She didn’t care if Avril shot her, as long as she protected Niklas. Besides, she wassodone dealing with this woman.
Nera slammed her arm into Avril’s and drove it upward. The pistol fired, the laser hitting the canopy. A well-aimed kick at Avril’s knees, and the woman went down heavily in the dirt.
Snatching up the pistol, Nera aimed it at Avril and shot the woman in the shoulder.
The astro-archeologist cried out, clutching her shoulder and sobbing.
“First,” Nera said. “You don’t stand around talking to your prey. Just shoot. Or you give them a chance to fight back or escape.” Nera snatched some wire off her belt. She yanked Avril’s wrists in front of her and tied them together. Tight. Nera gave the wire a hard yank, and Avril gasped. “And that’s for your continued slobbering over my man. I don’t appreciate it.” A punch to Avril’s face had her sprawling in the dirt, dazed.
Nera moved back to Niklas. He was holding Solomon against him. The young treasure hunter’s face was pale and he was bleeding heavily.
“Dammit, kid,” Niklas muttered.
Solomon gave a weak grin. “Shit, it hurts.”
“Serves you right. What was that all about?” Niklas demanded.
“You’re one of the good guys, Phoenix. Couldn’t let her kill you.” Solomon sucked in a pained breath. “Besides, I’ll be known as the man who saved Niklas Phoenix’s life.”
Niklas shook his head. “Reputation won’t help you if you’re dead.”
“We need a plan,” Nera said.
But before the men could say anything, more agents appeared, guns trained on them.Dammit. Nera turned, stepping in front of Niklas and Solomon. Even more agents appeared out of the smoke.
Niklas moved up beside her. “Not looking good.”
“No. But whatever happens, we’re together.” She’d always been alone, and now she wasn’t. She looked into his blue eyes. Eyes that had haunted her dreams for so long. He was hers now, something she’d never imagined would happen.
“Always.” His hand reached for hers. “I love you, Nera.”
Suddenly, laser fire lit up around them. Nera flinched, pulling Niklas closer.
But nothing hit them.
Instead, the laser shots took down the agents closest to them.
Nera lifted her head and saw Agent Ryant appear through the smoke.
Niklas saw him and groaned.
Two of the agents shifted, grinning as they raised their weapons and aimed at Nera and Niklas.
Ryant shot, sending both of the agents tumbling backward over the rocks.
Nera frowned and watched the man stop in front of them. He had an ugly bruise forming on his face.
Niklas looked at the downed guards, then at Ryant. The agent shot a dark glance at Avril.
The astro-archeologist stirred. Spying him, she blinked, and held up her bound wrists. “Ryant, release me. And kill those two.”
“Shut up,” Ryant snapped. His gaze moved to Niklas and Nera. “If you two had just waited a second before conking me out, I could have explained.”
Niklas frowned. “Explained what, Galen? How much you were planning to sell the zombies and the artifacts for?”
Ryant dragged in a deep breath. “No.”
Niklas’ frown deepened. He stared unwaveringly at his former friend. “You aren’t working with her.”
