Firewall (Magic Born) Read Online Free Page B

something?”
    Nate chuckled. “He just wants people to have a good time for a change. There’s gonna be about a dozen of us meeting in the railway kitchen at midnight. Lizzie said she’s making a cake.”
    “Now I’m really scared.” Tuyet grinned.
    “Yeah, me too.”
    An orange light flickered in the darkness. She tensed immediately. “Did you see that?”
    “Yeah. Think it’s hijackers?” His voice had turned to gravel. “The scary kind, I mean.”
    “It’s closer to the city than they normally get, but who knows?” She scanned the night for any other light, finding nothing. “I’ll tell the others to keep their eyes open.” The volunteers were equally split between Normal and Magic Born, with a witch in each vehicle so they could trancehack to communicate.
    Tuyet didn’t want to take her eyes off the road or surrounding trees so she tranced into his phone and sent a quick message to the two other vehicles.
Light spotted
,
advise caution
. For a brief moment the blue-white of cyberspace lit up the interior of the van. She quashed it, dropping out of trance with a hard jerk.
    The van topped a rise. Bright headlights in orange and red flooded the night. Tuyet threw her arm up to shield her eyes as Nate slammed on the brakes. Shouts could be heard from outside.
    Nate said, “Have you dealt with these people before?”
    Their colors indicated a group who called themselves River Ghost. Based within sight of the Mississippi, they ventured farther afield for hijacking jobs when supplies ran low. They didn’t like to work too close to their home base, which she respected as smart. They also preferred to shoot rather than talk, something she respected for altogether different reasons.
    The New Corinth group had only stun guns, no serious firepower. Real guns were too difficult and expensive to procure, and the consequences for a Magic Born getting caught anywhere near one were far too high. Tuyet had a few tucked away for a rainy day, but this wasn’t the kind of operation for them.
    A man with a rifle slung across his front approached the van and pounded on the hood. “Everybody out!”
    Nate glanced at her as he reached for the door handle. “Hope you brought your badass.”
    “I never leave home without it.” She stepped from the vehicle slowly, hands up. They were outnumbered and definitely outgunned, but if the leader was reasonable they might be able to leave with some of the much-needed food.
    A voice from one of the rear River Ghost vehicles called out, “Which one of you bitches is in charge of this pathetic outfit?”
    Tuyet fought the urge to indulge in some creative swearing and stepped forward. “That would be me, Doran.”
    River Ghost members parted as the team’s leader made her way to the front. “Hey!” She swung a flashlight up. Tuyet blinked against the harsh light. “I know you!”
    “Hello, Doran.” Tuyet kept her voice polite, hopeful she could still manage the situation.
    Doran slapped the arm of her nearest gunman. “Yeah, I know this bitch. She thinks she’s all kinds of hot shit, with her city ways and her city magic.” The woman stepped closer to Tuyet, grinning. “Your fancy city magic doesn’t mean shit out here, cupcake.”
    Tuyet bit back a retort. “We’re just here for some cargo, that’s all. We don’t mean to be any trouble to anyone.”
    “As if you could be.” Doran eyed Nate appreciatively. “He yours?”
    “He’s a friend and part of my team.” She put just enough warning in her tone to remind Doran of the last time they’d crossed paths.
    Doran’s grin widened. “What kind of haul did you get?”
    “Food.” It was best to keep it simple.
    “Just food?”
    “The rations aren’t enough inside the zone,” Nate said. “We’re just trying to supplement.”
    Tuyet wanted to scream at Nate to shut the hell up. He’d already drawn the psycho’s eye with his looks. The last thing he needed to do was go looking for her attention. Plus, the