Ricochet (26 page)

Coughing from Willa brought a rush of relief. “Willa, are you hurt?” Acrid smoke burned his eyes. Tears streamed down his face.

“I’m fine, I hope. Just need to get out of here.” Another round of coughing and gagging ended her speech.

If even one hair on her head is singed, I’ll kill him myself. Money be damned.
“Let’s go. Chaf’s already out of his ship.” Stratton fumbled with his seat restraint, then popped open the remains of the canopy door. “We can’t let him win this race.”

“That’s partially true.” Willa shot to her feet, a wraithlike shadow in the smoke and red light. “What we absolutely can’t do is allow him to get away. Not now.” The act of removing her helmet muffled the words. She put a shaking hand on his shoulder. “Chaf’s been a pain in a lot of asses lately. Whatever happens, make sure he doesn’t get away with it.”

“Don’t sweat it. I’ve had worse days.” Touching the HEPP at his hip, he jumped down from the ship, turning slightly as Willa followed behind. “There’s a bunch of activity up ahead. I’m guessing that’s where the racecourse picks up.”

“You’re a quick study, Ace.” Amusement danced in her watery eyes.

He’d do many things for that smile. “You up for the task?”

She nodded, wiping at her cheek with the back of one hand. “Absolutely. First one there gets a free shot at him.”

“Go!” Without waiting for her acknowledgement, he ran from the shuttle. Footfalls behind him indicated she chased after him, but he didn’t spare a glance.

All around him ruins from the long-dead city loomed, dusty in the sandy surface. Fewer than half the buildings still retained glass in the windows. Wood doors sagged, some rotted, some missing altogether. Stone steps leading to entryways were cracked and worn smooth from use. Stratton gave his surroundings a cursory glance. His complete focus was on the two men running ahead of him.
So close.
He saw the lettering of the sponsors’ names on Chaf’s uniform patches, the drops of sweat on the man’s neck.
The bastard’s mine.

Willa pulled even with him. He looked her way, caught the intense focus in her expression and grinned. The woman enjoyed a challenge. As they neared a street strung with racing banners and sponsor flags, Stratton wrenched out his HEPP. Anticipation of the capture guided him.
We’ll get this wrapped up and actually finish on the podium.

“Chaf, your time’s up.” He slid to a halt, as did Willa. Dust blew around them, and as he watched, Chaf and his Caringa partner halted as well. With a cry of rage, the six-armed alien launched into motion.

Willa crashed to the ground under the force of the Caringa’s charge. She’d been so sure the alien would go for Stratton that she hadn’t been prepared for the ambush. The HEPP she’d drawn for defense flew from her hand when she fell. Now, as she glared at her attacker’s mottled yellow skin, she let the anger fuel her movements.

“Get off me.” She beat at his chest with tightened fists, but since he had four more hands than she did, he easily overcame her, pinning her arms to the ground. “Stratton, I could use your help.” She couldn’t see past the Caringa to determine where exactly her racemate was.

“Got my own problems over here.” A groan buried his words; then the sounds of fighting took over. “Chaf’s playing dirty.”

“Big surprise.” She averted her face from the Caringa’s. Still, his foul breath found its way into her nostrils and triggered a gag reflex. Her stomach clenched, but she fought down the bile. “I said, get off me!” Energetic struggling freed one arm. Willa stretched, reaching for the HEPP. It lay just beyond the tips of her fingers.

A wide grin split the Caringa’s mottled yellow face as he knelt over her. He was so close she saw his pulse beat at his neck. One large hand held her jaw in an iron grip so she had no choice but to look at him while another pointed a HEPP at her heart. Not once did he utter a word, but the undisguised hatred in his bloodshot eyes drove the feeling home more than talking ever could. Another of his hands pinned her wandering fingers, killing any chance of grabbing the weapon.

Fear left her cold. What if she and Stratton didn’t make it out? Her arms shook from the strain of trying to fight off the Caringa. If she died here on this stupid planet, what would her family say about her in a eulogy? Did she care? Blinking the dust from her eyes, she glared at her alien captor. They’d probably disavow any familial tie if it came about that she hadn’t tried hard enough to get away.
I don’t care what they think. Not anymore.
She allowed herself a tiny smile, pleased when the alien narrowed his eyes. She knew where she stood with herself now, and no one else’s opinion mattered.

But, I’d rather be condemned for treason against Lingoria than allow anyone to keep me from finishing this damned race.

“Stratton?” Silence met her inquiry. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him fall to the ground and lie still, either stunned or unconscious from a blow.

Apparently, the man couldn’t keep his ass out of trouble.
This ends now.

Kicking out, she grunted when the Caringa tightened his grip on her jaw. One of her feet connected between the alien’s legs. His eyes widened, and the hand on her face fell away. Seizing the chance, she kicked again, this time putting every ounce of strength she had into the maneuver. The alien howled in pain, toppling onto his side.

Willa scrambled to her feet, grabbing her HEPP as she went. Chaf was nowhere to be found. A preemptive glance to the immediate area didn’t reveal him either. She stumbled to Stratton’s location. “Sin?” When she received no answer, she knelt in the dust beside him, feeling the side of his neck for a pulse. He couldn’t die. She wouldn’t let him. They had too much still to accomplish.
Come on, Stratton. We haven’t fought against the odds for you to let this be the end
. A steady beat thumped beneath her fingertips. “Wake up. We need to leave.”

“Get down, woman.” His eyes snapped open and focused on one of the buildings behind her. A string of curses followed the command. His left shoulder hung at an odd angle. “Chaf’s hiding in there, with a gun trained on both of us.”

“And your point would be what?” She half turned, scanning the ruins, but didn’t see their quarry.

“The fucking idiot dislocated my left shoulder during our last scuffle. If he opens fire, I’ll have a hard time getting away.”

“Are you sure?” After another sweep of the area, she gave him her attention, for the first time taking in the beads of sweat coating his upper lip and forehead, the agony embedded in his brown eyes.

He struggled into a sitting position. “No, I’m telling you a tale so you’ll go all girlie and start quivering in fear. Then you’ll try to patch the hero up and you’ll sleep with me again.”

“Not happening anytime soon, Ace.” Obviously she’d missed the injury. What kind of person overlooks that her partner has taken a hit? She needed to get her head back in the game, only now the risks were way too high. Willa licked her dry lips. “Sorry about your shoulder.” She gestured at him. His left arm hung at an awkward angle.

“It happens.” Pain clouded his face. “Do me a favor and get behind that crumbled wall. The bastard took my weapon, so you’ll have to give me yours.”

“Your first mistake? Thinking you have the right to tell me what to do.” Better to hide her feelings behind the familiar. “Fuck it, I’ve lost sight of them.” In the time she’d been conversing with Stratton, the Caringa had gone missing. That didn’t bode well. A swelling cheer rose on the air. The first race pair must have reached the finish line. Her heart sank a tiny bit. She and Stratton would be lucky to see the finish line anytime soon. No time for weakness.

“Willa, he’ll blow you away. Hide your ass, now.”

She ignored his command in order to concentrate on her thoughts. “Your second mistake? Thinking I’ll listen.” Something wasn’t right about this situation, but what?

As she pondered, a pair of racers jogged over to them. A red, bony ridge along their foreheads and dual nostrils on each side of their noses proclaimed them to be from the Andrigal species. The female frowned at Stratton, then Willa. “Do you require assistance?”

Willa shook her head. “No. We’ve got it covered, but thank you.” She waved them off. “Just tying up a few loose ends here. No big deal.”

Both members of the team nodded. They loped away from the area, and Willa heard the male say, “I will never understand the workings of the humanoid mind.”

Stratton covered a chuckle with a weak cough. “Way to strengthen race relations,
kita
.”

She ignored him. Under cover of the crowds and their conversation, she heard it—the unmistakable whir of a charging HEPP. “Get the hell down and stay there.” Leaning over, she shoved Stratton face-first into the dust, despite his cry of rage or pain.

“Damn it, I’m wounded.” The dirt muffled his protest.

“Don’t care. I’m trying to keep your ass from taking another hit or being killed. Give me a little credit.” Keeping an eye on the building, she gripped her HEPP in both hands. Either she or Stratton would get shot or Chaf would. No one would come out unscathed now. “Chaf, you big prick, show yourself and surrender like a man.” Her command rang clear in the deserted street. “I have things to do.”

She ducked as a flash of laser fire whizzed over her head. “I think I hate that guy more than I don’t like you.” When Stratton attempted to rise, Willa moved slightly and pressed a knee into the small of his back. “I said stay down.”

“You don’t own me, woman.” But he remained down, whether from her order or from the pain that rendered him helpless, she had no idea.

“Good thing, since I’d bring you to heel in a heartbeat.” Another blast of laser fire came their way. She covered his body with hers as best she could. “That man is mine.”
Come out, come out, wherever you are, you bastard.
She caught sight of Chaf in a rotted doorway, his HEPP leveled directly at her. Standing slowly, her muscles screaming, she took aim. She didn’t know what his crimes were or what had made Stratton chase him. She had no idea whose story was right. At this point, she didn’t care.

Chaf’s shot was wild and missed her. She ducked for cover behind a large piece of rusting metal.

“You’ll have to do better than that, jackass!”

His assault brought her ire to the boiling point. He’d fired on both of them with the intent to kill, and for that, he’d pay. Unexpectedly, her father’s words popped into her brain.
Be swift and sure. Wait for the moment. You might not have a second chance.
She nodded, ready.

As soon as she peeked out of her hiding spot, Chaf fired. Willa felt the heat from the laser and heard a high-pitched hum, but it didn’t hit her. The first shot zipped by her ear. She focused her concentration on him. Ducking down, she snuck a glance at Stratton. For once, the man had obeyed an order.

She jumped out of hiding once more. “Better have some last words ready.” His second shot connected. Hot pain ripped through the fleshy part of her right shoulder, singeing the slick suit. Willa didn’t give it a thought or glance. There’d be plenty of time for that. The smell of burned skin assailed her nose. She gagged and breathed through her mouth. Her index finger caressed the trigger.

“Fire, Willa. You’ve been messing around long enough.”

She took refuge behind the cover. “I need a clean shot.”

Stratton rose to his knees beside her. “He’s toying with you and won’t miss the next time.”

“Neither will I.”

“Then take him out, but don’t kill him. I need him alive.”

“No guarantees.” A cold grin curled her lips. She stepped away from the barrier. “I only need the one shot.” Willa narrowed her eyes and took aim. Her heartbeat counted down the indelible seconds that separated life from death.

Then she squeezed the trigger.

Chaf staggered from the doorway with an expression of surprise. His HEPP fell from his hand to clatter on the stone entryway. A dark hole marred his chest as blood seeped into the blue fabric of his uniform, directly over his heart. As if his lifeless legs couldn’t support his dead weight any longer, he crumpled to the ground and didn’t move again.

When her hand shook, she reholstered the gun. “You can go ahead and take Chaf’s body wherever it is you need to. He’s not a threat anymore.”

“You killed him!” Indignation propelled each word like a cannon. “What part of ‘I need him alive’ did you not understand?”

“I did what I needed to.” Willa swung around, hands on her hips. She gritted her teeth against the pain in her arm. “In case you hadn’t noticed, we were being fired upon.”

“He would have eventually given up.” Finally on his feet, Stratton cradled his useless arm against his body with his good hand. “Now, thanks to you, I won’t get paid. In case
you
didn’t know, the Alliance won’t pay for dead bodies.”

“Well, excuse me. I guess I’m not the super-special bounty hunter you are, so I have no right to make a choice, huh? Guess you’ll have to overlook the fact I did it to save your hide.” Even though she’d learned how to shoot and defend herself, she’d never ended anyone’s life. The fact she’d made her first kill sat like rancid meat in her stomach.

Stratton stared at her, his jaw working, yet uttering no words.

She swallowed the bile rising in her throat. “I can’t believe I did that. Like I need more baggage to carry around.” The laser wound burned, but she couldn’t build enough courage to look at it. “Listen, it was a split-second decision. I could let you die, or I could save your life. Guess I chose wrong.” Once again, something she’d done wasn’t good enough for the man in her life. Willa lifted her chin as she stared Stratton down. “I’m going to the finish line. Take care.” Turning her back on him, she strode along the dusty street toward the colorful crowds.

She was done trying to please the males of the species. The new chapter in her life had begun, and she intended to see where it led. Of course, how she’d get started was a mystery, but she’d deal with it like everything else. Head on. There was no other option.

“Wait.”

Despite her annoyance with him, she turned around. “What now? You want to degrade me for doing what I thought was right? I don’t shoot like a man? What?”