Bandits Read Online Free PDF

toward Nickel and the King’s official. His eyes did a quick scan for Haden. He let out the breath he’d been holding when he realized that Haden had left the room. Speedily, he walked toward Nickel. Eyes squared on Nickel, Daniel’s hand rested on his gun. He knew that they weren’t going to take them to the penal colony, Uukin, this time. It was a dead world where the prisoners were sent to starve and die. Not us - not today.
    Nickel shook his head fiercely and held up his hand at Daniel to stop his pursuit.
    Daniel slowed down, but didn’t waver in his gaze.
    This time, Nickel played the innocent kid rather well, Daniel observed. The guard pulled Nickel by the hair, and forced his face to look up at him. Daniel’s fist tightened i n stantly around his gun.
    Nickel gave Daniel the EBRA hand signal, “Ready to run.”
    Daniel’s lips curled at his brother’s silent command. He moved easily through gyrating dancers and the scene before him. Daniel slid to the side of the room where Nickel could see him and signaled with his hands, “Run to Jade’s father”. Daniel knew that if Nickel made it to Jade’s father, no King’s watc h man would survive the night.
    Nickel winked. The King’s watchman lifted his hand to backhand him. Daniel surged forward, gun pulled. Nickel kicked the man’s leg and took the spoon he held and jabbed it into the man’s groin. The guard fell to Nickel’s level, and Nickel landed a hard blow to his jaw with his elbow before he took off running to the back of the club.
    Daniel smiled and followed slowly, never taking his hand off his gun. His breathing eased as he walked toward Jade’s father’s office. He hesitated but a moment when he heard someone come up from behind him. Daniel whirled around, his hand tightened around his gun, as recognition hit him. The man stan d ing calm in front of him with his arms crossed and a feigned look of indifference, smiled. Haden.
    Daniel’s hand dropped to his side, the warmth of his gun a residue on the palm of his hand.
    “So, how’s my EBRA in training?” Haden asked smoot h ly. His cold assessing eyes were a reminder of how deadly Haden could be if underestimated.
    Daniel ignored the itch of caution which ran up his back. He calmed his breathing, knowing that trying to ignore Haden was never a good idea. As much as he respected the man, he knew Haden was vicious and always had an agenda for plea s antries.
    “I’m good,” Daniel responded, putting on the usual ca s ual stance he used around his father’s longtime friend, and co-leader of the EBRA. He knew Haden respected his trainees who had fortitude, something Daniel didn’t have to pretend to project like the other trainees did.
    “Where’s the old man? He didn’t check in with me t o night. Have you seen him?” Haden asked offhandedly. It was a common question between him and Haden lately, since Daniel had stepped in for his father on many occasions.
    “Don’t know. Haven’t been home in awhile. I had, uh… better things to do.” Daniel matched Haden’s straight unflinc h ing stare, and a slight smile slipped in place to imply that Daniel had been out carousing.
    Haden slapped Daniel on the shoulder . “Ah, Deana… definitely good entertainment. You do seem to attract the pretty ones, and you like them much older, I see.” Haden winked. “Isn’t she nearly twenty?”
    “Not yet. But anyway, I’ll be eighteen in about eight months, and two years older than me isn’t that old,” Daniel r e plied.
    “I suppose not. Just don’t turn those gray eyes on my N a tasha or I’ll have to kill you… and I need my reliable EBRA trainee for a new job,” Haden laughed.
    “New job?” Daniel asked with a lift of an eyebrow.
    Haden tightened his mouth, his expression turning ser i ous. “Oh yeah, something huge, a key to us bringing down this bastard King and controlling him.”   
    Daniel stared at him, “How’s that?”
    Haden put a hand on Daniel’s shoulder.