Page 64 of Born Savage

Or so I hoped.

Why had I started to believe for whatever insane reason that my success was dependent on having Star with me? I didn’t like what I’d walked into or the pressure I’d faced from both John and Peter. The damn crescent moons continued to weigh on my mind.

The entire story had yet to be told.

What did that matter now that we were under attack?

“You brought the Borgata with you,” she accused.

“No, princess. I assure you we were more than capable of losing anyone stupid enough to try and follow us.”

“Then how the hell did you find me?”

My opportunity to gloat. “You should realize that when you steal specialized equipment, there might be a tracking device installed.”

The way she ground her teeth hurt my own. “Damn it.” Whether from exhaustion, anxiety, or anger, she rubbed her eyes.

“Can the hatch be breached?” I asked, coming closer to her.

While she shook her head, I could tell by her hesitation the event had never been tested. “I don’t think so, but the secondary alarm has never gone off.” She yanked open a drawer, grabbing various holsters for her weapons, including the shoulder straps holding the sword’s sheath.

Watching her fueled my darkest fantasies, a warrior woman preparing to defend her people.

Knives were driven into pockets on her cargo pants, two pistols slipped in two different holsters of their own. And a handful of her throwing stars that she was so damn proficient in using.

“Don’t get any ideas,” she snorted. “These belong to me.”

“Don’t worry, princess. I prefer my own. Do you have a communications or security room? Watchdogs to keep you safe?”

“Yes,” she answered, her voice quavering for the first time since I’d known her. But her glare remained. “There are always people on watch. That’s what building a community is about. Everyone pitches in.”

“Where are our weapons?” The constant beeping of the alarm, the sweep of pulsing lights would soon become an irritant. Additional memories surfaced including the night my father was taken from me. A ragged pain pinched deep within my chest, my reaction of placing my hand over my heart involuntary. But one she noticed.

“Locked away. I need to deal with this. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

She started to walk away from me, but I stopped her, grabbing her arm just as someone pounded on the door.

“You need my men to help you with this. From what I’ve seen, you don’t have highly trained soldiers, only men promising to help. True?”

She didn’t look me in the eye, already as agitated as I’d become. With a hard jerk of her arm, she backed away, rubbing her skin as if I’d bruised her. “What does it matter? In this fucked-up world we do what’s necessary to remain alive.”

“Commander. We have a breach.” The man’s voice was close to becoming frantic.

When she placed her hand on the door handle, I crowded her space until the same heightened flicker of electricity shifted from one to the other. “We are your community’s only chance at survival. Allow me to help.”

Her chest rose and fell, the tense cords in her neck giving away her utter fear. “Fine. But you will do as I say. We will protect these people. My people.”

“Absolutely.”

She’d no sooner thrown open the door than she raced past the group of three men, storming down the corridor. “How many? What are their weapons?”

“At least twelve, maybe more. Powerful enough the indicators are off the charts.” One of the three continuously scanned my body as if fearful I would attack.

“Shit,” she hissed. “I want six guarding the hatch. Do not allow anyone in. Jack, take four and guide our villagers to the safe room. Do not terrify them.”

“Yes, Commander.”