Free Run by Eve Vaughn Page A

goon’s back.
    A big meaty palm slammed into her chest sending her flying back until she landed hard on her bottom. Steaming mad, she struggled to her feet and would have charged again, when Macy suddenly appeared at her side and grabbed her arm. For someone as thin as the brunette was, she was surprisingly strong. “No, don’t do it.”
    She attempted to wrench her arm away. “I can’t just let them do that to her.”
    “You don’t want to be labeled a troublemaker. Please.” There was an almost desperate note in Macy’s voice that made Aya pause.
    By now the woman the henchmen had accosted was as naked as the rest of them. She lay in a heap on the floor making a sound that was a cross between a scream and a sob. The other woman who had refused to undress had apparently realized the same fate was in store for her and quickly removed her own clothing.
    The two big jerks scanned the room before settling their attention on Aya. One of them marched over to her. Before she knew what was happening, he grabbed her arm with one of his huge hands and reached into his pocket with the other. He pulled out a small device and ran it over her arm. Once the device beeped, he returned it to his pocket and released her.
    And just like that, goons one and two left the room.
    “Oh, no,” Macy whispered.
    Aya was almost too scared to ask, but she did anyway. “What just happened?”
    “You’ve been labeled.”
    “And that’s bad?”
    “Very bad.”

Chapter Six
     
     
    Dare hadn’t stepped foot into this part of the headquarters since The Run had officially become his. This section of the house had once been a ballroom but now served as the VIP lounge for the patrons. He eyed those gathered throughout the room, men mostly, with a couple women, drinking champagne and exchanging small talk.
    He didn’t have the patience for the pageantry of this process of The Run but with the kind of money the patrons paid to participate, they were owed the opportunity to inspect their perspective prey. The Run was one of Dare’s most profitable businesses, with each patron paying an entry fee of one hundred thousand credits and an additional fifty thousand for each tag they made.
    He could have sold the entire outfit to someone else and it not make a dent in his bottom line but he held on to it because it served as a reminder to him that there were two types of people in the world: the winners and the losers. Winners took what they wanted unapologetically while losers complained about all the woes that betided them. Dare had heard the protests from the bleeding hearts who claimed The Run used women who had no choice. Everyone had a choice, succeed or fail. It couldn’t be helped if these women chose failure. It was the choice Aya and her uncle had made when they turned him away. And failure always came at a price. Her uncle was paying his and Aya would finally pay hers.
    “Would you like a glass of champagne, sir?” A waiter in an all-black tuxedo offered, not making complete eye contact.
    “Get me a real drink. Scotch. One ice cube.”
    “Right away, sir.”
    Foster appeared as soon as the server scurried away. “Wow, I didn’t know you’d be here today. What’s the special occasion?”
    Dare shrugged, not in the mood to give an explanation. “Checking on my business interest.”
    Foster chuckled. “Sure you are. As if you didn’t already know your man, Briggs, is running this place like a well-oiled machine. You’ve already told me in not so many words you’re not interested in participating in the game.”
    “My prerogative to change my mind.”
    “Maybe but there’s a reason you did and I’ll figure it out soon enough.”
    “You do that.” He peeked at his watch. “Shouldn’t this thing be starting already?”
    Foster smirked. “Someone’s impatient. They should be here anytime now. Briggs comes in and greets everyone and—”
    Dare waved his hand dismissively. “I’m familiar with what’s supposed to happen