Page 55 of The Last True Hero

That hand squeezed her thigh in warning. "I think you underestimate our relationship. Mia and I are partners. In all matters. The words that come from her lips might as well come from mine."

"What kind of man lets a bitch do his talking for him?" Rykker asked.

"I don't know, Rykker," Zarina suddenly interrupted. "What kind of man does?"

He slowly became aware of whose side he was sitting at.

Vex tapped those long elegant nails on the side of her chair. "Yes... do tell."

Rykker flashed his teeth at Zarina, his lip curling before he turned to placate Vex. "You and your daughter are warriors, Vex. Not bitches. You know what I meant."

"I like the girl," Vex said. "She seems like a warrior to me."

Mia curled back against McClain, resting her head on his shoulder. Point to her.

"You come in here," Vex said, looking fierce now, "calling my guest a bitch. You know I don't like that word."

"My apologies." Rykker started to sweat.

"You bring me one slave as a tribute, and barely have a handful of others to show for your efforts." Vex's eyebrow lifted. "And you let Yanno steal your mother lode."

"That's where you're wrong," Rykker argued.

"Wrong?" The word was laced with caution.

"The mother lode wasn't the first batch of slaves we took. No. I was referring to the area we took them from. Got a real good look. Lots of women and children. Not a great deal of security. Ranchers, townsfolk... there are whole settlements there, virtually mine for the taking. I just need the manpower."

The glacial look in Vex's eye became distant. "Talk is cheap. I want to see action. You owe me another tribute for the offense you've caused tonight. Bring me another and maybe I'll forget the bad taste in my mouth."

Rykker pushed to his feet. "I will."

"Oh, and Rykker?"

"Yeah?"

"You might be my favorite, but there are many others at your heels. It's a long way to fall. Now get out of my sight."

As he strode past them, he shot Mia a dark look, one she had no trouble reading.

She'd just made an enemy.

A dangerous one.