Read Mesmerized for Free Online

Imperialist scum! I will kill each and every one of you!” he called out.
    “Gods above and below,” Taryn grumbled. “I don’t suppose I could convince you”—he paused to fire his weapon, grinning savagely as the body hit the ground—“to get down in the shelter, could I?”
    “Me? This is my fault. I’m the last person who should be running right now.” They’d managed to get to one of the outbuildings. She quickly booted the compound’s vid system. “By the west fence. It’s Stahl. They’ve got him pinned down.”
    Eiriq called out that he was on the way, and Taryn took off after him for backup.
    “We are fucked, Piper. We gotta call in for some help. We’ve got four men down. You and I are pinned here. They’re inside now. It’s only a matter of time.” Kenner continued to pepper the advancing Imperialists with fire.
    The ground at their feet took fire, sending dust skyward. “If we bring in the polis, we expose everything! We invite them into a compound they’ve wanted to search for ages.” They’d all likely end up in lockup.
    “What if they think we’re working with the Imperialists? Have you thought of that, Piper? Because I have. Fuck! ”
    “Give yourselves up, and we can discuss this,” Cheney called out via loudspeaker.
    “How can you think we’d work with you now? Bastards, get the fuck off my land or end up dead,” Taryn responded, and it came through, loud and clear, via her wrist mic. He was still unhurt, which eased the knot in her belly slightly.
    The heat of a blast from a las-rifle stirred the hair at his temples as Piper grabbed the back of Kenner’s shirt and yanked him back.
    “Guess they don’t care. Stay down!” She growled at him. “Don’t you fucking die, or I will bring you back and kick your butt.”
    He sent her a crooked smile. “You’d have to do all the laundry yourself.”
    “We’re stuck. On our way back to you as soon as we can break free,” Taryn spoke over the wrist mic.
    Shit, shit, shit .
    The sound of the Imperial soldiers swarming their compound rose, though she was gratified each time they set off a trap or one of them got taken out by her people.
    Inescapably, they were gaining the upper hand, and Kenner was right, she’d have to call for help, even if it meant lockup.
    One of them came around the corner, training his weapon on her. Kenner brought his own up, but the soldier fell before either of them could get a shot off.
    Kenner looked up, confused, but thank seven heavens he didn’t move from their little corner. They watched, shooting as they could, as, one by one, soldiers began to fall.
    “Who is up there?” Kenner scrambled for his field glasses.
    “Eiriq maybe?”
    “No, he’s bringing Stahl back toward the clinic.”
    One by one, as Piper watched the monitors, soldiers fell as they were sniped from above.
    She spoke into her wrist mic. “I want that tower, the east corner, protected. Move!” She stood, Kenner next to her. “Cover me. I’m headed across the courtyard.” Before he could argue, she darted out, keeping low. Whoever was up there needed to be protected.
    The next moments passed as if she were watching it all via vid screen. One by one, the soldiers would attempt an approach. And one by one, the sniper took them out.
    “They’re leaving!” Taryn called out via his wrist mic.
    “Make sure of that. Have them monitored,” Kenner instructed.
    It was then, through the dust, their savior emerged, long, dark hair lifting on the breeze as he walked casually toward her.
    Her heart stuttered, even as she mopped her forehead and pretended to be casual.
    His eyes were still serious. Still the palest of blues and still fringed with long, dark lashes. He was still so intensely beautiful it made her stomach clench.
    “Dear gods, Andrei?” Kenner sounded just as surprised as Piper was.
    His gaze locked on hers, not giving anything away. Eleven years, and he hadn’t changed that much. Eleven years, and the sight of