Page 79 of Velvet and Valor

Judging from the urgent shouts on the other side, Moorcrock and his crew are just as confused as I am. So, if it wasn’t one of them who shot, who fired first? Maybe the Triad has finally caught on to who really tried to rip them off here.

“Sal’s hit, boss,” shouts a goon in the dark.

“Deal with it later,” Moorcrock hollers back. “Don’t let up! He’s a Ranger!”

“Yeah, but who shot Sa?—”

Gunshots blast through the air, and Moorcock’s crew ducks and covers. Whoever is firing is definitely on my side. Or at the least, against Moorcrock.

I reload my piece, then lay down some fire just to keep Moorcrock and his crew ducking. I dash across the floor toward the likely direction of my savior.

“Yo, Ezra, is that you?” I ask.

“Guess again.”

My jaw about hits the floor at the sound of the voice. It can’t be.

Someone moves out of the deeper shadows and joins me behind the support pillar, pressing their body against mine.

“Hello, handsome,” June says, her lips pulled back in a fierce grin. “I thought you could use some backup.”

“I can’t believe you just did that,” I sputter. “How did you escape Ricky?”

“I had a little help from Neptune, God of the Sea,” she says.

“What?”

“I’ll explain later,” she says, “What’s really important in getting out of here alive. I know what they are after, and I know where to find it.”

“The gems? I already got them from my place. Do you know how many men Moorcrock has?” I ask. “Do you know their relative positions?”

“I don’t know,” she says.

“You don't know which one? How many or what positions?”

“Neither one!” Her face is a mask of concern in the half dark. “I just got here, you clearly are steps ahead of me.”

Now I'm really confused. I guess Moorcrock must have lied to me. He never had June in his custody. He just wanted me to think that he did so I would bring him the gems.

The sound of footsteps in the dark make me clench up. It sounds like there are reinforcements coming. And I don’t have to guess whose side they are on.

“Are you all right, Boss?” says a voice in the dark. I risk a glance around the pillar and see several people hunched over behind a toppled pillar. I might take one of them out, maybe, if I get lucky. The rest will hunker down and I’m already low on bullets.

“I’m fine,” Moorcrock says, his voice strained. “This blood isn’t mine. Smitty didn't make it.”

“Son of a bitch,” spits the new voice. Great. Now they have someone to avenge.

“Last chance, Sawyer,” Moorcrock hollers. “You’re outnumbered, and outgunned. Surely it doesn’t take a soldier to understand the tactical disadvantage you’re under.”

“What do you want me to do?” I ask.

“Throw me the gems, and I'll let you walk out of here.”

“I don’t believe you,” I reply.

“What have you got to lose?”

He has me there. I take out the small bag and grimace at it.