Page 46 of Defying the Relic Hunter

“Captain Miller will escort you to your quarters,” Quinn snapped.

A tall, athletic man in a pristine uniform stepped forward. “The Humvee’s this way, ladies.”

There were suddenly twelve of me standing there. “Not a chance. I will not be treated like a child,” all of us said in unison.

Twelve Xenias appeared next to me. “My battle skills are a match for any Coletti or Bjarke.”

Ethan reached out and grabbed me. “Nice try.”

My illusions vanished.

Xenia’s doubles abruptly disappeared.

Quinn had a firm grip on a wildly struggling Xenia. “If I can overpower you, so can they.”

“That’s because you’re in my head,” Xenia yelled.

Quinn tightened his hold. “It’s only for a couple of days.”

“Let go of me, you pigheaded bastard.”

Quinn released her and took a step back. “I love you. I want to grow old with you. Please don’t fight me on this. If I’m worried about you, I won’t be concentrating on my mission.”

Xenia’s shoulders slumped. “Fine. Go. But I won’t forget this.”

“Me, either,” I said.

Ethan let out a long breath and tilted my head up. “Promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”

“Define stupid,” I countered.

“Going after stucco warriors without proper backup.”

I looked Ethan dead in the eye. “I promise.”

“I told you I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe and I meant it.” Ethan dropped a hard kiss on my mouth and teleported.

Quinn didn’t try to touch Xenia. “Don’t kill anyone.”

Xenia gave Quinn the one-fingered salute and stomped after the Captain.

I followed them. Ethan didn’t know me as well as he thought. I climbed into the Humvee and gave Xenia an evil smile. “Suckers.”

Xenia burst out laughing.

Captain Miller eyed us in alarm. “If anything happens to you ladies, they will kill me.”

I smiled innocently. “All we’re gonna do is catch up on our sleep and indulge in some online shopping. Right, Xenia?”

“That’s right.”

The Humvee pulled to a stop in front of what looked like a supermax prison.

That lowlife bastard. I linked mentally with Xenia.“Do those fools really think a jail cell will hold us?”

“This one will.”

“The Dragos clan teaches their children how to break into and out of places like this.”

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