Free Pyromancist by Charmaine Pauls Page A

team leader, is that clear? Or do we have a
problem?”
    There was a short pause, after which Maya
lifted her hands. “All right. I’m off.”
    “I asked you a question, Maya,” Josselin
said.
    “Yes, we’re clear. There’s no problem. But I
think Lann and I deserve an explanation. What exactly is going on
here?”
    Instead of answering, Josselin studied Clelia
until she started fiddling with the frayed hem of her shorts. His
expression suddenly softened. Only then did he turn to Maya.
    “If I had seen your arrogant face in the
state I was just in, I would have whipped your ass. You have no
idea how close you came to detention. If you ever lift your hand to
her again...” He left the threat hanging.
    The atmosphere in the kitchen was suddenly as
tough as raw abalone. Josselin seemed to control himself with much
difficulty.
    “I think I should make us all some tea,” Lann
said.
    “Fuck the tea,” Maya said. “I think Joss
needs something stronger.”
    Josselin opened his mouth but Lann lifted his
hand.
    “Hold on,” Lann said. He touched the
apparatus in his ear. “Do you have your links on?”
    Both Josselin and Maya reached for their
earpieces.
    “I’ve got comms coming in.” He listened for a
moment and then he turned to Josselin. “It’s Cain. He’s flying
in.”
    Josselin’s eyes seemed to simmer. “He’s
what?”
    “He wants us to keep her until he gets
here.”
    “Cain is coming in?” Maya looked at Josselin.
“Then this shit is bigger than we think.” Her gaze shifted to
Clelia. “If the boss is coming in, her old man is screwed.”
    “Quiet, Maya,” Josselin said, concern etched
on his forehead. “I don’t know who’s screwed, but I get the feeling
it’s us.”
    “Based on what?” Lann said.
    “Don’t know,” Josselin said, “just an
itch.”
    “I agree with Joss. I don’t like the feel of
this,” Maya said.
    Lann leaned back against the counter. “Why
would Cain–” he started, but before he could complete his sentence,
the mug in his hand exploded.
    Clelia watched in confused shock as a window
in the opposite wall shattered less than a split-second later.
Everything happened very fast. Lann, despite his docile appearance,
ducked behind the center island counter and lifted an automatic
rifle from an open duffle bag on the floor to his shoulder, aiming
through a telescope. Maya had dived, rolled, and ended on her feet
behind stainless steel storage shelves, withdrawing two pistols
from holsters on her hips, aiming them in the direction of the door
and the windows, while Josselin jumped, taking Clelia and the chair
to the floor in the process, covering her body with his. He
softened her fall with his arms behind her back, one big hand on
her head. Once they were flat on the floor, he stretched out on top
of her to shield her.
    “What the fuck?” Maya hissed.
    “Lann?” Josselin said.
    Lann’s answer came from behind them. “I’m
fine. Got the back window and hallway covered.”
    “Sloppy assassin.” Josselin chuckled.
    “Sloppy or not, I hate bullets flying around
my head,” Maya said over her shoulder, holding both handguns
steadily aimed on the entrances. “Where the fuck is air
support?”
    “Bono, did you get that?” Josselin said.
    He let go of Clelia to remove a revolver from
his body holster and when another round of shots assaulted the
window frames, the door, and the walls, the three agents, or
whatever they called themselves, returned it with determined
vengeance.
    Clelia suddenly realized that this was her
opportunity for escape. She might not get another chance. Glancing
in Josselin’s direction, she saw that his eyes and gun were trained
on the window to their right. Lann was scanning the garden through
the broken window on the left, and Maya’s attention was focused on
the door. Slowly, she crawled away from her position next to
Josselin. If she could get down the hallway, she could climb
through another window at the back.
    When she was a