Page 59 of Defying the Relic Hunter

“She’s all yours, Xenia.”

There was a flash of red. Velda’s eyes bugged and her mouth opened in a silent scream. Her limbs flailing violently, Velda tumbled out of her chair.

I jumped to my feet and shouted, “Oh, my God! Someone call 9-1-1 my grandmother is having a seizure.”

Xenia scooped up Velda’s Ruger with its high-tech silencer and tucked it away.“My father is never going to believe this.”

“I’m having a hard time believing it myself.”

“So are we,”Ethan said in my head.

I glanced over my shoulder. Decked out like old west cowboys, Ethan, Quinn and General Jones strolled toward us. Instead of Colt revolvers, their holsters held laser pistols.

“I’m a doctor,” General Jones declared loudly. Bending down, he jabbed a pressure injector against Velda’s neck and triggered it. Her convulsing stopped. “She’ll be fine, folks.”

The diners and waitresses clapped.

Several paramedics with a gurney rushed in, scooped Velda up and rolled her out.

I looked up at Ethan.“Your men?”

“They are.”

I motioned to the waitress. “Can we get our food to go?”

“Certainly.” She hurried off.

“What happened to your recon mission?”

“Someone had tampered with our long-range scanners. There were no Marauders.”

“Another Bjarke attempt to lure you away,” I observed.

“Exactly.” Ethan wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Where did you get the Hummer?”

“Military surplus store.”

“And the explosives?”

“Same place. You never know when you’ll need to blow something up.”

“You’re gonna fit right in.” Ethan took the food from the waitress.

The General’s cold gaze settled on me. “Where’s Granny Annabel?”

“She’s doing research on the alien asshole,” I replied.

Quinn cocked a disbelieving brow. “Alien asshole?”

“The creature’s mental aura isn’t human. Therefore, it’s alien. The asshole has been possessing and killing people for Goddess knows how long,” Xenia stated.

“Where is it?” Something terrifying flickered in the General’s eyes.

I shivered. “The Best Whore House in Vegas, but don’t worry, it burned to the ground about twenty minutes ago. Flash bangs and urine don’t mix.”

“Not at all,” Xenia agreed.

Chapter Sixteen

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