Tanin then turned, putting Vytln’s back to his chest. He used the ribbon to yank the larger male up and over, throwing him against Trove who had come up to try his turn at attacking.
The big guy landed on Trove with a hard crash. Pinning him easily. Vytln remained still, but Trove was thrashing, one arm free, trying to get out from under him.
Tanin grabbed his wrist and shoved it down. Opening him up, leaving him vulnerable as Tanin slammed that wire right against the collar. It sparked, smoked, and fell open. Trove went limp, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as Tanin ran off, going for his next opponent.
Alred must have realized what was happening before and dropped that wire into the stowage room. He was not be here right now; he had probably locked himself in his core for safety. However, he had given Tanin the tool he needed to free the others.
And he was doing it well. Rok, Vytln, and Trove were all down, leaving only Sway, Sorbet, and Tebros standing.
“What are you just standing there for!?” Gissrn roared, looking at Neelai with a wild look on his face. “Go down there and get him!”
He was… scared.
Garnet chuckled softly, in amazement, as she had that realization. Gissrn had been so smug, appeared so in control, but just like that, Tanin had him scared. Tanin hadn’t been calm because he was putting up a front, he genuinely knew that Gissrn wasn’t a threat. That even his entire crew, all at once, weren’t a threat.
Because these were killers feared by the most despised people in the galaxy. They were males whose very name inspired awe and discomfort.
But they were controlled by and obeyed Tanin. He hadn’t earned their respect and loyalty by being nice and kind. He didn’t get them to follow him because he said please. And those rules of his would mean nothing if he couldn’t enforce them.
Tanin was the leader of a band of killers. He was the most dangerous person in the room. Even more so because he was the shortest and wore a ribbon around his wrist – he didn’t look dangerous. He didn’t act tough. He justwas.
As she watched, the twins came at him at the same time, and he blocked, dodged, and returned blows to both of them without any mistakes. Combined, they were more of a challenge, but he was holding his own by himself where a group of strong males hadn’t.
As he was fighting between the two, Neelai stepped up to the rail. He put his hand on the metal and vaulted over, knife flashing in the low light.
Garnet took a breath, ready to call out a warning, but she didn’t get the chance.
Tanin struck Tebros in the knee, knocking him over. As the avanava male was falling, Tanin grabbed him by the elbow and the belt, and threw him with a grunt.
Neelai, having just landed, had to throw himself to the side to avoid being bowled over. Now alone, Sorbet was half as much of a threat. Tanin grabbed his arm, jerked it behind his back, and twisted up. Tanin’s other arm went around his neck and pulled him back against his chest. He turned his hand, stabbing the end of the wire into the collar. A puff of smoke, a jerk from both males, and Sorbet collapsed.
Tanin had a smoking hole in his jumpsuit now, burned right down to the flesh. But he ignored it as Sway came upon him, striking with both feet.
Garnet turned from them, focusing back on Gissrn. He was alone now, Neelai the only one he had brought with him. Why would he need more when he had an army of slaves to protect him?
Gritting her teeth, she turned on her shock stick. It warmed under her palm. Holding it tight, she started making her way around the perimeter of the room. Avoiding the fight in the center. Easy to do, as the guys had not been given orders to attack her, just Tanin.
The ladder was dented even more than she realized. Vytln’s fists had to be made of steel, because it was so damaged the bottom was lifting off the ground. She grabbed the rails, rattling it to test its strength, but it was holding firm at the top.
Something ripping made her whip her head around.
Tebros had managed to get in close enough to Tanin thanks to Neelai to get his claws into his back. He ripped right through the top of his jumpsuit, making it fall apart at the torso, leaving him in his black shirt, four long gashes bleeding down his back.
Tanin didn’t even roar in pain. He turned, catching Tebros’ next strike with his ribbon. He twisted it around one wrist, then the second when it came around to try to strike. With his hands neutralized, Tanin used his grip on them to throw Tebros into Neelai.
The bounty hunter dodged, jumping back. Tebros was struggling on the ground. But not for long as Tanin drove the end of the wire into his collar. Pop. Smoke. Clatter. Tebros went still, eyes rolling back in his head.
“STOP HIM!” Gissrn shrieked, the railing squeaking as he shook it in his fury.
Garnet glared at him. Putting her foot on the bottom rung of the ladder steps, she began climbing. It squeaked and rattled, but the sound was buried under Gissrn doing the same at the top.
Grunts and thuds continued below as Garnet climbed. She didn’t turn back until she reached the top and could stand on the side of the opening and look down.
Sway was flat on his back, bleeding from a grotesquely swollen lip. He was trying to stand but seemed to be having trouble maintaining his balance.
Meanwhile, Tanin and Neelai were locked in a fight. Neelai had that long, dangerous looking blade, and he wielded it ruthlessly.
But Tanin’s ribbon, whatever it was made from, was resistant to cutting. He caught and blocked like it was a harmless butter knife.
