Planet Athion: The Complete Series by Angel Lawson
83
Mercy
Cassidy leadsthe women off the stage and I keep glancing past the lights, hoping to see my men. I focus my eyes anywhere but Kane’s lifeless body.
“Go,” I tell the remaining girls. “Get out of here.”
A figure jumps on the stage and I turn, ready to defend myself and the other women. The face of Trad appears but his eyes are those of my lover.
“Alex,” I say with a deep exhale. “Are they here?”
“They’re here,” he nods. “Go with them. Dimka’s waiting.”
I shake my head. “I’m not leaving without you.”
He starts to argue but a body is thrown on the stage and rolls to our feet. I look down and Alex pulls out a weapon. The figure smiles, dark and handsome.
“Damon?”
He hops to his feet. “It’s time to get out of here.”
“Where’s—”
Kai runs to the stage, eyes wide and face bleeding.
“Is everything set?” Damon asks.
Kai checks is data pad. He sends a message. “Ten minutes.”
“'Til what?” I ask.
“You said you wanted to burn this place to the ground,” Kai says. “We’ve covered this place with explosives. It triggers in ten, well, nine-and-a-half minutes.”
Panic rips through me. “Then I think we should get the hell out of here.”
The three guys grin. Even in the middle of this chaos, they’re adorable.
I lead the way, taking the path that Cassidy blazed. There’s no talking as we head up the back staircase, the one that leads to the roof. When we get to the top, to the fresh air of the night, the sky is a strange reddish glow.
“Four minutes,” Kai informs.
The last of the girls are climbing up the ramp to the ship. I feel a hand on the small of my back, urging me forward and I go, knowing we’re against the clock. At the ramp, Cassidy waits.
“What the hell?” Damon says, pushing past me and lunging for her. “What the fuck are you doing here, you traitor. How dare you show your face on my ship again.”
I grab him and try to hold him back. It’s not easy. “Not now.”
Kai nods. “Seriously, not now.”
Damon blinks and I squeeze his hand. “We’ll figure this out. She helped me out there. She helped these women.”
“No,” Cassidy says, facing me. “He’s right. Thank you for giving me a shot at redemption.”
“What?” I ask, but she bolts off the ramp, running back to the building.
“Cassidy!” I shout, starting after her. Strong hands grip me, not letting me follow. The door starts to close, like a jaw snapping shut.
Kai shouts into his data pad, “Get us out of here, Dimka.”
The ship shudders in response, lifting off the rooftop. Moments later I hear the rumble below, the shudder of the ship as the explosions detonate, taking out the brothel and any evidence it ever existed, including Cassidy. A shiver rolls down my spine, relief mixed with horror. Everything that happened in the last few hours was a blur of hate and violence.
The only thing keeping me standing is the support of the three men with me and knowing another is driving this ship. Their arms wrap around me, their bodies close and despite everything that happened, I feel strong knowing we’re fighting not just for ourselves but for every pioneer in this new land.