it made for Mami and taught her how to use it. If nothing frightened my mother, she was quite good at hitting her target.

I shook my head. “The journey to Tanith will take two weeks. We need to look for my father now.”

His voice a purr of menace, Quinn asked, “Are you ready to get your ass handed to you?”

I grinned at him. His scare tactics wouldn’t work on me. “Are you?” I released my berserker power and took a combat stance.

Quinn frowned at the sudden surge of psychic energy, and a second later he vanished.

In my mind’s eye, I could see where Quinn was going to reappear, and the instant he popped back in, I unleashed a series of snap-kicks into his gut.

He staggered.

I leaped into the air and planted my boot in Quinn’s face.

Quinn’s head snapped back, and he crashed to the floor.

“How does it feel to get your ass handed to you by a female?”

“You haven’t won yet.” Wiping the blood off his mouth, Quinn got to his feet. “You inherited your father’s berserker genes.”

“I did.” I bounced on the balls of my feet.

Quinn circled me. “How much stronger does it make you?”

“Strong enough to take down a Coletti warlord.”

“Does Zarek know?”

“He never asked.”

“And Lysis never told him.” Quinn rubbed a hand over his face and studied me for a long moment. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Your mistake, because I won’t hesitate to hurt you.”

Quinn lunged at me.

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