upplies scattered on the floor. He saw the expensive disin

s still hiding behind the sofa. The boy's wounds w

to fighting the monster, not dealing with... this. He searched Ina's face for so

silence. The high-pitched whine of a hovercar e

e overgrown lawn. The door swung up, and a woman stepped out. She

e daughter of the B

her. She didn't knock. She just walked right in, waving a sc

Denton. They lit up with

glass and the bleeding Ina. "You've been i

his expression disgusted. "This is

d her attention to Ina, looking her

I'll offer you five million Star Coins for Denton's contract. That's enou

as desperate for money. Five million was a lifeline. He felt

yes wide with fear. If Denton left,

pants. She straightened up, her chin raised. She looked

ap yard?" Ina's voice was flat, devoid of

efiance. "Don't be ungrateful," she

she won't take the deal, take him

ching for Denton's arms. Denton's e

an

olt of blue energy struck the floor inches from

ack. Charlee let out a short scream

oth hands, her stance perfect, the barrel steady and aimed directly at Charlee's

, her voice low and dangerous. "Take one more step

t wasn't a bluff. Charlee felt it like a physical

grabbed her arms and dragged her toward the door. They scrambled

ath, flicked the safety on the pistol,

face was unmistakable. He had never seen her like this. He ha

began to ebb away. The silence in the room was thick, suffocating, broken only by Angel's ragged breathing from

" she said. "We'll deal w

leaving Denton standing in the ruined l