Gemma stifled an exasperated chuckle. If he hadn’t survived, would any of them have even been able to read that thing?
They tucked into the shadows of the entry corridor to remain hidden from scouting eyes, and, like before, Christian took his time determining where they needed to go. The corridor was long and lit only by very dim, red lights positioned near the ceiling. If it weren’t for sunlight breaking through gaps in the walls, it would be nearly impossible to see without a torchlight.
Christian rubbed the back of his neck. “This is gonna be tough, so I’m just going to say it. This is a base for bounty hunters. They’re going to be everywhere.”
Colton put his hands on his head and spun around. “Você está tirando onda.”
Imara groaned. “I hate those bastards.”
“You and me both.” Christian’s eyes flashed with rage, his jaw clenching.
He looked at Gemma as if he once again needed her to calm the turbulence in his soul, and this time, Imara noticed.
A serious scowl marked Imara’s gorgeous face as she gripped her rifle tighter. Shehadtold Gemma she was good at reading people. Imara may not know exactly what happened in Christian’s past, but it was plain she knew bounty hunters had shattered his life somehow.
Imara stomped down the passageway. “Then let’s go kill some of these fuckers and get you some revenge.”
As they neared the end of the passageway, voices carried toward them. Only two men, it sounded like, their conversation disgusting and crude. But until they got close enough to count bodies, they would need to be prepared for anything.
Christian held a finger against his lips and pulled his dagger from its sheath, slowing his pace and stepping as silently as possible. Gemma, Imara, and Colton followed his example, arming themselves against whomever they were about to face.
They slunk in the shadows, and Gemma thanked the stars for the dim lighting of the hall. Wearing all-black uniforms, they were noticeable only when illuminated by the dark red lights near the ceiling.
A few more steps, and Gemma’s suspicion was confirmed: There were only two bounty hunters guarding the entrance, but both were heavily armed.
Gemma’s chest tightened. She couldn’t watch another one of her friends get killed.
Christian pointed to Colton then to the guard on the right. He pointed to himself then to the guard on the left.
Gemma frowned, realizing the boys were again putting themselves directly in danger. The Dissent should have better prepared her forcombat. Maybe then she could offer more than just useless knowledge and medical skills.
The guys waited until the guards were distracted—and jumped into the light together.
Christian bested his target in seconds, getting behind him and slicing across the man’s throat with his dagger. Colton jabbed his knife up under the bounty hunter’s jaw, silencing him before severing the man’s jugular and pushing him to the ground.
Gemma raised an eyebrow. They were terrifyingly good.
“Remind me not to get on your bad sides,” Imara joked, emerging from the shadows.
Colton reached into the hunter’s vest and pulled out a flat, rectangular disk. He held it against the bounty hunter’s thumb, and it lit up. “Let’s see what you’ve been up to.”
Gemma, Imara, and Christian crowded around him.
Colton flipped through a few screens before settling on a hidden file. A blue screen flashed. “Blast. I need his DNA again. Any warmth left in his fingers?”
Christian crouched down and touched the dead hunter’s hand. “A little.”
Colton passed him the device, and Christian held it against the man’s thumb. The blue screen flashed again, but this time, a black one with white lettering popped open.
“They’ve got captives,” Christian said.
Colton took back the disk. “Trading them tomorrow at an auction.”
“So, that’s what this ‘X’ is on the map? People?” Gemma asked.
“Looks like it.” Christian stood to full height. “I’m guessing we’re supposed to rescue them.”
“What’s the plan, then?” Imara crossed her arms across her chest. “We’re not going to get very far like this. You said there could be tons of them in there.”
