Free The Uninvited (The Julianna Rae Chronicles Book 1) by Aral Bereux

‘Fucking norms,’ he said from behind it.
    ‘Yeah, Sergeant, seriously,’ she mimicked.
    Her legs stopped dancing and her elbow connected into his chin, crumpling him over his Sig where he sat. She dashed for it, holding it awkwardly between her cuffed hands, shuffling its weight until she aimed at the sniper as it rose in her direction.
    She shook her head and cocked the gun, knowing the double trigger action needed engaging once. One bump and his head would splash the sterile interior in a crimson red. He dropped the rifles muzzle to the floor.
    The truck journeyed on, its front passengers oblivious to the unfolding events. The sounds muffled enough for a minimal scuffle, but she glanced at the small trap window that could open anytime for a head check. She needed to hurry. Julianna reached for the keys latched onto the unconscious guard’s belt. Her gun moved from the sniper and he lunged forward. The truck swerved and they flung heavily into the doors.
    The second officer was stunned from a strike to the head. She heard more noise. Bikes were overtaking the truck on each side as she slipped the cuffs away. Taris cursed loudly at another bump in the road and they swerved again. The unconscious officer fell in a heavy heap while the other nursed his head, still blinded from the blow. The first sharp veer made his rifle drop under the window and near her feet, and she saw the traces of blood smeared across his face as the light caught him.
    The truck screeched to a halt. She steadied herself, the key turned in the shackles lock, they bounced open on their spring load and she freed herself quietly.
    Julianna stood center of the cabin with the gun hanging from her hand. The truck’s engine had stopped its noise. She checked the Sig’s full magazine twice and rose its sights to the doors. Her legs parted in the firm stance that Taris had taught her, disregarding the two men slumped in the cabin.
    Guns fired. She crouched instinctively.  Outside, the sound bounced over the orders barked at the driver to unlock the doors. Taris wouldn’t expect his men in a heap and it was getting ugly out there, she thought. He needed their backup.
    She pressed her lips together and waited for the noise to stop. The gun weighed heavily as she held the sights high, following the crunch of footsteps against gravel until they stopped at the doors. They pivoted in the dirt, the bolts slid back, the padlocks snapped open, and she held her breath in hope.
    Her heart sank.  Taris stood in front of the bodies lying dead. She counted two in their own blood from the headshots he’d delivered. Behind him, a Rebel in bike gear pointed his gun and dragged his foot like an injured wing.
    Taris raised his arm casually; without effort, he lined his target up to take him out with a single shot. Julianna watched in horror as the man fell to his knees. The bullet left a tidy hole gaping in his visor right where his nose would have been, and then he collapsed face down into the dirt.
    Taris turned his gun in her direction. ‘Drop it!’ He paced to the left, swinging the truck door wide. It violently opened, swinging on its hinges to return. Taris pushed it away with more deliberation, holding her in his gun’s sights.
    She curled her finger around the trigger.
    ‘Julianna, so help me, drop the fucking gun or I will fucking shoot you right between your fucking eyes.’
    Under his command, the weapon slipped from her grasp and she raised her hands in defeat as she stared at the bodies behind him. Her head reeled as Taris fixated on her every action. The driver appeared from the side, holstering his sidearm to his thigh.
    ‘We could have been followed,’ he said.
    Taris clutched a fistful of shirt and dragged the unconscious officer out until he fell to the ground, to fire his gun into the officer’s head. Blood painted the step and sprayed her hand. Taris remained unmoved, turning his attention to the second failed soldier before stealing a sharp