Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Ria waited for the pain.
But it was the assassin who cried out and then her weight was gone.
Ria slumped forward, the wire falling to the ground. She pressed a hand to the bleeding wound on her neck and spun on one knee.
Before she could blink, strong hands were hauling her upright. “Ria? Are you okay?”
Zayn’s face was the best thing she’d seen all day. She managed a nod. She looked past him and saw Dathan and Niklas binding the wrists of the unconscious assassin.
Zayn’s fingers brushed over her hand at her neck. “Let me see.”
She let her hand drop, and he touched her neck with a gentle stroke.
“Isn’t bad, but you’re damned lucky. She was about to take your head off.” He yanked Ria forward and into his arms.
She thought about fighting him, but she didn’t. She wanted him to hold her. She wrapped her arms around him.
“God, if we’d been a minute later…” His voice trailed off.
Ria rubbed her cheek against his shirt. “How did you find me? I barely sent you the message about the shuttle.”
He laughed. “You think we’re stupid enough not to have a tracker on our shuttle?”
She raised her head. “I checked it, I didn’t find anything.”
“A sweet little invisible tracker that Malin cooked up. It’s undetectable.” He fingered her pink hair. “Not sure this is your style.”
A part of Ria was glad he was there. But another part of her wasn’t, because he’d just put himself, and his brothers, in the line of fire of the Guild.
Zayn gripped her shoulders. “You’re coming with us.”
“No.” She struggled to pull away from him. She nodded at the assassin on the ground. “This is only the beginning, Zayn.”
“I don’t care.”
Stubborn male. “They’ll keep coming. It’s going to get worse. I’m catching a shuttle for the edge.” Damn, she would have missed her ride by now. But there’d be other transports.
“No.” He stepped closer, and before she knew what he had planned, he grabbed her around the waist and hauled her up over his shoulder.
Shock held her immobile. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Just be quiet. You’re coming with us. End of argument.”
They moved out of the alley. Ria lifted her head and saw Dathan grinning at her.
He winked. “Never thought I’d see my baby bro so gaga over a woman.”
She scowled at him, then thumped Zayn on the back. “I can hurt you, even like this.”
“Do your worst.” He slapped a hand over her ass, making her jump. Then the movement turned into a caress, making her squirm.
“The transport station’s right here.” Nik’s voice interrupted. “Transport’s pulling up.”
Ria watched upside down as they boarded a public transport. It was miraculously empty. Once the doors closed with a chime, the transport pulled away, headed upward.
Zayn set her down. Instantly, she slammed a fist into his gut. He bent over with a grunt. Then he reached out and grabbed her, his mouth finding hers with unerring accuracy.
She was helpless to resist him. Her anger melted away and she leaned into the kiss.
He pulled back, his cheek pressed to hers. “I love you, Ria.”
God, he didn’t fight fair. Her hands twisted in his shirt.
The sound of a throat clearing had them separating. Nik was looking at the ceiling and Dathan was smiling.
A sudden lurch had them all stumbling. Zayn grabbed her and together they clung to the upright grip poles. The transport moved into a steep climb.
“What the hell?” Zayn said.
Niklas was frowning and looking out the window. “Transport’s been hijacked. We’re heading off course. And up. Way up.”
“Shit.” Dathan pressed a hand against the window. “I smell assassin.”
“You should never have come after me.” She pressed her lips together.
Zayn yanked her closer. “One thing you need to learn about the Phoenix brothers, is once we see something we want, we go after it until we get it.”
She stiffened. “I’m not some treasure for you to hunt.”
He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “No, you’re the woman I’m in love with.”
She sagged. How was she supposed to fight against that?
Dathan was still staring out the window. “We’re headed for the top of the tallest building.”
Ria looked out and sure enough all she saw below was smog-filled air. One tower speared upward and the transport was nearing the landing pad on the roof.
The transport lumbered to a halt and the doors opened. All of them traded looks before they stepped off onto the landing pad.
A man in a black robe stood waiting for them. He lifted his head, and Ria’s heart sank.
“Xi,” she said.
The assassin gave her a regal nod. “Ria.”
His coal-black hair was tied at the back of his head and his eyes were the color of deep space. She knew just how deadly he was. He’d been the closest thing to a friend she’d had in the Guild.
“They sent you to kill me.”
“Yes.”
Her chest felt tight. “Let Zayn and his brothers go. They have nothing to do with this.”
Xi’s dark eyes remained emotionless. “You aren’t in a position to bargain.”
Zayn pushed forward. “We aren’t going anywhere. You try and kill her, you’re taking all of us on. Four against one. Not such an easy target.”
The smallest flicker of a smile on Xi’s harsh face. “Loyalty is an admirable trait.”
Behind him the shadows moved and more robed assassins stepped forward.
Ria closed her eyes. They would all die here. The thought of Zayn dying, because of her…she could barely breathe. She grabbed Zayn’s hand. “I love you. I’m sorry you got dragged into this mess.”
“Your loyalty is admirable as well, Ria.” Xi took a step forward. “Not only to Phoenix, but to all assassins.”
She frowned. What the hell was he talking about?
“We saw the news transmissions.” Xi’s face hardened. “We found the lab.”
Another assassin shifted into the light. “I have memories of a planet with twin suns. Memories of a family. I thought I was crazy.”
Ria’s heart beat loudly in her ears.
A female assassin pushed her robe from her head. “I have nightmares. I can’t separate the images, but I know they aren’t from my life as an assassin.”
“I’ve always felt like something was missing,” another assassin said.
“As have I,” Xi added.
Ria bit her lip, emotion welling inside her.
“You’ve freed us from a lie,” Xi said. “Thank you.”
She gripped Zayn’s hand like a lifeline. When he squeezed it, the touch steadied her. She looked at Xi. “I don’t know what to say.”
“The Guild masters have been imprisoned…or executed. As have any assassins not willing to give up the old ways.” Xi’s voice darkened. “There will be no more regeneration program.”
She felt dizzy. “The Guild’s been destroyed?”
“No. We believe it still has a role to play in the galaxy. But it will be rebuilt, on a new code. Regeneration will never, ever happen again.”
“I can’t believe it,” she said.
“And another new rule, assassins can leave if they choose.” Xi held out a hand. “Assassin Ria, hand over your official Guild blade.”
She glanced at Zayn. He smiled at her, and with a shaking hand, she pulled out her Guild blade. She reached out and placed it on Xi’s wide palm.
The assassin bowed his head. “You are no longer an assassin, Ria Dante. The execution orders for your death have been rescinded. You have your freedom.”
“Hot damn.” Zayn slid an arm across her shoulders, tugged her close, and pressed a kiss to her lips.
Xi smiled. “Ensure you make the most of that freedom.”
Ria managed her own smile through her tears. “I plan to.”
Zayn revved the engine of his water speeder. He raced parallel to the pristine white beach, barely noticing the palm trees dancing in the sea breeze.
Speed. He wanted more.
The speeder crested a wave, and he launched into the air with a laugh. He landed, skidding the rear end outward and sending a spray of water into the air.
It felt good to just enjoy himself. Enjoy the wind in his face. He wanted to go fast, not to outrun anything, but just because it felt good.
If anything, he wanted to run toward something.
He saw her ahead, standing on the white sand in front of their private villa, Duna’s waves lapping at her ankles.
She shielded her eyes from the sun with one hand as she watched him.
Her tiny blue bikini hugged her fantastic body and made his mouth go dry.
It didn’t matter that they’d made love multiple times every day and in every way imaginable. He wanted her again.
Zayn throttled back and let the speeder skid up onto the beach.
Without a word, he threw his leg over the speeder, strode toward her, and scooped her up in his arms. Her laughter filled his chest to bursting.
As he kissed her, he waded into the water. The cool waves lapped his waist, and she shifted, clamping her legs around his hips.
“Hello, Commander Phoenix. How was your ride?”
He nipped her lips. “Fine. I missed you. Come with me next time.”
She smiled. “I’ll come with you again when you slow down. You dumped me in the water last time.”
“You weren’t holding onto me hard enough.”
Her arms and legs tightened around him. “Trust me, flyboy, I have no intention of letting you go.”
He let their bodies sway with the waves and brushed her hair off her face. “You happy?”
“Incandescently.” She pressed a kiss to his forehead. “I feel…at peace. No blades, no guns, no orders.”
“Freedom.” He understood because he felt the same way. He couldn’t stop himself running his hands down her hips, his thumbs sliding into the narrow strings of her bikini bottoms.
She undulated against him. “Yes, freedom.”
He buried his face against her neck, loving the salty taste of her skin. He let one finger slip inside her bikini and brush against where she was so, so hot.
“Zayn,” she murmured.
“I’ve already had you in the waves. How about we try something different? Ever made love in a hammock?”
“I haven’t. Maybe Viktoria had?”
“Vik? Nah, she wasn’t that adventurous.” Saying Vik’s name didn’t hurt quite as much as it used to. He liked that he and Ria could talk about her without it feeling uncomfortable.
And he was enjoying watching as Ria accepted who she was. Ria Dante. Former assassin, budding treasure hunter, and lover to Zayn Phoenix.
Damn, he was happy.
He carried her out of the water, and she gripped him hard. “Zayn, you can’t be serious about the hammock. We’ll kill each other! It doesn’t look strong enough.”
He flashed her a grin. “Come on, live a little.”
He stepped up onto the wide wooden deck. The multi-colored hammock was swinging in the breeze.
One step away and he heard the ring of his Sync.
“Dammit!” He paused. “I’m not answering it.”
“It’s probably your brothers. They wouldn’t call unless it was important.”
With another curse, Zayn dumped her in the hammock. Seconds later he snatched up his Sync from the table.
“Dath? Everything okay?”
Dathan’s face appeared on the screen. “We’ve got a hunt. Need you two to cut the lazing around and get back here.”
Zayn scowled. “Dath, I—”
“What’s the treasure?” Ria leaned over Zayn’s shoulder and waved at Dathan.
Dathan waved back. “Terran treasure.”
Another face pushed in front of Dathan. “Three dusty-looking statues.” Lala poked her tongue out. “The pictures of them look kind of dry and crumbling and not very sparkly, but Mr. Hunky Hunter here tells me they are worth a fooor-tuuune.”
Zayn hid a smile, especially when he saw the frustration etched on his brother’s face. They’d all been happy when Lala had decided not to go back to Diablo, and all very surprised when she’d decided—without any consultation—to join the Phoenix clan.
Dathan wrestled the Sync back from the teenager. “We got a lead on three life-sized terracotta warriors.”
Zayn whistled. Only one terracotta warrior had ever been found and was on display in a Galactic Institute of Historical Preservation museum. There were myths about more. Some said thousands had been created by a Terran emperor whose name had been lost in time.
He felt that tingle that came at the beginning of every treasure hunt. The excitement, the promise, the possibility. Then he looked at Ria and realized he felt the same way every time he looked at her.
“Sunshine or adventure? Your call,” he said.
A slow smile unfurled on her lips. “I suspect every moment with you is going to be an adventure.” She slid her hands into his hair. “Let’s go hunting.”