Rebel Heart

"I made a mistake."

His words stung but bolstered her decision. She rose and approached him, the baton behind her back.

"Elise's still pissed at you. Dan's got her chained to a tree, she's so mad," Brady said.

Guilt and pity trickled through her as she thought of her friend. Elise had been loyal enough to help her. She didn't deserve to be chained to a tree. Lana raised the baton when she was within arm's reach and held it out.

"You probably won't-"

The pulse that burst from the baton's tip dropped him. Her heart soared, and she dropped it, kneeling beside him. She searched his pockets, surprised when she didn't even find her micros in the cargo pocket where he'd kept them. There was no key fob, either.

"No, no, no!" she whispered, panicking.

She bounced to her feet and searched the dresser she'd already searched earlier. She retraced his steps since he entered, seeking anything she might have missed. She moved his weapons, pushed his heavy body out of the way to see if he hid them beneath one of his muscular thighs.

Nothing.

She stood and stared at the safe. She searched everything again then went to the kitchen, opening all the drawers and cabinets.

Brady groaned. Lana froze, turning to see him moving. He pushed himself up.

She knew Brady was merciless but hoped her Guardian wouldn't kill her for this. Her hands began trembling, and she moved quickly to put one of the chairs in the living room between them. Brady straightened, the baton in hand. He drew a breath and looked at her.

"Next time, crank this up all the way. It'll only drop a man half my size for five minutes. You see this button?" Despite his calm words, his gaze displayed his anger.

She looked where he indicated.

"Swipe your thumb over it once, and it stuns. Twice and it kills. Got it?"

He tossed the baton and approached her, glaring down at her with dark eyes as hard as his chiseled frame. She sucked in a breath and moved away, flinching as he pushed over the chair separating them. He didn't grab her; he didn't need to. He used his body to back her against the wall.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"I'm just glad you didn't know how to use it right," he said. "You're looking for this." He held up the key fob in the space between them, close enough for her to grab, if she wanted.

"I have to have the vault," she said, embarrassed by the desperation in her voice.