Page 15 of Stealing the Dragon's Heart (Dragon Lords 3)

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“You!” Onnika gasped when she recognized the beast who crashed through the hatchway like a man ready for war.

She’d felt his furious intention before even knowing he was the one whose wallet she’d lifted. Before that she had just figured the ruse was up and that they’d simply be bumped off the ship directly. Now she feared for their lives.

He was flanked by three others: an even larger man with silver-hued skin and metallic hair; a shorter blond man with one eyebrow raised in amusement; and a red-haired female wielding a set of pulse guns aimed at both her and Caryn.

Hopping off the counter, she moved to place herself protectively in front of Caryn.

“Oni?” Caryn murmured. “What’s going on?”

Lear stood too, looking confused. “Aidan, do you know these women?”

Hostility glared through the man’s—Aidan’s—eyes, boring into Onnika like daggers of pure lava. “Where’s my money?” he demanded.

Instead of answering, she said to Caryn, “We made a mistake coming here. We need to go.”

Hearing the stress in her voice, Caryn didn’t hesitate. They headed for the hatch, the only way out, which meant they had no choice but to pass by the group of angered crew. As they did, Aidan’s hand shot out and caught Onnika by the arm. “You’re not going anywhere.”

Fiercely twisting her body, she ripped her arm free, taking Aidan by surprise, which she used to her advantage. Planting her left foot, she kicked out with the right, striking him across the jaw with her heel. He stumbled back several steps and grabbed his jaw in apparent shock.

His intention to detain them solidified into granite.

“Caryn, run!”

Onnika twisted around, ready to bolt. Aidan lunged for her. She saw it coming and deftly twirled, dancing out of his reach, and then used her momentum to crack him in the temple with her elbow. That move had dropped bigger men than him, but Aidan’s skull was like a cement block. The sharp vibration bit up her arm. Likely she’d be the one who’d be sore later.

He moved faster than she could anticipate and in the next instant had her arms locked behind her back. She squirmed and writhed to break free, but his hold was as solid as his head.

The silvery one grabbed Caryn soon after, wrapping his beefy arm around her delicate throat, and the redhead rested the barrel of one of her guns on Caryn’s skull, daring Onnika into further action with a look. Their action was effortless and fluid, as though the two were used to working in tandem.

Heart in her throat, Onnika ceased her struggles. Aidan dragged her back to the table and shoved her onto the bench.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” The lanky blond man put his palms up in a crowd-calming gesture. “What’s with the extreme display of violence?”

Aidan loomed over Onnika, using his considerable size to intimidate. “This is the woman who stole from me.”

“Oh shit.” The man dropped his hands. “You’re the grenade?”

Onnika blinked at him. “The what?”

“Not now, Zeek.” Aidan rubbed his jaw and demanded in a deceptively calm voice. “Where’s my money?”

Already she felt the formation of a bruise near her elbow. “Look, I’m sorry, but it’s gone, okay?”

“Gone?” Aidan huffed out a dark laugh. “You spent ten thousand credits in a couple of hours? On what?”

Tearing at the arm around her neck, Caryn’s eyes widened in distress, her wheezing audible.

“Does it matter? Hey, get your hands off her!” Onnika stood to confront the silver man. His arm only tightened around Caryn’s throat.

Aidan forced her back into the seat. “You’re lucky we don’t kill you both. This is Phase Nine. No one would question us.”

Onnika looked at Lear for help, but he only crossed to stand beside his crew, his previously carefree expression now stony. Their new friend was now their enemy. She was always surprised by how quickly that happened.

The blond man said, “Need I remind everyone the race is starting?”

No one responded, the tension in the room as thick as mire.

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