The Gadget: The Rondon Chronicles Book One by V. Timlin (speed reading book .TXT) 📕

then waved Stalo to the chair opposite before sitting next to Anouk.

Stalo bowed once again, keeping his gaze fixed on Anouk like a predator about to strike. She looked down at her clenched fists—her knuckles stuck out as white as the bones underneath her skin.

“So, Miss Herring, Jasper said you came here for the offer of employment I made you a few days ago. Is that correct?” Madam Valeria asked.

Anouk forced herself to glance at the madam. Her face oozed empathy. Not for a minute, though, did Anouk believe the madam had bought her story. Stalo’s presence confirmed that. Where did she go wrong? What would happen to her now? Nevertheless, she would act her role. What else could she do? She nodded before dropping her gaze back to her trembling hands. Where was Captain Biddulph and the other man? Did they know to expect Nat? She clenched her fists even tighter. No… she refused to believe they had failed, Captain Biddulph hadn’t paraded Nat in front of her. He hasn’t been caught yet. She had to be ready to face the madam and Stalo when the alarm went off.

Anouk cleared her throat. “I left Nat. He scares me. He’s reckless and has almost got me killed more times than I care to count. I couldn’t handle it anymore. He won’t take me back to my world. I had nowhere to go. Then I remembered your offer and thought I would be safer here.” Tears prickled her eyes and before she knew it, she started to sob. “I just need to earn a little money, enough to… to…”

“Now, now, my dear.” Madam Valeria’s voice was soothing as she put her arm around Anouk’s shoulder. Anouk stiffened. The madam was leaning against her on the side where the prod was hidden. If she felt it, Anouk would be done for.

“She is lying,” Stalo said.

Anouk’s gaze shot up. The icy grip squeezed her chest ever tighter. “No!”

Madam Valeria pulled away from Anouk and looked at her, frowning. “Are you?”

Anouk’s mouth opened and closed. Where was Nat?

“Of course, she is lying. That bounty hunter sent her as bait.” Stalo wore a satisfied expression on his face.

Madam Valeria cocked an eyebrow. “Did he really?”

“No, I swear!” Anouk exclaimed. “I came because you promised me work.”

“Where is Nat?” Madam Valeria asked, an edge of anger in her tone.

Anouk shook her head. “I don’t know.” At least she didn’t have to lie about that. Where was he? What was keeping him? Had he got caught after all?

“Liar,” Stalo spat.

“Honestly, I don’t know where he is. The last time I saw him, he was going to the constabulary, trying to convince them to…” Anouk tried to rise, but Madam Valeria pulled her back.

“May I suggest that we take Anouk as a hostage and let my men deal with the bounty hunter?” Stalo’s eyebrow rose in slow motion when he regarded the madam. “She will make you a very obliging girl who will draw many to sample her alien fruits. I, of course, will be the first.”

A cold shiver ran down Anouk’s spine.

“Very well, as long as you do not damage her,” Madam Valeria said, and then uttered a dramatic sigh. “What a pity Nat has to die. Such a lovely boy, but he has been getting in the way of my business recently.”

Anouk jumped up, tearing off the madam’s grip. She pulled her gun and took a couple of steps back, pointing it at Stalo.

“But, my dear, what is this?” Madam Valeria’s eyes widened.

“Your man, Jasper, has been negligent. He should have checked her for weapons,” Stalo growled at Madam Valeria.

“Don’t you dare blame Jasper,” Madam Valeria snapped, forgetting her pretensions of civility.

“You are too lenient with him, because he warms your bed.”

“You killed one of my girls, so be grateful I didn’t ask him to kill you,” Madam Valeria snarled.

Stalo shrugged. “She broke my Gadget and that kind of stupidity cannot go unpunished. Especially if you want us to deliver more alien girls after we have confiscated the Gadget from the bounty hunter.”

“There will be no alien girls,” Anouk intervened. “Soon Nat and the enforcers will be here, and you’ll both go to jail where you belong.”

Stalo and Madam Valeria turned to look at her. Both wore an unreadable expression. It unnerved Anouk and her gun shook in her hand even more and sweat poured on her forehead, gliding down to her eyes. She blinked. At the same instant, Madam Valeria leaned backwards and pulled a string which hung on the wall behind the divan.

The door behind Anouk slammed open—she spun and pulled the trigger. Her revolver went off with a loud bang. Jasper grunted and collapsed on the floor. Madam Valeria screamed. Anouk spun again, taking aim at Stalo, but he had already reached her. He hit her hard across the face. The force of the blow sent her off the balance, and she dropped the revolver.

An ear-piercing clanging filled the room and the entire building.

“Fire! Fire!” The shouts came from the hall. Hasty footfall and screams mixed with the shrilling fire alarm.

Anouk’s face throbbed and stars danced around her vision. She touched her cheek where Stalo had punched her and she grimaced at the renewed pain. The madam charged towards her. Anouk gasped and leaped back. But instead of attacking Anouk, Madam Valeria pushed past her and knelt beside Jasper.

Stalo grabbed Anouk by her throat and squeezed. “You are going to die now.”

Anouk cursed herself for letting her guard falter. She tried to kick Stalo, but he saw it coming. Stalo squeezed harder and pain shot up her jaw. She clawed Stalo’s hand, but the grip grew tighter and tighter. Darkness crept into the edge of her vision. Tears burned her eyes. Where was Nat? If he didn’t come soon, she would never see him again. Or her home and her mother’s grave.

With a final effort she reached towards his injured shoulder, but Stalo turned sideways. The darkness thickened in Anouk’s vision and she