"You mean they react to my touch?" Her voice is barely a whisper; she's so amazed by the technology. Almost reluctantly, she swipes her finger on the screen again, and the images change once more. She keeps doing it until I feel the need to step in. My hand closes around her finger, and I stop her.
"You've never seen something like this before?"
She shakes her head, her eyes still focused on the screen. My hand is still on top of hers, and she seems to suddenly notice it because she pushes me off with a huff.
"Keep your hands to yourself," she mutters under her breath, taking a step away from me.
I guess we've ascertained one thing—she really doesn't like me.
"What's that?" Allegra comes closer once again, and my first thought is that she's going to try to play with the screens again. But when I see what she's pointing at, I curse out loud.
"It's another ship." I note the distance between us, but also something else. I quickly zoom in, and the glint of steel shines even in the depth of the night.
I thought I'd have more time.
But I hadn't calculated for the trouble with my little stowaway.
Shit!
When I'd seen the forces these people had mobilized at the airport, I'd been sure it wouldn't be the last I'd see of them. Andso I'd decided to complete the delivery as soon as possible, even though technically I have until Wednesday, two days from now.
I can't even tell how many people are on the ship, and with Allegra on board, I don't know how I'm going to manage.
"Allegra," I start, addressing her by her first name for the first time. She notices the difference too, as well as the seriousness of my tone, because she turns to face me, waiting.
"We're in danger. That ship doesn't have good intentions." Her eyes widen a little, but she doesn't say anything. I stand up and, grabbing her by the hand, I take her to where I'd stored the weapons.
"Have you ever fired a gun?" She quickly shakes her head.
"It's not too hard." I take a couple of Glocks out and lay them on the table. I quickly show her how to load the gun.
"Now," I step behind her, nestling her against my chest as I raise my arms to guide hers. "Make sure the safety is off before you actually shoot." Covering her finger with mine, I press the trigger. Since the gun is empty right now, nothing happens. "You want to hold yourself straight and put some strength into your upper body. The moment the gun fires, the force of it will knock you back." She follows my instructions attentively.
"Do I have to kill someone?" Her voice is small as she asks this, and I have to remind myself that for all her spunk, she's notlikeme.
"Little tigress," I turn her around, my hands on her shoulders. Looking her in the eye, I try to make her understand just how serious this is. "Those people are killers. They won't think twice about shooting you. Now, you either want to survive or you don't. I can't make you kill someone, but I can show you how to fight."
She gives a brisk nod.
"Why are they after you?" she asks as I watch her assemble and load the gun as I'd shown her.
"They want something I have," I say cryptically.
Back in the control room, the screen shows the ship approaching, and I know time is of the essence.
"I'm going to take the helm, little tigress, and I'm going to manually get us out of here. I need you to be my eyes, and if they get too close, shoot. You think you can do that?"
I don't know what to expect from her. From everything I've seen so far, she's been extremely sheltered. What can a coddled little girl like her do with a gun? I have to admit to myself that I have little confidence in her actually shooting.
But hey, a man can hope.
She gazes back at me, all the incertitude from before gone. With a slow nod, she gets into position—just as I'd taught her.
And I start the ship at full speed.
9
ALLEGRA
