Page 109 of Star Bringer
“Keep it that way,” Gage tells him, since I’m already heading toward the door, tugging Kali along with me.
“There’s a storm coming,” the man says, coming out from around his desk and heading toward us.
Out of an abundance of caution—and years of being fucked over—my hand goes to the pistol on my hip.
I turn back to look at him. “So?”
“So you might want to get yourself to shelter before that happens. Or ride it out here…for a price. I’ll even throw in some coffee to warm you up.”
“Coffee sounds amazing,” Kali sighs. “With sugar?”
“Sugar?” the man and I repeat at the same time. But when I glance over at him, his eyes are narrowed on Kali.
Kali just looks confused. “For the coffee?”
I shake my head as I exchange a look with Gage. Only aprincesswould think they had sugar way out here in Glacea. And definitely only aprincesswould think a stranger would share it if he did have it. We need to get out of here.Now.
“We’re fine,” I tell the man curtly, but my heart is starting to pound. “Let’s go.”
Again, I pull her by the cuff toward the door. But this time, she digs her heels in, refusing to move.
“It’s about to start storming out there,” she says, glancing back and forth between Gage and myself. “Shouldn’t we just wait here until the worst is over—”
“We’re not waiting,” I tell her through clenched teeth. The last thing we should be doing is having a coffee date with this guy, who I’m pretty sure would sell his left hand if it meant a quick profit and who is starting to look at Kali like she’s made of pure gold.
“Are you sure?” the guy asks again. There’s something in his voice that has every cell in my body going on red alert.
“Move, Kali,” I order in a voice much calmer than I’m feeling.
When she looks like she’s about to argue again, I decide to hell with trying to be polite and drag her to the door. Gage must be getting the same vibes I am, because he’s right on our heels as I throw open the door.
And run straight into the business end of a very large gun.
Chapter 41
Ian
“Dammit!” I start to slam the door, but the asshole with the laser gun shoves a boot in the jamb to keep it from closing.
I yank out my own laser pistol, whirling around to point it at the guy behind the desk, and the next thing I know, I hear a loud male grunt and Kali is slamming the door shut again.
“I did it!” she yells. “I kicked him in the groin!”
“Lock the fucking door!” I shout at her, even as I fire at the bastard I just paid a shitload of money.
But he’s already got a gun in his hand and is firing right back. His shot goes wide, missing both Kali and me. Mine, however, hits him straight in the chest, and he falls over, dead.
“Come on!” I yell at Kali and Gage. “We need to get behind the desk—now!”
It’s not great protection, but neither is that door. I can hear the guy outside firing at the lock and know it’s only a matter of seconds before he’s inside.
Kali is with me—not like she has much of a choice with the handcuffs—and I expect Gage to be right there, too. But he’s not. When I turn back to look for him, it’s to find him slumped on the floor, clutching his side. Motherfucker.
“Why are we stopping?” Kali screeches. But then she looks over her shoulder, too. And screams. Right in my fucking ear.
“How bad is it?” I growl, racing back to Gage’s side.
He’s already struggling to his feet. “Just a graze,” he mutters, but his face is pale and he looks like he’s about to pass out.
