“We can't free supe criminals, Amara,” Cyprian said. “The Chinese President swears that he was unaware of what was happening here. There will be a thorough investigation and doubtless a reorganization of the prison, but these are dangerous men.”
“Rain was investigating the same thing that we were and got captured,” I explained. “He's not a criminal. I suspect that many prisoners here aren't. There's a Bleiten here too. He was on a mission when they hit him with a paintball full of that magic-suppressor.”
“What?!” Malik roared.
“There are innocent supes here,” I said again. “That Bleiten could have hurt me, but he stood down. He stood down even when he was likely to be punished for it. And these two”—I waved at Rain and Talon—“protected me. I'm not leaving without them.”
“Open the fucking cells!” Malik snarled at a Chinese guard nearby.
“Which cells?” the man stammered.
“All of them!” Malik roared. “Open them now or China will not only have a war with America but also with Hell!”
The man fainted.
“Good job, Nightshade. That was the warden,” Alex drawled. He pulled out his cellphone. “Fuck, I have no service down here. I'll have to go upstairs, but when I do, I'll talk to President Colton and we'll get this worked out.”
Malik's face settled into determined lines, but he grunted, letting it go for the moment. Then he asked me, “What was the Bleiten's name?”
“Juriksel.”
“Jurik?” Mal gaped. “Fuck. Ranval Juriksel has been missing for years.”
“He's been here,” I said gently. “It sounds as if Bishop has been working with the Chinese for quite a while.”
“You!” Malik pointed at a Chinese guard who was trying to revive the warden.
The man tried to run.
Davorin grabbed him. “Oh, I don't think so, buddy.” He tossed the guard to Malik.
“Open their cells.” Malik pointed at Rain and Talon.
“I don't understand,” the man stammered in Mandarin.
“Open the doors of these two cells,” I said in perfect Mandarin as I pointed at Rain and Talon again.
The man gaped at me. “You speak Mandarin?”
“I speakeverything, darling.” I grinned. “Now open the cells.”
Alex grimaced but kept quiet as the guard radioed for someone to open the cells. Talon's cell opened first, then Rain's. As Talon stepped out, eyeing F.E.A.R. warily, Rain pushed by the guard and went straight for me. The men around me tensed, but I only opened my arms. Rain stepped right into them.
“Holy fuck, woman!” Rain exclaimed said as he hugged me. “You came through.”
“No,theydid.” I introduced Rain and Talon to my men and the team.
“Now, the rest of the prisoners,” Malik said to the guard.
“Hold on.” Alex held up his hand. “We'll find your Bleiten and get him released, but we can't set all these criminals loose. I'll bring in a team to investigate every arrest, and if we find that any of these supes have been falsely imprisoned, we'll release them. You have my word.”
The prisoners in the surrounding cells started growling, yipping, and begging us to let them out. Malik narrowed his eyes at Alex.
“Mal, I know there are innocent supes here, but they aren't all innocent. When I said that Rain and Talon protected me, I meant that they defended me against the other prisoners on this floor,” I said gently. “Bishop opened the cell doors and set everyone loose down here. Every one of them came for me except for Rain and Talon.”
“Came for you?” Jason asked with a frown. Leo elbowed him and gave him a look. “Oh! What the fuck?!” He glared at the other prisoners. “You fucking rapist bastards belong here! I hope you fucking rot!”
Malik was growling, his eyes flashing red with fury. He stretched his shoulders and growled, “Tell the guard to free them one at a time.”
