“Son of a bitch,” I said. Another millimeter, and I’d have been dead.
I held a hand over my wound as I sucked in a breath. I needed to get back out there and help Bron. Tearing off my face veil, I tied it above my shoulder wound, using my teeth to pull the knot tight and staunch the blood.
“That should hold it.” Now I needed to locate a blaster and help Bron. No way was he going to have all the fun.
An imperial soldier stepped into the alleyway, blocking my path. “I thought that was you.” Instead of shooting me, he pulled off his helmet and tossed it to the ground.
I squinted at the Zagrath with dirty blond hair cut short and icy blue eyes. It was the one who’d given me the bruises before I’d left to be captured by the Vandar. The one who’d enjoyed hurting me way too much.
“You,” I said, spitting out the word.
He gave me a leering smile. “Remember me, do you, sweetheart?”
“I’m not your sweetheart.” I fisted my hands by my side. “But, yeah, I remember you. You were on my list of people to kill. Thanks for coming here and making it easier.”
He laughed. “You think you’re going to kill me? You’re the most wanted person in the galaxy. There’s a bounty on your head so large you’ll never make it off this planet, much less out of this alley.”
I gave him a hard smile. “We’ll see.”
His gaze moved down my body. “I have to say, Mantis. I like your new clothes. Is that what Vandar whores wear?”
Rage coursed through me, but I didn’t respond. I was too busy trying to figure out how I was going to kill a Zagrath fighter who was armed with a blaster, when I had nothing but a grudge and a wounded arm.
“Don’t want to tell me?” He shook his head as he advanced on me. “I don’t blame you. If I’d been whoring myself to the enemy, I wouldn’t want to admit it, either.”
I wanted to yell for Bron, but I could hear him grunting as he fought off the other soldiers, their blaster fire ricocheting through the air. If I called out for help, it might distract him in his battle, which could mean death.
The fighter lunged for me. I jumped up and spun in midair, kicking out and landing a blow to his chest. He staggered back, but remained upright, cursing at me.
“You want to hit me again?” I yelled. “Come and get it.”
“I don’t want to hit you this time.” He spit onto the ground. “I’m going to fuck you raw.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Over my dead body.”
He cracked his neck as he moved toward me. “That works for me.”
I backed away, but kept my low battle stance. I needed to get away from this guy and find a blaster. If I could run fast enough and circle around to the battle, I should be able to get a blaster off one of the dead soldiers. That is, if this asshole didn’t shoot me in the back.
I drew in a breath. It didn’t matter. I had to try. Spinning on my heel, I took off running, keeping my head low in case he fired. But instead of blaster fire, all I heard was the pounding of his feet behind mine. Then a strong arm hooked around my waist, and I was flying backward.
He threw me to the ground, landing on top of me and pinning my arms to my side. I gasped for breath, but the wind had been knocked out of me. I could only open and close my mouth, as he pressed his body on top of mine. His breath was hot and desperate, as he fumbled with my skirts while roughly nudging my legs apart.
I managed to regain my breath enough to struggle against him, but he was too heavy, and I was still weak. I gathered all the breath I could and screamed, “Bron!”
The soldier’s movements halted for a second, then he crushed his mouth to mine. Even though I knew it was to keep me from screaming again, his lips were punishing as they groped me. I opened my mouth, finding his tongue and biting down.
He reared back and backhanded me across the cheek. “Bitch!”
Even though the slap brought tears to my eyes, I used his momentary distraction to bring my knee up hard between his legs. While he gasped in pain, I scrambled to my knees. I didn’t get far before he’d pulled me back, this time forcing me onto my stomach with my face shoved into the gritty stone. He shoved my skirts up as he fumbled to part my legs again. Fear clawed in my throat as I jerked up and tried to head butt him.
He dodged me and slammed my head back down. “Nice try, but it’s time you pay for betraying the empire.” He emitted a cruel laugh. “And I’m not going to be gentle.”
Something hard pressed between my legs, and then his full weight was on me, forcing my breath out again. I braced myself for more as I attempted to draw a breath, but instead, something sticky trickled down my neck. Then the weight of his body was gone, and there was panting behind me.
I craned my neck, hoping it was not another imperial soldier.
Chapter Forty-One
Bron
The imperial fighters came at me fast and hard, pouring over the top of the cliff like scurrying Jerpithian ants. They had blasters drawn, but I was faster with my battle axe, blocking their fire and causing the beams to ricochet away from me. When they came closer, I crouched low and swiped out, taking out an entire row of them below the knees. The soldiers coming up after them stumbled over the writhing bodies of Zagrath clutching their bloody stumps. I used the distraction to take off a few of their heads, the shiny helmets flying
