Gaia around for the night. Besides, the freak was headed for the parkâto play chess with those ridiculous characters, or to vandalize the place, or to do whatever the hell it was she did there. Frankly, Ella didnât care. Loki was wasting both her time
and
his by forcing her to keep an eye on Gaia.
But what he didnât know wouldnât hurt him. Because now Ella was going to have a little fun. Oh, yes. She smiled again as she fished her cell phone out of her pocket and left the coffee shop.
Seven Zillion to One
GAIA BURST OUT LAUGHING AS THE middle guy stepped forward and threw a punch straight at her face. She couldnât help it. It was just so
absurd.
Every single time she walked into this park, somebody tried to pick a fight with her. Every single time. What were the odds of that? Seven zillion to one? True, she sometimes went
looking
for fights. But why did fights naturally look for her?
The fist whizzed with an inch of Gaiaâs face as she stepped back.
Too slow, asshole.
She spun and crouched into a kung fu stance, sizing up each of them. If they wanted to get their asses kicked, fine. It would be her pleasure. A strange combination of weariness and adrenaline coursed through her veins. What a drag. She really didnât want to have to go through this tonight.
Really.
Luckily, the laughter seemed to catch the three morons off guard. That gave her an immediate advantage. No time to waste. Middle Guy was still leaning off balance from the missed connection. She lashed out and kicked him in the kneecap.
âAhh!â
he screamed. He dropped from her field of vision.
Her gaze immediately shifted to Left Guy. He was crouched in a kung fu stance, just like hers. He might be a more capable opponent. Better save him for last. Middle Guy writhed on the pavement. Gaiaâs eyes flashed to Right Guy. He was coming straight at her, throwing a punch with his left arm.
Canât you do better than that?
she wondered, laughing again. It was another telegraphed strike, easy to deflect. She shifted to the right and grabbed the guyâs arm, simultaneously kicking his shin with a swift toe strike. The force of his own momentum instantly flipped him in midair.
âNoââ
His skull struck the pavement firstâhitting with a sickening
thwok
âand he rolled over with a groan.
Two down.
All of Gaiaâs nerves were tingling as she turned her attention to Left Guy. Her entire body was burning, pulsing, on fire with the heat of combat. She forced herself to laugh once more, just to instill fear in him. Fear was the greatest weapon. But his face was a blank mask. Oh, well. Heâd be scared of her soon enough.
And hopefully by the time sheâd finished him off, Sam would have found his freaking wallet.
Whiny, Little-Girl Voice
âCOME ON, COME ON,â SAM GRUNTED under his breath.
He whirled around his closet-size dorm room, flinging papers and books and clothing everywhereâbut he still couldnât find it. He paused for a moment, breathing heavily. This method of searching was no good. He was just making it harder on himself. His room looked like a blast zone. But he had left it here, hadnât he? He had been positive it would be sitting right on top of his deskâ¦.
Pockets. Right. He had to check all of his pockets.
With one eye still scanning the mess, he snatched a pair of jeans from the floor and tore through them. Nope. His breathing quickened. He tossed the pair aside.
This is bad; this is badâ¦.
Gaia was probably getting more pissed by the second. He tossed the jeans aside and grabbed another pair. Not in there, either. Well, at the very least he could console himself with knowing that no matter how pissed she got now, it would be nothing compared to how pissed sheâd be later-
The phone rang.
He swallowed. That was probably her, calling to tell him to forget about dinner and to go screw himself.He dropped the second pair of jeans and
and
his by forcing her to keep an eye on Gaia.
But what he didnât know wouldnât hurt him. Because now Ella was going to have a little fun. Oh, yes. She smiled again as she fished her cell phone out of her pocket and left the coffee shop.
Seven Zillion to One
GAIA BURST OUT LAUGHING AS THE middle guy stepped forward and threw a punch straight at her face. She couldnât help it. It was just so
absurd.
Every single time she walked into this park, somebody tried to pick a fight with her. Every single time. What were the odds of that? Seven zillion to one? True, she sometimes went
looking
for fights. But why did fights naturally look for her?
The fist whizzed with an inch of Gaiaâs face as she stepped back.
Too slow, asshole.
She spun and crouched into a kung fu stance, sizing up each of them. If they wanted to get their asses kicked, fine. It would be her pleasure. A strange combination of weariness and adrenaline coursed through her veins. What a drag. She really didnât want to have to go through this tonight.
Really.
Luckily, the laughter seemed to catch the three morons off guard. That gave her an immediate advantage. No time to waste. Middle Guy was still leaning off balance from the missed connection. She lashed out and kicked him in the kneecap.
âAhh!â
he screamed. He dropped from her field of vision.
Her gaze immediately shifted to Left Guy. He was crouched in a kung fu stance, just like hers. He might be a more capable opponent. Better save him for last. Middle Guy writhed on the pavement. Gaiaâs eyes flashed to Right Guy. He was coming straight at her, throwing a punch with his left arm.
Canât you do better than that?
she wondered, laughing again. It was another telegraphed strike, easy to deflect. She shifted to the right and grabbed the guyâs arm, simultaneously kicking his shin with a swift toe strike. The force of his own momentum instantly flipped him in midair.
âNoââ
His skull struck the pavement firstâhitting with a sickening
thwok
âand he rolled over with a groan.
Two down.
All of Gaiaâs nerves were tingling as she turned her attention to Left Guy. Her entire body was burning, pulsing, on fire with the heat of combat. She forced herself to laugh once more, just to instill fear in him. Fear was the greatest weapon. But his face was a blank mask. Oh, well. Heâd be scared of her soon enough.
And hopefully by the time sheâd finished him off, Sam would have found his freaking wallet.
Whiny, Little-Girl Voice
âCOME ON, COME ON,â SAM GRUNTED under his breath.
He whirled around his closet-size dorm room, flinging papers and books and clothing everywhereâbut he still couldnât find it. He paused for a moment, breathing heavily. This method of searching was no good. He was just making it harder on himself. His room looked like a blast zone. But he had left it here, hadnât he? He had been positive it would be sitting right on top of his deskâ¦.
Pockets. Right. He had to check all of his pockets.
With one eye still scanning the mess, he snatched a pair of jeans from the floor and tore through them. Nope. His breathing quickened. He tossed the pair aside.
This is bad; this is badâ¦.
Gaia was probably getting more pissed by the second. He tossed the jeans aside and grabbed another pair. Not in there, either. Well, at the very least he could console himself with knowing that no matter how pissed she got now, it would be nothing compared to how pissed sheâd be later-
The phone rang.
He swallowed. That was probably her, calling to tell him to forget about dinner and to go screw himself.He dropped the second pair of jeans and
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