Page 157 of Trove’s Purpose

Not on her head though. There was no good angle there that Chee would believe was an acceptable risk towards Trove.

“I will kill him! Leave or I rip out his throat!” Rinnicks screamed.

Chee dropped her helmet.

The gun she held within was already pointing right at Rinnicks’ leg.

The helmet knocked against the ground.

Her pistol shot with such a quiet, satisfying sound.

But not nearly as satisfying as Rinnicks’ cry of shocked agony.

Rinnicks was a very wealthy female. She was not used to being inconvenienced, much less being in any sort of pain. To people like that, pain was all the worse for being unfamiliar.

Her grip on Trove loosened. Trove slammed his head back and to the side. He didn’t have much range or ability to get a good hit, but the clacking of their skulls together still resonated in the air. Followed a moment later by Rinnicks hitting the ground, bleeding and screaming and reaching for her knee.

Well, the shattered, melted remains of her knee.

Rinnicks hid behind Trove as best she could, but she had only been hiding her vital organs. More the pity for her. At least, if Chee had hit her there, she might have died faster.

But Chee had given her warning, and Rinnicks didn’t take the deal.

Stepping in closer, Chee was able to aim better this time.

Rinnicks’ other knee met the same fate as the first. The laser fire from the pistol didn’t explode like a metal bullet, but that didn’t mean it didn’t do just as much damage. Unlike a bullet that caused a smaller entry wound but a larger exit wound, the laser fire ate through the front of her knee but did almost no damage to the back. As a result, there were gaping, burned holes where both of her knees had been, but they weren’t blown clean off.

Rinnicks wasn’t screaming anymore. She was gasping, gaping, staring at her second knee, like she almost couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Her brain wasn’t capable of registering exactly how much damage her body had suffered, so it was shutting down.

It was a familiar look. Chee had seen it on her uncle’s face when he looked down at the knife her father repeatedly drove into his chest.

Fascinating, really, how similar they were for being so different.

Chee stood over her, watching carelessly as Rinnicks came to terms with her injuries. Not that she could accept them, but long enough for her to feel the pain of them. Chee wanted to make sure she suffered for what she had done to Trove. For what she had probably done to others. And maybe she suffered a bit for what others had done to Trove as well, but Chee wasn’t sorry for that. If she didn’t want to be put down like a rapist, she shouldn’t be one.

The next shot went through Rinnicks’ hand.

Rinnicks screamed, falling back, trying to crawl away. Looking at Chee with terror in her eyes. But so used to other people doing things for her, she didn’t even really try to escape. She was just shaking and screaming.

Chee sighed, shooting her in the opposite shoulder. With that source of stability gone, she collapsed completely. Screaming. Begging incoherently. Broken just that quickly. All her power, all her control, stripped away just like that.

Chee turned, looking back at Trove. Completely unconcerned about Rinnicks.

Her mate, bleeding from his neck and arm, just smiled at her. His expression so tender and warm, it was like she was reciting sweet poetry to him.

“Are you okay?” Chee asked seriously.

“I’m fine,” he said simply. “Enjoying myself. Don’t stop on my account.”

“You could at least pretend this is serious.”

“Ah, sorry,” he cleared his throat and slumped back. “Please… save me…”

Chee rolled her eyes and shook her head before looking back at Rinnicks. She was limp, having passed out entirely. The pain was too much. It certainly wasn’t the blood loss since the laser fire also did double duty by cauterizing the wound.

Chee raised her gun and fired one last time, aiming for the head.

And just like that, Rinnicks was dead.