Page 57 of Mountain Trial

She wondered how much Damien had managed to communicate to the team outside before his phone was taken away.

A female voice, much softer now that she wasn’t using a microphone, filled the room. It was Mrs. Larsen.

“Please,” she begged. She was trying to staunch the blood flow from the wound on her bodyguard’s shoulder. “Pete needs a doctor. He’s going to die if―”

“He’ll die quicker if you don’t shut up,” Bull replied, his eyes glinting with malice.

“Please,” she continued. “Just tell us what you want. I’m sure we can―”

“All in good time. All in good time. Now, Monsieur le Maire, you’re going to get on the phone and call the reception again. Have them patch you in with the local police. I want to speak to whoever’s in charge out there.” Bull smiled maliciously, walking back to Mrs. Larsen. The older woman shook, but didn’t stop putting pressure on her bodyguard’s wound.

The mayor nodded. “We’ll do everything you say. Please don’t hurt anyone else.”

“What are you looking at, sweetie?” a voice asked softly from beside her. Kat jumped. She’d been so busy watching what was going on in the other side of the room, she hadn’t even seen the man come up. It was either Dogfish or Leopard―both men had short, military haircuts, and looked similar enough that she couldn’t tell them apart.

“N―nothing,” she lied.

“It’s going to be a long night. Maybe you and I could find a few minutes alone,” he said, leaning over to whisper theatrically in her ear. The smell of stale tobacco made her want to vomit, but she managed to keep a straight face.

He thinks you’re a hooker.

“I’m … I’m too scared,” she said.

“Don’t be. People will get hurt tonight, but I can protect you. Much better than the cripple you came to the party with.”

Luc’s worth a thousand of you.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” Luc interrupted, sounding exasperated. “It’s not right for you to keep us here. It goes against our human rights.”

“You can pee where you’re sitting, for all I care.” The man looked at his boss, who was still in the corner of the room, staring at the tablet. “I’d do it before Bull gets back and cuts off your dick. Don’t think he’s going to forget about the gun. Bull doesn’t ever forget.”

Kat felt a shudder run through her. She covered her shaking hands by pulling on the two edges of her torn dress, as if she could magic it back together.

“Don’t do that, sweetie, Dogfish likes looking at your legs.”

That answers one question. It’s Dogfish.

Kat dropped her hands by her side again, watching the material slide open to display her bare skin. She’d never felt so naked before, but she had to find the right time and place to fight, and this wasn’t it.

The mercenary’s hand came down between her knees and started moving up the inside of her thigh. His hands were rough, calloused, his touch unwelcome. Kat felt her stomach rebel―for a long, dreadful instant, she thought she might be sick all over his hands.

She looked up to distract herself―and caught something glinting above them.

They’re here.

Kat lowered her eyes quickly, knowing the element of surprise was vital. Instants later, glass shattered and two dark objects fell through the glass roof. The ropes uncoiled, landing on the ground with a solid thump. A second later, the ropes were obscured from view on a cloud of smoke.

Dogfish’s hand was still frozen on her thigh. He seemed to recover, suddenly, and pulled himself upright, raising his AK-47 towards the smoke.

Kat launched herself at him from underneath, aiming for the barrel of the weapon. She was under no illusion that she could disarm the large man, but wasn’t about to let anyone from the rescue team get shot at, not if she could help it.

The weapon fired a three-round burst, but Kat’s shove had displaced the barrel, and the rounds went high into the wall, digging deep into the plaster. The mercenary howled his displeasure.

The weapon fell to his feet, forgotten for a moment as his large, paw-like hand came up to grab Kat by the hair. She squirmed in his gasp, but was forced to stand at the relentless pain on her scalp.

“Ah!”

“You bitch. I’m going to kill you for that!” His hand came up and slapped her once, twice across the face. Kat’s ears rang, and she once again felt like she might throw up all over him.