Free Chosen Prey by Cheyenne McCray Page A

grip.
    She went stone cold and absolutely still when she saw Mark pointing a gun at her, his bruised face purple with anger.
    "I don't care if you live or die," he said, his voice trembling.
    Confusion flowed through Lyra and she blinked. Wasn't he one of the stupid believers?
    He was one of the very few who knew about the Prophecy—at least that had been the case when she lived in the Temple. Why would he want to kill her now?
    "Mark…" came Adam's concerned tone. "Just get her into the van."
    "Adam, this Prophecy crap is crazy. You know it." Lyra backed up against the van door, her eyes on the gun. "Tell Mark to let me go."
    A black blur whirled in front of her as a man rammed his booted foot against Mark's gun hand.
    The gun went flying, landed on the asphalt, and skittered across its surface.
    Relief shot through her. Dare !

    Fury rode Dare like a mustang fighting for his territory. Dare plowed his fist into Mark's jaw. The man's head snapped to the side. Dare swung his leg out and swept Mark's legs out from beneath him so that the bastard fell hard onto the asphalt.
    Goddamnit . If Dare hadn't been caught in a clog in traffic caused by an accident on his way here, he would have had Lyra before any of this happened.
    The other man, called Adam, jumped onto Dare's back. In a quick movement, Dare flipped Adam over his shoulder. The man landed on his back with a grunt of pain.
    At the same time, Lyra had dropped her pack and bolted across the asphalt for Mark's gun.
    Mark scrambled to his feet and dived for Lyra.
    She cried out as he caught her by the ankles and brought her down hard on her belly and chest. Her sunglasses went flying and she spit out her bubblegum.
    Lyra stretched her fingers just far enough that she grasped the butt of the handgun.
    Mark grabbed her by her waist, drawing her closer to him.
    She twisted in Mark's grip, flipped over, and pointed the barrel at Mark's head.
    "I really don't give a crap what happens to you," she said in a harsh voice. "It's obvious this is self-defense, and I have a witness to prove it." Her arms didn't even tremble as she held the gun with both hands. "A local PI is going to have a lot more clout than a dirty sonofabitch like you." She gave him a cold smile. "Not to mention I'm beneath you, so the angle of the shot will prove that I'm defending myself. Don't think for a moment I won't."
    That's my girl , Dare thought as he drew out his own gun and aimed it at Adam.
    Mark gave Lyra a furious, vicious look as blood dripped from one corner of his mouth.
    He smeared the blood across his cheek with the sleeve of his shirt. "The cowboy may have saved your ass again, bitch, but next time—we've got something special planned for you."
    Lyra couldn't help the cold encasing her heart at his words. By the look on his face as he pushed himself to his feet, she knew he meant every word. No, this wasn't the end. This was just a delay.
    Dare appeared at Mark's side, and before she knew it, he slammed his fist into Mark's jaw.
    Mark staggered sideways and shook his head. More blood spilled from his mouth, and his teeth were coated in red as he regained his balance and growled. His braid was partially undone, and a chunk of loose hair crossed his face.
    "Out of here." Adam grabbed Mark by the sleeve and gestured to the street. "Car."
    From the corner of her eye, Lyra saw an old station wagon pulling into the parking lot.
    Mark didn't take his gaze off Lyra as Adam guided him into the passenger seat of the van.
    Lyra ran to a nearby dumpster and flung Mark's gun into it, so the people in the car wouldn't see it. She saw Dare putting away his gun.
    The next thing she knew, Dare had her by the elbow, her pack in his free hand. He practically marched her to his black SUV and lifted her into the passenger seat before she had a chance to climb in by herself. He threw her backpack at her feet, then slammed the door.
    Sweat plastered her hair against the side of her face and she felt like her makeup