Dragon Lord (Dragons & Phoenixes Book 1)

by Miranda Martin

  I didn't slow down, the men running after me were too close, and I couldn’t stop my momentum. They were breathing hard. From the sounds, cardio wasn't a priority for them. Probably the intimidating look of their muscles was more than enough in most cases.

  I turned the knives in my hands as I ran and locked my eyes on the new guy's body. This really wasn't the ideal way to do this. It would be so embarrassing if I fell and impaled myself on my own knives.

  I pulled my arm back and held my breath for a few strides.

  Steady...

  Wait...

  I launched the knife, aiming at his torso, and watched it fly end over end. I didn't really want to kill the guy, but aiming for something like his leg would be idiotic. And he knew what he signed up for when he took this job. Also, I seriously doubted he would lose any sleep over killing me.

  He shifted to the side as he saw the knife coming, but it flew too fast. It pierced his side with a meaty thud, the hilt sticking out.

  "Bitch!" he cried out, his hand going to the knife hilt along with all his attention.

  Not very well trained. I took advantage of his distraction.

  As I reached him, I lifted my leg up and kicked the exposed hilt of my knife through his clutching hands, shoving the blade deeper into his side. He screamed, stumbling as I shoved him away from the door.

  "Fair enough," I threw out over my shoulder as my hands undid the lock on the door and I shoved it open. I was lucky it was an old-fashioned one and not one of those that required a password or a fingerprint.

  Small favors.

  I stumbled out into the light as the stabbed guy let out a string of curses behind me, shooting straight out across the road and into the alley that I'd come from. I needed to get to the closest area with dense traffic. Luckily, I was paranoid enough that I planned out an escape route beforehand for every job I took. If I went a few blocks east, I'd hit one of the busiest streets in this area.

  There was no way those goons were going to catch me on foot. They were already on their last legs, judging from how hard they were gasping after such a short distance.

  This was why I made sure to get my run in every morning. Being fast and having stamina could mean the difference between getting away or being caught by a nipple-ringed body builder with a high voice. I could outrun most people, but it was nice that these guys were so slow. I couldn't always depend on the thugs chasing me to be so muscle-bound and so against aerobic activity.

  Maybe I'd send them a jazzercise e-chip as a thank you.

  There were still footsteps behind me, but they were getting further and further away now that I had more room and could run flat out. The alleyway gave way to a narrow street with liquor stores and pawnshops on either side. Not the best street, but better than the warehouse district.

  I ducked into another narrow alley, this one so narrow that I had to turn sideways so I could scoot through. No way could any of those guys do that. Their man boobs weren't nearly as malleable as mine. Though they might have been bigger. And even I didn't get out of there without a few scrapes.

  The alley spit me out into a river of humanity, people irritably crammed in together as they tried to reach their destinations as quickly as possible. It was lunchtime, which meant it was more crowded than it would have been otherwise.

  Perfect.

  I slowed down, catching my breath as I stepped into the crowd and began walking at the same pace. Running through this throng of moving bodies would be a dead giveaway if someone was watching. One of the reasons I didn't use a motorcycle was how visible it would make me when most people walked. It would have also limited my choices since only select roads allowed motor traffic.

  I let the crowd carry me a few blocks down, keeping an eye out for the guys who were after me.

  Nothing.

  Once I was sure I’d shaken my pursuers, I peeled away to the other side of the road and broke into a jog. Anger had me gritting my teeth and turning away from the street that would take me back to my place.

  No. I had somewhere else to go first.

  I stuck to the more-crowded streets as I made my way over to the nicely-kept buildings in the prosperous part of this section. They were mostly residences, with a few convenience stores on the first floors. I rode one of the automated trolleys to cut the distance in half.

  It wasn't near my place or my office. But I didn't care. I was angry enough to traverse the length of the whole dome if I had to.

  I hopped off the trolley and walked the last block to the narrow stone building that was my destination. Fake trees lined the street. It wasn't worth the resources to plant real ones even in this posh area.

  I tested the gleaming door, polished within an inch of its life, but it was locked with a retina scanner. I wasn't getting in this way. At least not without my tools and some study. Luckily, most upper-story windows weren't very secure.

  I walked to the side of the building and found the fire escape but it was a ways off the ground.

  Hmm.

  Slipping into the space between that building and the one next to it, I took a running start and jumped to bounce off the neighboring building and reach for the fire escape.

  My palms slammed into the cool metal.

  Ouch. A ninja I was not. But at least I made it.

  Cursing, I climbed up the fire escape and started counting off the floors.

  Whenever I got a new client, I followed them home to make sure their address was accurate—at a discreet distance of course. Didn't want to lose business. But I'd been burned before when someone didn't want to pay and their address had been fake. If the two didn't match up, I didn't take the case.

  As it was, I knew exactly where Benny lived. That rat assumed I'd be dead after all. What did it matter if I knew his address? And look—his window was conveniently located right next to the fire escape.

  I leaned over to peer inside. Not seeing anyone at first glance, I wondered if I was going to have to wait until after work was over for him to get home, but then I spotted Benny sitting on a couch in the living room, a cup of something hot in his hands. Must be nice to not have to hustle like the rest of us.

  I reached into my pocket and pulled out one of the tiny devices that I made sure to always have on my person. I suctioned it to the glass and pushed the little blinking button that indicated it was activated. It tapped the glass just hard enough to create a network of hairline cracks. I carefully took it off the glass and slid it back into my jacket pocket. I'd bought the oversized army green thing because it had so many pockets. A purse didn't really fit with my lifestyle.

  Holding on to the railing, I leaned out and kicked through the window. I didn't have to use much force at all. My boots and the thick fabric of my jeans protected my leg from the sharp pieces. A cry came from inside the apartment as I used my boot to sweep away some of the glass from the sill before I stepped inside, careful not to touch the shards.

  "What are you doing here? Get out right now or I'll call the police!"

  "Go ahead and call them," I said calmly. "I'll wait."

  I watched his eyes move over to the communications panel but he didn't take a step towards it. Both he and I knew he wasn't calling the cops. That would draw attention to him that he didn't want.

  Sure, the cops were bribed. But if Benny was a threat to any of the other loaded residents in this area, they'd bring him down. Couldn't have the criminal element living here, after all. Which was a joke in and of itself considering how a lot of the rich made their money.

  I took a step towards him, taking in the leopard print robe he was wearing. That thing was offensively ugly. And I had a sneaking suspicion he wasn't wearing anything underneath it.

  Eww.

  "I'm here for the second half of my payment. Plus hazard pay," I added, my eyes boring into him.

  "Couldn't you just send me a bill!" he exclaimed, edging towards the door.

  I shook my head and stepped in front of it.

  He stopped, his narrow
throat moving as he swallowed.

  "No, I couldn't," I said, crossing my arms. I made sure he had a nice view of my remaining dagger.

  His eyes moved towards it, his hand coming up to push back his dark curls. They were so shiny and full of product I was surprised they moved at all.

  "Okay, fine." He smoothed down his robe and moved over to the com panel, which he would have to use to pay me. "How much do I owe you?"

  "Triple."

  "Triple!" he cried out, his voice incredulous. "I'm not going to pay you triple!"

  I deliberately pulled out my dagger, tapping it against my palm.

  "You sent me there to die. You said it was a simple drop off. You're lucky all I'm asking for is triple," I said softly.

  He eyes slid away.

  Guilty.

  "If something happened, it's not my fault," he muttered.

  "He told me you had a deal. That in exchange for whatever I delivered, he would take care of me for you."

  His lips tightened. He was caught and he knew it.

  "That rat," Benny muttered under his breath. Rich coming from him. "Look I don't know what he told you—"

  "Triple. Or I take my payment in a much less comfortable way for you."

  I twirled my knife, the sharp edge catching the light. I didn't plan on actually hurting him but he didn't know that.

  "Now you're just being unreasonable –"

  He let out a yelp as I threw the knife. He didn’t have to know it was my last one. The hilt vibrated as it stuck out from the wall, a foot to the side of his head.

  "Okay! Okay!" he blabbered, his hands up in the air. "I'll give you what you want!"

  He was cooperative enough after that.

  After I used my watch to make sure the funds were transferred to my account, I opened the front door.

  "Oh, and I'm not available for you to hire again," I said over my shoulder.

  "Yeah. Sure," he scoffed, shaking his head. "You won't find me in a ten-mile radius of the hellhole you work in."

  I nodded. "Good. If I have any more trouble, I know exactly where to come to find you. You should probably let your friend know that this particular deal is off."

  He sputtered, but I closed the door behind myself and stepped out into the hall before he could say anything else.

  Maybe I should've asked for quadruple.

  Chapter Two

  It was still only afternoon when I headed back to my office. With how much had happened, it seemed like it should have been a week later. I needed a nap. I kept my eyes open on the way, just in case, but I was fairly certain that I was fine for now. Still, I felt a little safer as I merged with the crowd again.

  Tilting my head back, I looked up at the dome as I let the stream of people carry me forward. The harsh rays of the sun were dialed down to a gentle illumination as they passed through the protective barrier. The large, hexagonal sections showcased the clear blue sky outside, the searing sun the only break in it. Someone bumped into me and I looked back down.

  "Hey! Watch where you're going!" the bearded man yelled at me over his shoulder as he barreled past. Par for the course.

  I passed through the biggest open market in this quadrant of the dome on my way to the office, so I stopped at a stall to pick out lunch. Lifting my wrist to the sensor, I paid for the food, transferring funds through my watch. I thanked the small man behind the register as he handed me a warm, wrapped package. The smell of garlic and freshly baked bread wafted out. My mouth watered. My stomach growled like it had been years since I'd eaten.

  I stepped back onto the walkway and headed down the street while the different stall owners called out their wares.

  "Synthetic fish! Just like the real thing!"

  I really hoped it wasn't. That stuff tasted like crap.

  "Feeling lonely? Need a release? The best virtual reality experience in the dome is right here!"

  I glanced over at the enclosed stall and shuddered. I wouldn't want to touch anything in there with a ten-foot pole.

  "Want to head out of the dome? You're going to need masks and protective clothes!"

  I wouldn't buy that stuff from here. It could be counterfeit. And the guy would run off before you could come back to him with burns and breathing issues due to the faulty equipment.

  It was possible I was in a cynical mood.

  Any time, day or night, the market was open with almost anything you could want on display. Not that I ever had the urge to buy glow-in-the-dark underwear or tambourines at one in the morning. But it was nice to know the option was there.

  I pushed through the rush of the market and out into the street that my office was on. It wasn't the best street but neither was it the worst. I deliberately found something that was in the middle so it wouldn't alienate anyone right off the bat.

  Probably I should check to see if anything looked suspicious before I went in. The guys chasing me might have decided I was worth the extra effort. I crossed the street and walked by the building once to make sure that no nasty surprises were waiting. The gray brick structure with the short stoop looked just like it had when I'd left. The dentist on one side and the consignment shop on the other looked the same as well. I wouldn't know if someone was waiting for me unless I went inside.

  Mentally shrugging, I crossed the street and hopped up the steps. Might as well face the issue head on.

  The door at the top of the short flight of stairs didn't actually lead to the office, but to the foyer. Generic flooring and lighting greeted anyone who entered, along with an equally bland staircase that led to other businesses who leased space here. I turned to the left of the staircase where the door to my office was situated.

  The frosted glass with my name in gold lettering greeted me as I opened the door. The actual office wasn't much to see. I had one room that I furnished with a worn desk, a wheeled chair for me, and two chairs for potential clients. The cabinets that I had against one wall housed all of the things that I might need during a job. Handcuffs, different kinds of clothing, makeup, and so on. Not that I used the makeup or fancier clothes much. But from time to time, I had to make a delivery at a social event. Going in the way I usually dressed would make me stand out too much. I had one sad-looking painting of what I thought might have been a bird on the wall opposite my desk. And that was about as far as I could go with décor. Anyway. It all looked like I'd left it.

  Except for the stranger waiting in one of the client chairs.

  I paused in the doorway. I’d just used a retinal scanner to enter. The door locked automatically when I left the office. How did this guy get in?

  He looked over at me with cool gray eyes. His suit was made of a tasteful, dark gray material, obviously custom fit to his narrow frame. His lightly lined face was handsome in an uninteresting way, his hair a bright shock of white above it. The scarlet red of his tie was the only color in his whole outfit.

  "How did you get in here?" I demanded, my hand going for my knife. I'd made sure to pull it out of the wall after I'd thrown it at Benny. I didn't want to lose both of my favorite knives in one day.

  The man raised his eyebrows as my hand closed over the hilt, but he didn't look worried.

  "Retinal scanners aren't foolproof. You know that," he admonished quietly. "I'm sorry if I frightened you." His tone said he wasn't at all sorry. "I wouldn't have come in if I'd known when you were coming back. As it was, I didn't want to have to wait in the hall for who knew how long."

  He was right about the retinal scanners. I knew from personal experience, but always from the other side. It wasn't comfortable at all to experience it from the perspective of the person whose property had been broken into.

  "What do you want?" I asked. My instinct was to say no from the get go. But someone this persistent likely wouldn't accept the no without at least being heard first.

  "Well, to hire you, of course."

  I gave him a level stare, calculating the danger he posed. The stranger was already in my office but he hadn't atta
cked me yet. He had a good amount of money, judging from that suit. It wouldn't hurt to give him a moment to say his piece.

  "Fine." I walked around him to sit down on the plush chair on the other side of the desk, trying not to show how laser-focused I was on him the entire time. "If you give me the details of the job, I'll let you know whether or not I'm willing to take it."

  He raised his surprisingly dark eyebrows again and leaned forward. "Oh, I think you'll want to take this one. It will pay very handsomely. Very handsomely indeed."

  Money was important. I couldn't take it for granted after I'd spent years trying to make ends meet but I still needed to avoid making stupid decisions about the jobs I took. The money sometimes just wasn't worth it.

  "What's your name?" I probed, leaning back in my chair.

  "Santiago," he supplied readily.

  No first name.

  "Mr. Santiago, you tell me what the job is, and I'll tell you whether or not I want to take it," I repeated.

  "I understand, Ms. Hill. I need a package delivered immediately."

  I nodded, opening a drawer and pulling out my tablet and stylus. The technology was old, but I always thought better with my hand in motion. "I can do that, assuming all my requirements are met. What is the delivery timeframe? And what is the destination?" I waited with my stylus poised above the screen.

  "The timeframe is as soon as possible, within the week if you can. And the destination is the nearest phoenix territory."

  I set my stylus down with a hard click.

  I'd never been outside the dome, at least not past the safe zone buffer set up around it. I promised my mother never to venture any farther than that. And I had no intention of ever breaking that promise.

  "I'm sorry. I have a firm policy against taking jobs outside the dome." I stood smiling stiffly. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you today. I could recommend a few other agencies that have good reputations, if you would like."

  Santiago made no move to stand. "I must insist that you take the job," he said, his eyes calm and steady.

  "And I repeat, I do not take jobs that take me out of the dome," I repeated slowly. "Now, if you wouldn't like the names of some other agencies, I would appreciate it if you left me to my work."