Page 97 of Tag (The Golden Team #9)

Aponi

T essa’s smirk faltered.

“That’s impossible,” she snapped, looking between me and the man like the math wouldn’t add up. “We verified your DNA years ago.”

The biker’s gaze was sharp, suspicious. “I don’t know who this is, but she’s not blood. You dragged me out here for nothing. This woman is a damn Indian!”

Tag stepped into view, rifle aimed at Tessa. “Sounds like your little origin story just fell apart.”

Her jaw clenched. “No. She’s mine. She was trained. She’s part of Chimera, whether she admits it or not.”

I tilted my head. “You know what the difference is between you and me, Tessa? You built soldiers. I built myself.”

The words were still leaving my mouth when Kaylie’s voice cut into my earpiece. “Aponi—east tower just lit up. Hostile reinforcements moving in fast.”

I smiled without humor. “Guess our twelve minutes are up.”

The air exploded with gunfire.

Tag yanked me back as the first volley tore into the dirt where I’d been standing. Faron’s team opened up from the ridgeline, dropping two of Tessa’s guards before they could hit the ground. Raven and Cyclone swept in from the south, cutting through the fence like it was paper.

Tessa stumbled back, her hand going for the pistol at her hip.

I didn’t give her the chance.

I charged.

We hit the ground hard, the impact rattling my teeth. Her nails clawed for my face, but I drove my elbow into her ribs, once, twice, until her breath came out in a harsh gasp. She rolled, came up with a knife.

“You’ll never walk away from this!” she snarled.

“That’s where you’re wrong,” I said.

A single shot cracked through the air.

She froze.

Tag stood five feet away, gun trained on her head. “You so much as breathe wrong, Lawson, and I’ll end you.”

Behind us, Faron’s voice barked through the radios. “We’ve got the girls. All accounted for. Get to exfil—now!”

The biker—whoever he really was—backed toward the eastern door, hands raised. “I’m not part of this. Never was.”

“Then stay out of my way,” I told him.

I pulled Tessa to her feet, twisting her arm behind her back. “You’re coming with us.”

She laughed bitterly. “And you think this ends it? Chimera doesn’t die with me.”

I leaned in close, my lips near her ear. “Maybe not. But you’re going to tell me exactly where to cut next.”