Free Blacklisted by Gena Showalter

hell,” he told her. He fired another shot and I heard the girl curse under her breath.
    Yeah, I knew the feeling. I wanted to curse and scream and curse some more. “You have to believe me. We’re innocent. Everything that happened tonight was a big misunderstanding.”
    â€œThe shot that grazed you was a warning, Camille,” one of the girl’s said, fury dripping from her voice. “Next time I’m aiming for your heart. You want to live, you’ll walk toward me, hands up. We’ll go someplace quiet and talk.”
    I made to straighten, and a beam hit just above my shoulder. Screaming, I ducked. Were they trying to kill me? “I thought—I thought—”
    â€œThey want you injured,” Erik explained. “They’ll say anything to get their hands on you.”
    â€œBut I am injured!” And I no longer wanted to give myself over to these girls. I think, perhaps, I was safer with Erik.
    â€œNo, you’re trapped,” a third female voice said, this one a purring rumble. “Much as I’d like to scratch your eyes out, Erik, we have orders to bring you in unharmed. If possible. But I don’t care who the hell you are. It’s open season on you and your little friend if you keep firing.”
    Her words confused me. Who was he to them?
    A second later, bright amber light exploded, consuming the night’s darkness, brighter than the halogens, glowing and shining over me and Erik. No shadows remained.
    We were spotlighted.
    â€œLet Camille go, and I’ll give myself up,” Erik shouted. “My aim hasn’t been off, either, ladies. If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead.”
    Someone laughed. Someone else snorted. I reeled. He would give himself up for me?
    â€œWhatever you say, Erik,” the one with the scratchy, purring voice said.
    â€œWe’ll let her go, no problem,” another said.
    I think she was in charge since she was the first to have spoken to us and had an authoritative ring to her voice that the others didn’t have. But even I knew she was lying—though I might have wished otherwise. No one shot at you only to let you go without incident.
    â€œWe really are innocent,” I said, trying again to make them understand as I squinted against the brightness of those stupid lights. Well, I really was innocent, at least. I couldn’t see the girls, not even a hint of them. I could see only orange and gold spots and the darkness that surrounded them, a darkness I wanted to be a part of. My eyes once again watered and I had to look down at my boots. “The napkin you saw him give me is blank. And I followed him because I was mad at him. I wanted to ask him why he gave it to me. That’s all.”
    â€œSounds like an interesting story and one I’d like to hear in more detail.”
    I wish I could see them, judge their expressions.
    â€œSurely you can agree to come in and talk to us.” This new voice was placating, soothing.
    Good cop to the other two bad cops, perhaps. “I tried. You shot at me.”
    â€œGive me another chance. I’ll play nice.”
    â€œDon’t listen to them, Camille,” Erik barked.
    I leaned my forehead against the coolness of the car door. My arm hung limply at my side, useless. My knees knocked together. I couldn’t have moved if my life depended on it.
    Maybe it did.
    â€œYou run and hide until everything’s settled,” he said, “just like I told you.”
    â€œFor the last time, I said no!”
    â€œWhat are you two arguing about over there?” the leader asked.
    A hand suddenly cupped my shoulder and I gasped. I whipped my attention to the side, breath congealing in my throat. When I saw who was crouched behind me, I almost melted into a puddle of relief. Erik.
    His expression was hard, guarded. “You should have run.” He didn’t look at me as he spoke, but kept his attention straight