Chapter 20 #2
She heaved him up and together they stumbled toward the thick jungle. She saw an agent appear and before she could react, Nik grabbed her pistol from the holster on her hip and fired.
“Nice,” she said.
“Thanks,” he grunted. “Can’t let you do all the rescuing. You’ll lose interest in me.”
She didn’t think that would ever happen. “Well, someone once told me that we make a good team.”
He smiled.
She helped him behind a large tree.
“You two just won’t die.” Avril stepped into view. Her hair was disheveled and her face was streaked with dirt. She held a pistol on them. “You’ve been a huge annoyance to me, and I have a deadline to keep.” Her gaze drifted to Niklas. “It really is a shame it has to end like this.”
A body burst between them. Nera heard the whine of the laser.
And saw Jonas Solomon slam into the dirt clutching his stomach.
God save her from heroic men. Nera leaped.
She didn’t care if Avril shot her, as long as she protected Niklas. Besides, she was so done dealing with this woman.
Nera slammed her arm into Avril’s and drove it upward. The pistol fired, the laser hitting the canopy. A well-aimed kick at Avril’s knees, and the woman went down heavily in the dirt.
Snatching up the pistol, Nera aimed it at Avril and shot the woman in the shoulder.
The astro-archeologist cried out, clutching her shoulder and sobbing.
“First,” Nera said. “You don’t stand around talking to your prey.
Just shoot. Or you give them a chance to fight back or escape.
” Nera snatched some wire off her belt. She yanked Avril’s wrists in front of her and tied them together.
Tight. Nera gave the wire a hard yank, and Avril gasped.
“And that’s for your continued slobbering over my man.
I don’t appreciate it.” A punch to Avril’s face had her sprawling in the dirt, dazed.
Nera moved back to Niklas. He was holding Solomon against him. The young treasure hunter’s face was pale and he was bleeding heavily.
“Dammit, kid,” Niklas muttered.
Solomon gave a weak grin. “Shit, it hurts.”
“Serves you right. What was that all about?” Niklas demanded.
“You’re one of the good guys, Phoenix. Couldn’t let her kill you.” Solomon sucked in a pained breath. “Besides, I’ll be known as the man who saved Niklas Phoenix’s life.”
Niklas shook his head. “Reputation won’t help you if you’re dead.”
“We need a plan,” Nera said.
But before the men could say anything, more agents appeared, guns trained on them. Dammit. Nera turned, stepping in front of Niklas and Solomon. Even more agents appeared out of the smoke.
Niklas moved up beside her. “Not looking good.”
“No. But whatever happens, we’re together.” She’d always been alone, and now she wasn’t. She looked into his blue eyes. Eyes that had haunted her dreams for so long. He was hers now, something she’d never imagined would happen.
“Always.” His hand reached for hers. “I love you, Nera.”
Suddenly, laser fire lit up around them. Nera flinched, pulling Niklas closer.
But nothing hit them.
Instead, the laser shots took down the agents closest to them.
Nera lifted her head and saw Agent Ryant appear through the smoke.
Niklas saw him and groaned.
Two of the agents shifted, grinning as they raised their weapons and aimed at Nera and Niklas.
Ryant shot, sending both of the agents tumbling backward over the rocks.
Nera frowned and watched the man stop in front of them. He had an ugly bruise forming on his face.
Niklas looked at the downed guards, then at Ryant. The agent shot a dark glance at Avril.
The astro-archeologist stirred. Spying him, she blinked, and held up her bound wrists. “Ryant, release me. And kill those two.”
“Shut up,” Ryant snapped. His gaze moved to Niklas and Nera. “If you two had just waited a second before conking me out, I could have explained.”
Niklas frowned. “Explained what, Galen? How much you were planning to sell the zombies and the artifacts for?”
Ryant dragged in a deep breath. “No.”
Niklas’ frown deepened. He stared unwaveringly at his former friend. “You aren’t working with her.”
“No, Phoenix. I’ve been working undercover for several years trying to catch all the people running the black-market ring.”
Nera felt Niklas go stiff.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Niklas murmured.
“You traitor!” Avril screeched.
Ryant pulled a Tase stunner from his armor and zapped her. She collapsed back onto the ground. He looked around. “Well, this is a mess.”
“Solomon’s hurt,” Niklas said. “He needs to be in the medbay.”
Ryant glanced at where Solomon was clutching his stomach. “Roger that.”
The Sapa appeared through the dissipating smoke, a group of her blood-stained warriors at her back. Agent Ryant stiffened and moved closer to Niklas and Nera.
The woman stopped, her gaze taking it all in before settling on Nera. “Thank you for your help.”
Nera nodded.
“This one—” the Sapa shot Avril an unfriendly look “—attacked my people and tried to take our treasure.”
“We didn’t know—”
The Rumin leader nodded at Nera. “You are free to go. As friends. It is your choice if you take your dead or not.”
Nera looked at Niklas. “We’ll go now.” Her gaze dropped to Avril. “She’s all yours.”
Avril blinked, confusion on her face.
“Thank you.” The Sapa inclined her head. “Before you go, I have something else for you. A token of friendship.” She waved to some of the warriors behind her.
Two stepped forward, holding more gold artifacts in their hands. The golden animal and the metal bowl Niklas had admired.
“Damn,” he muttered reverently.
The Sapa gestured. “For you. For a warrior like this woman to cherish you, you must be a good man.”
Nera and Niklas took the precious items, and he smiled. “Thank you. We’ll care for them. And I’ll take care of her, too…when she lets me.”
“Again, I wish you safe travels Nera Darc and Niklas Phoenix.”
Nera and Niklas made their way toward the ship, listening to Ryant gather his loyal agents and give them instructions on moving Solomon and collecting the other agents who were still alive.
“We can finally get that hot shower,” Nera said.
“No!” Avril’s scream echoed through the trees. “No, no. You can’t leave me!”
Nera didn’t look back. Neither did Niklas.