Page 69 of Kissed By the Alien
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
LUTAN
Ifollow Moses from the bombed-out area. Less than a mile we reach a camp of a half-dozen males. Three males warm their hands around a tin drum as another climbs into a truck, one with boxes and a long black bag in the open back.
The guy with oily hair and tattoos of bones on his neck hops down from the back of the truck. “Where you been?”
“None of your fucking business, Virtue.” Moses looks around, then shoves Virtue. “Where’s the girl? What did you do with her?”
“Made a sale to some guy whose looking to wet his dick in a fat pussy.” Virtue grabs the bag of money from Moses and looks inside. “What side deal you got going on? You sell those blasters for yourself?”
Ice moves through my veins and two knives slip into my hands. Virtue will not leave here alive. This, I vow.
“Who d’ya sell her to?” Moses says, shoving Virtue again.
“Sorry you didn’t get a piece of her cunt first?”
I’m ready to kill both males, but I need to hear where Virtue took Lexi.
Moses swings at Virtue and the two end up trading punches. The other men in camp form a ring around them. Within minutes, the fight ends with Moses on the ground, his throat slit from ear to ear.
“Clear out. All of you,” Virtue orders the rest of the camp. “Meet back here in a week.”
After the other males leave, Virtue heads to the rusted truck at the edge of the camp. The bag in the back of the truckmoves.
I know in an instant. My sholani’s in there.
Virtue climbs into the truck’s cab and starts the engine.
That’s when I sneak up on the vehicle. The window is open, making this easy. I shove my knife against his throat. “Shut the engine.”
“Let me out of here, you bastard!” my Lexi’s muffled words shriek from the flatbed.
Virtue cuts the engine, the hint of a smirk on his face.
The human thinks I’m naïve. I don’t need to see his hands to know he holds a weapon in his lap. It’s why I slice across his throat without opening the door.
When I open the door, to ensure he’s dead, his body tumbles to the ground, a gun spilling out of the truck.
Even if he hadn’t been armed, I would have killed him for whatever he’s done to my Lexi. No one touches her and lives.
Quickly, I pull Lexi by her feet off the truck. My hands run up and down the bag, looking for an opening. Drekk, we don’t have time for this. Others from his gang could return at any moment. With a mere thought, my claws extend and I slice the bag down the middle.
My heart catches in my throat at the sight of my Lexi. She’s barely wearing any clothing, and looks terrified, her eyes wide, her cheeks stained from tears, and her body shaking.
“I’m here for you, sholani.” My voice comes out barely a whisper as I’m not sure how to chase the fear away. I’m not even sure she recognizes me.
I rip the rest of the bag open, stunned to see more exposed flesh. I pull her in against my chest and hold her, hoping whatever these animals did to her will not dim her spirit.
She pushes me, to get away from me, as if I’m her enemy. I release her. She needs to know she’s free, that I’m not a threat to her.
“You are safe now, my Lexi.”
“Lu-Lutan?” Her teeth chatter, but then bright blue eyes focus on my face and a sparkle emerges.
My hands cup her face and I hide my shock of how cold her skin is. I move my hands down her arms, trying to warm her.
When I remove my hands to shrug off my jacket, she cries out, “Don’t leave me!”
