The Huntress by Michelle O'Leary Read Free Book Online

it. With a growl he lunged at her, hands clawed. “Goddamn bitch! Give him to me!”
    Whipping to one side, she dove past him, catching the hilt of a knife attached to his thigh. Rolling to her feet, she positioned herself to throw it. “Whoa, Hunter! What’s the matter with you?”
    He jerked to a halt, staring at her, muscles clenched. Turning the corners of her lips up in a mocking smile, she relaxed and tossed the knife back to him. When he caught it, she attacked. After a few good hits, he became enraged enough to use the weapon. She dodged a few of the swipes but slowed at one point to allow the blade to slide with quick, bright fire through the meat of her left shoulder. Unfortunately, pulling away from the strike placed her in line for a blow to the face. She was quick enough to make it a glancing blow, but the blood flowing down her chin from a split lip was a good incentive to end the match.
    Diving and rolling away from him, she came back to her feet with the shock rifle in hand and fired. The shot took him square in the chest and he went rigid, body arching like a bow before slamming full-length into the roof.
     
    Chapter 5
     
    While Bragan roared his pain and rage, Mea sprang away across the roofs, knowing he wouldn’t be in any shape to follow. A shock blast caused convulsions and spasms that took several minutes to pass.
    “Warren, get me the hell out of here! He’s gone crazy!”
    He didn’t bother to answer.
    She could hear the hum of the transport already but didn’t slow even when it began to land in front of her. The door was still sliding open when she vaulted through. Rolling to her feet, she switched off her transceiver and began to laugh softly, wiping blood off her chin. “He’s easier than I remember.”
    “Have you lost your goddamned mind?” Warren had turned around, staring at her with a mix of fury and concern on his face.
    “I’ll explain later. Get us to the ship.”
    Swearing softly, he swiveled back to the controls.
    Putting pressure over the slice on her shoulder and wincing absently at the pain, she turned to see Terrik webbed to the wall, watching her with his usual stoicism. “Found out he was an android, huh?”
    He gave no indication that he heard her wry comment and with a sigh, she began undoing the straps.
    “Hey!” Warren’s voice went up an octave. “I had to work to get him there!”
    “You don’t win someone’s trust by keeping them tied up.” Not pausing to see Terrik’s reaction to freedom, she plopped herself into the copilot’s seat, fingers moving with swift efficiency over the panel in front of her.
    “Hunter Brin to Tower.”
    “Tower here.”
    “I need immediate clearance to take off.”
    “Well, there’s a searcher vessel slotted for—”
    “Don’t run me a line of shit, boy. Just get it done.” Ignoring the controller’s stutter, she terminated communications and continued keying the panel for another moment. “All right, the ship’s up and ready. Just waiting on you to get us there.”
    Warren shot her an annoyed glance. “What do you think I’m doing over here?” His expression altered as he glanced at her shoulder. “You should put something on that. You’re getting blood all over the console.” He looked down. “And the chair. And the floor.”
    “Your concern is touching.” She again put pressure on the gash but didn’t move to bind it, swiveling in her seat. Terrik was leaning against the side of the transport, arms folded. His goggles made his expression inscrutable.
    “At least,” he said in his deep voice, “I’m not the only one you play games with.”
    She scowled at him. “You look delicious, handsome, but you’ve got a whole sewer thing going on there. The sanitary’s in the back.”
    He disappeared into the rear of the transport and returned much cleaner just as they were docking with the
Starfire.
    Standing, Mea moved to his side and looked up at him with solemn intensity. “Please don’t try to