Page 145 of Wrapped in Their Arms

The man who had terrorized her, hunted her, tried to ruin her life and destroy the only family she had left.

He met her gaze and sneered, though there was fear behind his eyes now—real fear, for once—and she saw him shift uncomfortably, his mouth twisting in pain as he tried to cradle his blaster-singed shoulder.

Her lip curled.

She stepped forward, her voice cool and steady as steel.

“I have nothing to say to this trash,” she snapped, then spat on the ground at his feet.“Theyhurt people and tear families apart—they make people disappear.Nowit’s time forthemto disappear.”

A stunned silence followed her words, broken only by her grandmother’s soft sigh beside her.

ThenBrightgave a low whistle.

“I’m glad you feel that way,” he said, stepping up besideBurn.“Becausewe’re going to disappear them for good, sweetheart.”

Together, the twoKindredslammed the rear hatch of the shuttle shut.Theheavy thud of the seal locking into place was deeply satisfying,Noellethought, like the lid closing on a coffin.

Burn strode up to the front of the shuttle andNoellewatched as he reached inside and pressed a glowing red button in the middle of the control panel.

With a sharp hydraulic hiss, the shuttle sealed completely.

Then, with a low mechanical growl that deepened into a roar, the engines lit beneath it, flooding the quiet neighborhood with golden-purple light.Theship hovered for a heartbeat—just long enough for her to hearBransonscreaming something unintelligible inside—then it launched into the sky in a blazing arc, vanishing into the stars like a comet of vengeance.

Noelle stared up after it, her heart pounding.

“I’m glad they’re gone, but where did you send them?”she asked.

Burn came back to her side, a grin curving his stern mouth.

“I hit theHomewardBoundbutton,” he said.“Ittakes the shuttle straight back to where it came from.”

“Dios mio!”Noelleput a hand to her mouth as the realization dawned.“Youmean you sent them all toThune?Backto that big uglyTrollox?”

“Exactly.”Burn’sgrin widened.“Lookslike oldThuneis going to have some new ‘piggy-wigs’ to play with this holiday season.”

Noelle blinked at him… and then the image hit her all at once—Branson, stripped of his guns and his ego, stumbling into the pleasure dungeon of an enormous, three-headedTrolloxwith a taste for humiliation.

And she couldn’t help it.

A giggle burst from her lips—then another.Shetried to cover her mouth, but laughter shook her shoulders.Itwas shocked laughter, yes—but real and cathartic and healing.

Her ex and his horrible coworkers were going to get exactly what they deserved thisChristmas.

But she didn’t think they were going to like it.

Not one little bit.

81

NOELLE

Noelle sat on the splintered front steps of her grandmother’s house, one arm around herAbuela’sdelicate shoulders, the other resting on her own knee.Theold wood creaked beneath them, still showing signs of the brutal invasion that had just taken place.Thedoor hung crooked on its hinges, the screen ripped half-off, its metal frame twisted.Buther grandmother was safe, and that was all that mattered.

Bright andBurnstood a respectful distance away, speaking in low voices as they waited for a new shuttle to arrive, their huge bodies silhouetted against the glow of the rising moon.Burn’sarms were crossed over his broad chest whileBrightlooked skyward, watching for the incoming ship.

Noelle wasn’t ready to look up just yet.Shewasn’t ready to leave.

“Abuela…” she began gently.“Theboys already called another shuttle—it’ll be here soon to take us back to theMotherShip.Iwant you to come with me.Idon’t want to leave you here alone.”