Damn him, she should have known playing hero would be in his DNA somewhere. Drawing her pistol, she ran after him.
As the men squared off with Lala, Zayn called out. “Two grown men against a defenseless young girl hardly seems like a fair fight.”
The men looked over their shoulders. Ray’s eyes narrowed. “Stranger, you don’t want to get involved in this.”
Clint nodded. “Besides, she’s not defenseless. She’s more dangerous than everyone in this town put together.”
Ria slowed to a walk, trying not to draw anyone’s attention.
In a casual move, Zayn swiveled the knife in his hand. “Look, just let her go, and there’ll be no trouble.”
“Screw you.” Ray leveled his gun on Lala.
Zayn moved so fast, Ria saw nothing but a blur. He swung out at the man and Ray’s gun hit the dirt. With a cry, Ray clutched his hand to his chest, blood gleaming on his wrist.
Clint spun, going for his own gun. Ria stepped forward, her pistol aimed at his head. “Not a good idea.”
“Time to go,” Zayn said to Lala with a wave.
She skipped over to Zayn, skirting the giant hole. “I’m good at swift exits.”
Ria, Zayn, and Lala backed away from the men. Both were gritting their teeth, their fuming gazes on the trio. They turned a corner, and the men and the smoldering hole disappeared from view.
“Well, it’s not every day a damsel gets a rescue from a handsome stranger.” Lala shot Zayn a grin, eyeing him up and down. Then she looked at Ria. “Thanks to you, too.”
Typical. Lala might be just a girl, but she was female. Helpless against the Phoenix charm. “You’re welcome.”
“If you ever need some help of the explosive variety, then look me up. I’m Lastite Lala to my friends… Hmm, and Lastite Lala to my enemies as well.” She broke into a fit of laughter.
Ria fought to keep her face blank. The girl really was unique.
On the edge of town, they slowed. “Do you have family near here?” Ria asked.
“Family? Nuh-uh.” Lala shook her head and did a little dance. “Only Fuzzy and Fred.”
Zayn traded a glance with Ria. “Are they friends?”
“My robots.”
Zayn ran a hand through his hair. “Right.”
This young girl lived alone on this god-forsaken planet. Ria felt a rush of sympathy. She’d had a rough life, but at least the Guild had fed her, clothed her, given her some sense of belonging and security.
“Well, I thank you again for my gallant rescue.” Lala bobbed in a curtsy. “But now I need to get back to my hideout. Bombs to make, things to blow up.”
Zayn released a long breath. “I can’t let you do that.”
Lastite Lala raised an eyebrow. “Say what?”
“We’ve come a long way to find you.”
A pout curved across the girl’s lips. “For some reason, you ain’t looking so handsome anymore.”
“Look, we aren’t going to hurt you.” With those lightning fast moves of his, Zayn whipped out some electro-cuffs and slapped them on Lala’s wrists. “We just really need you in order to complete our mission.”
Lala eyed the blue glow of the cuffs. “You really know how to ruin a perfectly good rescue.”
“Sorry, Lala. Like Zayn said, we need your help for a mission. After that, you’re free to go.” Ria looked around the dusty street. A small group of cowboys loitered farther down the road. “Maybe you’d like to move somewhere else. Somewhere less…dusty.”
