Free Torrent (Cosmic Forces Book 1) by Elle Thorne Page B

headed, little lady?”
    She froze. No. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t happen. She turned around slowly.
    “Got one.” The voice was far from friendly. “This way.”
    It was a sole privateer, dressed in denim pants and a red top, hair greasy and tied back. Except it didn’t seem he would be solo for long, not after his last statement.
    She hunched down, ready to make a dash, but another arm grabbed her.
    “You’re not going anywhere,” a second privateer said.
    Two more approached from down the block, swaggering in the middle of the street, not worried about hiding their appearance. Not worried about breaking the law, since they were sanctioned by the law.
    The second privateer pointed toward his approaching comrades.
    “Let’s go have some privacy.” He jerked her toward the door to one of the buildings. The first privateer went to hold it open.
    Alyssa opened her mouth to scream, but he clamped his hand over her lips. His fingers smelled unwashed, a mixture of old food, grime, and sweat.
    “Don’t even think about it.” He dragged her, kicking and flailing, toward the door. When her fist caught him in the face, he jerked her his way and popped her in the mouth. “Quit that.”
    Once she was in the building the other privateer closed the door, leaving the three of them alone. He flicked his lighter on and lit a torch attached to the wall, completely unafraid of being found.
    “You know who killed my brother. I want him. Tito said he used soldier moves. Who is he? Tito said there was a woman there. You fit the description. Who’s the soldier?”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” As if she’d give Torrent up.
    He approached, a sinister smile displaying a glimpse of teeth that were broken, uneven, and had not seen a toothbrush in a long time. “You lie.” He slapped her with the back of his hand. A ring caught on her cheek, tearing the tender flesh. Alyssa’s hand flew to her face as her blood flowed warmly.
    The door opened and another privateer came in.
    “Tito. This the one?” the privateer who had slapped her asked.
    “That’s her.” Tito approached. “Where’s your boyfriend?”
    “Fuck you. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “Bitch. We’ll see if you feel the same way in a few minutes.” The third privateer reached for his belt buckle and unfastened it.
    Alyssa sized them up. She couldn’t take them, not even two of them. She’d have to make a run for it. She looked at the elevator shaft, and past it at the stairs. That was her best bet, as the fourth privateer was bound to be right outside the front door.
    A hand grabbed her jacket from behind. The first privateer. “I told you, don’t even think about it.”
    She heard a tearing sound and realized he’d sliced her top from behind as soon as the cool air hit her back.
    Alyssa turned around and swung for his face, catching him on the jaw with a punch that rendered her hand numb.
    “Oh, she’s a fun one. I want dibs,” he said.
    “No. I got dibs.” The second privateer closed in on them.
    Alyssa heard the door open. “Get the hell away from me!” she screeched at them while the door was still open.
    “Alyssa?”
    She tried to look past the privateers surrounding her. “Omar?”
    “What are you doing with my cousin?” Omar’s voice was shaky. It reminded Alyssa of when Omar was a little boy and had been caught misbehaving.
    “Your cousin?” One of them turned toward Omar. “She’s your cousin? She’s the one who was there when my brother was killed.”
    “Your brother? But you said he was killed by a soldier.” Omar turned toward Alyssa. “Do you know what they’re talking about?”
    “Why are you hanging around with these thugs? What the hell is wrong with you?” Alyssa shook off the privateers holding her. She was surprised they allowed her to do it. “Why are you with these—” She gasped.
    The one whose brother Torrent had killed pulled a pistol out. She recognized the