“Yeah, but they beat him terribly.”
Thia looked up at Dancer. “He refused to tell them anything about you or the base.”
“Damn right,” Bastien breathed, then groaned as he rolled himself over. Hissing, he grimaced. “Bastards hit like kindergarten girls. I think one of them even pulled my hair and said I had cooties.”
Snorting, Dancer set Thia down next to Bastien. “I’m going to call for an evac.” He placed every one of his weapons down beside them, except for his two personal blasters. He changed out their cartridges before he tucked them into his holsters. “Anything moves, shoot it with extreme prejudice.”
Sumi dropped her gaze to Dancer’s side and leg where he was bleeding profusely. “We need to tend those.”
“Call first. I’ll be back in a few.”
“You’re a stubborn beast, Dancer Hauk!” she called as he made his way to the door.
He turned back to grin at her. “You forgot to add sexy to that list.”
“Nah, that might go to your big fat head!”
Laughing, he vanished into the hallway.
Darice still looked shell-shocked. “How did he move like that?”
Thia rolled her eyes. “Uncle Hauk is a war hero, Darice. One of the best of his breed.”
Still lying on his back, Bastien turned his head toward Thia as he finally realized who Dancer had to be in The Sentella lineup. There was only one of those legendary warriors who could come into this base and wreak the destruction Dancer had. “He’s Akuma, isn’t he?”
Thia gave him a blank stare. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, you do. But that’s all right. He told me he was Sentella. Only one being I’ve heard of who’s almost seven feet tall and fights like that. Damn.” He laughed bitterly as he replayed their meeting through his head. “And here I offered to help him.” His maniacal laughter ended with a sharp groan as pain tore through him with poison-laced talons.
Sumi moved to help him with his wounds as best she could. “Thank you, by the way.”
Bastien scowled at her. “For what? Getting my ass kicked or bleeding on the floor?”
She jerked her chin toward the kids. “Keeping them safe.”
Bastien quirked his lips as he considered it. Honestly? He’d enjoyed everything but the torture. “It’s good to play hero again. Forgot how much I missed it.”
Sucking his breath in sharply as she touched the cut on his forehead, he growled at her. “Then again, this shit sucks! Gah, what was I thinking?”
Sumi ruffled his hair, then went to mind the other two while Dancer took his time with whatever he was doing.
Bastien rolled over and dragged himself to where he kept a few medical supplies. Sadly, he was out of painkillers due to an injury he’d had a few weeks ago when he fell while trying to repair the roof. He’d sent a notice to Jullien to bring more on his next trip through, but no reply had come.
That wasn’t unusual. Sometimes his cousin would be traveling dark and arrive before he had a chance to tell Bastien he was coming.
So he grabbed a bottled water and sat down to wait while Sumi chewed her nail and paced the room.
After a few minutes, Dancer returned. By the slowness of his movements, it was obvious he felt about as wonderful as Bastien did. With a smile, he touched Sumi’s chin, then looked to Bastien. “Anything in this place you need?”
“Not really. Why?”
“We need to get going. Boldorians are pack bastards. In case they put out a beacon during this last round, I think it best we vacate.”
Probably a good idea. Dancer was right about that. Where there was one, there were three hundred. Like cockroaches.
Bastien stood then fell back down when his legs buckled. “Well, ain’t this a bitch? Could have sworn I was further from the floor than this a second ago.”
Dancer snorted. He held his hand out and pulled Bastien to his feet against the protestations of Bastien’s entire body.
They both grimaced in unison. He stepped away from Bastien. “Darice, help the man.”
Darice did so without complaint.
Bastien took the shoulder he offered, and together they headed for the door.
Dancer paused to check on Thia. “You okay, kisa?”
It took Bastien a moment to mentally translate the Andarion word for little sister.
Her arms folded over her chest, she had a strange look in her eyes as she swept her gaze around the building. “Do you know where my mother died?”
Dancer winced at her question the same way Bastien had earlier. “Don’t, baby.”
Tears welled in her eyes as she glanced up at him. “Kiara won’t ever talk about it. My father, either. I just want to know if she suffered much.”
Pulling her into his arms, Dancer cradled her head with his hand. “No, baby, she didn’t.”