Unchained (16 page)

“
I want you like that.” His
words labored in her ear. He pulled away just enough for his eyes
to burn into her, promising fire. They stood motionless, eyes
locked, in the center of the writhing, swirling, sensual
mass.

Words refused to form on her lips. His
primal intensity sent out alternating warning sirens and cheers
throughout her system, all demanding equal time of her limited
capacity to think straight.

Grey’s eyes narrowed. “It doesn’t work
unless you say it, too.”

It was then that better judgment,
conscience, and common sense kicked back into full gear. Panic
gripped her. Too much, too soon. He was too far ahead of her. She
licked her lips nervously. “I’m not sure.”

Grey exhaled hard, closed his eyes, and
pressed his forehead to her brow. He murmured, “Wrong answer, but
we’ll work on it. Either way, it’s time to go home. Dance lessons
are over for tonight.”

He released her then and pulled her off the
dance floor.

She raised her eyes to his, expecting anger.
Instead, his eyes glittered under the lights at her, shrouded with
concern and regret.

Tears stung her eyes.

“
I need to visit the lav
before we leave,” she said huskily and turned toward the rear of
the saloon.

Grey watched her retreat. He had glimpsed
her uncertainty and embarrassment and silently cursed himself. He’d
scared her. It showed in her eyes, in the way she’d tensed in his
arms and the speed in which she closed herself up. He let his wild
desire rise too close to the surface. It had surprised him before
he could check it.

Now she would need time. He needed time,
too. And space, from her. If for no other reason than to restore
his waning self-restraint. Clearly, he’d have to take it slow. He
wouldn’t scare her again. She wasn’t ready. If he had any doubts of
her innocence and inexperience, they were confirmed now.

It shouldn’t surprise him. With each passing
hour, he realized just how sheltered Syrus had kept Cidra. She
devoured each new encounter, never holding back and ready for more.
She was well-educated and socially adept, but the rest, the very
essence of life and living, had been forsaken. Syrus did what he
had to, but it didn’t make the thought of ten years of virtual
imprisonment any easier to swallow.

It came to him in a heartbeat that he wanted
to be the one to show her what life had to offer. He wanted to be
there when her eyes lit up and the flush of discovery swept over
her. He wanted to hear the excitement in her voice and watch her
grow with each new adventure. The very thought of another man
revealing the wonders of the worlds to her made his blood run
hot.

Quite a feat, considering just how hot he
was at the moment.

The cold stab of a laser pistol in his back
extinguished that heat in a flash. He instinctively reached for his
own pistol. Emptiness greeted him.

“
Don’t turn around.” A
harsh voice behind him hissed. “Out the back door. And nothing
stupid. I know you don’t have a weapon.”

Grey clenched his jaw, his eyes surveying
the room quickly. No familiar faces, no convenient diversions, no
easy escape. The light brush of fabric against his back told him
the pistol was hidden from view of any curious patrons. And as his
assailant had accurately pointed out, he was unarmed. There wasn’t
a Kin-sha move faster than a laser shot. He’d have a better chance
once they were in the alley. That is, unless his abductor had
friends.

With the pistol fitted snugly to his spine,
he headed for the door. The last thing he needed was for Cidra to
see him. Whatever this turned into, he preferred her as far away
from it as possible.

He’d owe her another apology for leaving
her. The weapon shoved in his back reminded him that that was the
least of his worries.

CHAPTER NINE

Cidra exited the lav feeling more in
control, if not thoroughly confused, mortally embarrassed, and
absolutely terrified. Running away was not her style. Neither was
withdrawing an offer. She didn’t want to consider what he thought
of her now. It certainly wasn’t the reason she found herself racing
back to him. Her danger sense was screaming. One quick scan of the
room confirmed her worst fear. No sign of Grey.

The notion that he would abandon her
flickered by with little impact. Of one thing she was certain, he
hadn’t left by choice. She glanced toward the front entrance. If
not by choice, then discreetly as well. She spun around and rushed
to the rear exit.

The alley on the other side of the heavy
door was empty, dark, and reeked of rotting food. Something
scurried a few meters from her feet.

Her danger sense peaked and drove her
forward. She ran left, dodging the mass of containers upended and
tossed recklessly along the length of the narrow alley. Another
left turn and she stumbled out into main artery next to the bar and
right into a big, warm body.

“
Whoa, little lady.
Wouldn’t want you to...” Rourke’s eyes widened. A slow smile lit
his face. “Cidra, right? Nice to see you again.”

Her wild eyes met his. His smile
vanished.

“
What’s wrong?” Suddenly
alarmed, he shot a glance over her head towards the dark alley.
“Where’s Grey? Don’t tell me he left you on your own.”

“
He’s in trouble.” She
grabbed the front of Rourke’s jacket so fiercely that he actually
flinched. “Big trouble. Did you see him leave?”

Rourke frowned. “No. How long ago?”

“
Minutes, I think. We have
to find him. He didn’t leave willingly.” Her voice bordered on
desperation. She knew instinctively that every second
counted.

The shrill signal of her comm unit in her
small bag cut through the tension. Her eyes met briefly with
Rourke’s before she fumbled frantically to locate it. As soon as
she touched the control, voices and sounds came through the
unit.

“
...should know, you can’t
hide from me, Stone. I figured sooner or later, you’d have to
leave
Calíbre
and
then I’d have you. It’s really a shame you couldn’t have died
quietly in our little assault over Avion. I lost several of my best
men in that Victor. You will have to pay for that. Your life will
do for starters.”

There was a sickening thud, proceeded by
Grey’s pained grunt and winded retort. “Drop dead, Wex.”

“
Tsk, tsk. I’m a reasonable
man. I am willing to forgive your indiscretion. And it’ll only cost
you
Calíbre
.
Legally, of course. Your crew is entirely too loyal for me to step
in without your full support. All I really need is your verbal
consent on the transfer card, and you can walk away.”

Cidra caught her breath and looked to
Rourke. He glared at the comm unit and muttered through clenched
teeth, “Sandor Wex.”

He pulled the comm unit from Cidra’s hand,
cut the connection and shoved the unit back into her hand. Cidra
gasped. “What are you doing?”

“
Trust me. Hail
Calíbre
. Now,” he
demanded.

She did as he asked and Coon answered the
summons. “Hi, Sugar. To what do I owe this unexpected and
delightful pleasure.”

Cidra cut in. “Later, Coon. Grey’s in
trouble.” She passed the unit to Rourke. “All yours.”

Rourke palmed the comm unit and addressed
Coon. “Wex waylaid him. Sounds like he brought some friends along
and they’re working him over pretty good. He’s wearing a comm unit.
I need a fix on his current location. Fast.”

Coon’s swearing was
accompanied by the sound of fingers tapping furiously. “His
standard unit is here on
Calíbre
. He must be using his private
unit. Hold on.” A few more taps. “Got it.” He came back
triumphantly. “He’s between Cutter and Junta Re about half way down
the block.”

“
Thanks, Coon.” Rourke
grabbed Cidra and pulled her with him. “This way.”

Grey hit the dirt hard. That last punch had
done its job if the sheer number of stars in his head were any
indication. Wex had replaced his lost crew with some real
heavyweights. The one bearing down on him now was as big and ugly
as they came.

“
Stone,” Wex taunted him.
“Really, is all this necessary? Dunkin here does so enjoy his work.
Simply give
Calíbre
to me and you can stay with the living.”

Grey staggered to his feet, eyeing Dunkin’s
malicious smile. Oh yes, he definitely enjoyed his work. Staying
alive, regardless of what Grey agreed to, seemed a remote
possibility.

“
If he enjoys his work so
much, what do you need the other three for? Why don’t you take a
hike, and let me and Dunkin here hash this out? Or don’t you
believe he can handle the job?” Grey knew the significance of his
words had sunk into Dunkin’s thick head when a worried crease
developed in the middle of the single, massive eyebrow.

But Wex’s head wasn’t quite so thick. “Now,
now. Dunkin is well-suited to his vocation and needs little
guidance from me. You’ll only incite him further.”

However, Dunkin looked bewildered and
unconvinced. Wex spent precious minutes speaking to him in quiet,
fatherly tones.

A few more minutes, Grey
thought. She had to come. He hadn’t wanted to involve her, but
there was no choice. If she didn’t show up, he would die right here
in this filthy alley. There was no way he’d give
Calíbre
to Sandor
Wex.

They nearly ran right past the entrance of
the alley. Rourke heard the voices first and grabbed her just in
time, covering her protest with his hand and whispering silence in
her ear.

He ventured a peek around the corner and
could make out the shadows of six men, most of them massive. Wex
was easy to pick out with his arrogant stance and slight build. He
stood flanked by two giants, one of which was delivering another
blow to a hunched over figure being held by two more men. Laser
pistols glinted all around.

He winced as Grey absorbed the hit with a
painful grunt, his head hanging low. They didn’t have much time
before he’d be down for good.

He felt Cidra hovering over his back,
watching the action. He turned to her expecting to see fear or
horror. Instead, her expression was brutally fierce and her body
wound tight, ready to launch. All that sweet, feminine beauty had
suddenly turned formidable and deadly.

Grey had certainly picked himself an
interesting pilot.

Rourke pressed his head back against the
front of the building and asked Cidra, “Do you have a weapon?”

“
No, but I can take care of
myself.” Her eyes drilled into him, leaving no doubt to her
confidence. Despite her words, he suppressed a curse. He had one
laser pistol and an unarmed, albeit, furious female pilot against
at least five men loaded with weapons and one beaten hostage. Bad
odds, but he’d seen worse. With Grey, in fact.

He cast one more glance into the alley in
time to see Grey absorb another blow and drop heavily to the
ground, rocking slowly.

“
We’ll need a diversion
then. Any ideas?”

“
Just one.” Her whisper
brought his eyes to hers immediately, but she was looking past him,
straight up into the stars. He watched in puzzlement as she began
scouring the ground frantically.

“
What are you
doing?”

“
Trust me.” She scooped a
handful of stones from a nearby foliage container, walked past him
to the edge of the alley and stared up at the grid hanging over the
alley. “Cover your eyes and get that weapon ready.”

She heaved a small stone at the biggest
gridhead with all her might. It missed, ricocheting loudly off the
opposite side of the alley.

“
What was that?” A single
voice echoed through the alley. Another voice rose up. “If anyone
finds us here...” Followed by, “Let’s kill him now and get it over
with.”

Wex’s voice cut in, “Just shut up and find
out what that was.” One set of footsteps rang out, heading down the
alley toward Cidra.

Rourke stood ready. Cidra concentrated on
the gridhead, heaved another stone and hit her mark.

Instantly, the grid came to life and
blinding lights flooded the darkness while a chilling siren cut
through the night air. A chorus of obscenities accompanied Wex’s
alarmed shout of retreat and the sound of a hasty withdrawal in the
opposite direction. Her eyes adjusted quickly to the intense
lights, yet she remained motionless.

The approaching footsteps materialized into
a startled giant of a man, covering his blinded eyes with a meaty
arm and swearing viciously. He staggered to a halt and blinked
several times before he realized he was standing directly in front
of a very angry woman.

The giant aimed his laser pistol, but before
Rourke could pull his own trigger, Cidra delivered a lightening
quick kick. The man’s gun spun into the side of the building. The
next kick caught the giant neatly in the throat. He stumbled back,
gasping for air. The third kick connected with the side of his
head. His eyes rolled back and he dropped like a stone.

Rourke gaped at the downed giant, at the
undischarged laser pistol in his hand, and then to Cidra. She
appeared perfectly calm, glanced one last time at the giant to make
sure he was down and took off in a dead run into the blinding,
blaring alley.

“
Well, I’ll be damned,”
Rourke murmured, then took off after her.

Cidra’s heart sank. The alley was empty.
They must still have him. She rushed ahead, determined to follow
them and nearly tripped over his very still body, curled up on the
ground.