It was all because of Voodoo, so when she saw a glint, off in the trees on the other side of the river, she knew.
Something was wrong.
Someone was going to try to shoot him.
They’d used her as a distraction, because as soon as Voodoo’s teammates caught sight of her being dragged along, they’d all stopped shooting. She had no idea how many, if any, were still alive other than the one holding her and whoever was aiming a weapon at Voodoo, but it didn't matter.
No way was she going to be used to garner everyone’s attention,keep them all on edge, looking for a way to get her out without getting her killed in the process, and then get them all captured.
They weren't spending the rest of their lives in the back of that truck.
Not so long as she could do something about it.
As soon as she screamed her warning to Voodoo, he acted. He didn't bother wasting time looking, trying to figure out if she knew what she was saying, he just trusted her. That meant the world to her. It made her feel valued, like maybe she was a part of this team in some small way.
Voodoo’s shadowy form disappeared from view, at the same moment that five other shadowy forms appeared from amongst the trees. They surrounded her, only it didn't feel like they were boxing her in, it felt protective, because Indigo knew without a shadow of a doubt that they were there to do whatever it took to save her life. Save all their lives.
“You're not getting away,” a cold voice spoke. She was pretty sure it was Steel’s. Or maybe she just assumed it was because she knew that Steel was Delta Team’s leader, so she thought he was likely the one who did all the talking.
“Stay back,” the man behind her yelled, jamming the barrel of the gun into her temple. It probably would have hurt if she were capable of feeling pain like a normal person.
“If you think we’re letting you walk away from here, you're stupider than I gave you credit for,” Steel continued. The hard edge to his voice sounded almost bored, like this was all just a bothersome distraction before reaching the foregone conclusion.
“You won't risk her,” her captor yelled, but there was a quiver in his voice as he said the words. He knew how dangerous the men surrounding him were, and he wasn't at all sure that he could get himself out of this alive.
A single shot was fired, and the houseboat that Voodoo had previously been on took off down the river as fast as a boat could move.
Where was Voodoo?
Had he moved in time? Had she issued her warning too late?
Had he been injured? Killed?
“Hear that shot?” another of the men surrounding her asked, thistime she knew it was Dragon. That guy was one scary-looking man. Something about his unusual violet eyes told you he was not a person to be messed with. Since he was on her side, she didn't have to worry about him, but it didn't mean the man clutching her to him as a shield felt the same way. You couldn’t be in Dragon’s presence and not fear him.
“That was your buddy who just tried to shoot my friend meeting his maker,” Dragon continued. “Know what that means?”
Her captor didn't say anything, but because he was holding her pressed up against his body, she could feel the shiver that rocketed through him. Seemed like the man knew exactly what Dragon was trying to say, even if she was having a bit of trouble getting her cloudy mind to put the pieces together.
“Let me help you out,” one of the other guys said, Thunder this time. “Your buddy is dead. They’re all dead. The only ones left alive are you and whoever is hiding out on that boat with your boss. Your boss is a coward, but he’s going to get what's coming to him sooner or later. Right now, though, all our attention is focused on you.”
“You know what we can do right?” another of the guys piped up. She was pretty sure it was Blade. “I'm sure you didn't take this job without knowing all the details. So you know that besides being able to hear each beat of your hammering heart, I love to play with my knife. Dragon can smell the fear leaching off you. Lion spotted your little friend before Indigo here called out a warning. Steel could quite literally rip you to pieces, and I don’t think Voodoo is going to be very willing to help put you back together again since you're holding a gun to his girl’s head like you really think we’re going to let you blow her brains out.”
“His girl?” her captor stuttered. “You're lying. She’s not involved with any of you.”
“I beg to differ,” Voodoo said as he walked out of the river, water streaming down him, his weapon in his hands, looking strong, and whole, and real.
Alive.
Relief almost had her legs giving out. Or maybe that was exhaustion.
Now that Voodoo was there, she couldn’t help but feel likeeverything was okay. She might trust Voodoo’s team, but that was because she trusted him.
Actually trusted him. Her. The woman who didn't trust anyone because every single person in her life had let her down before.
Voodoo had never let her down, and she was beginning to believe he never would.
“You touch my girl, you're going to pay the price. Don’t worry, your boss isn’t going to get away even if he thinks he is. I tagged the boat, so as soon as we finish up here with you, we’re going to go visit him. We have unfinished business,” Voodoo continued, and Indigo smiled despite there being a weapon held to her head.
